LACBA's Armed Forces Ball

Nearly 250 military personnel, Veterans, federal and state judiciary, civic and community leaders, and attorneys filled the Biltmore Bowl of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles for an elegant evening of dining and dancing at the Los Angeles County Bar Association's First Annual Armed Forces Ball "Honoring America's Veterans" to support LACBA's Veteran-specific legal programs.

The Ball began with an elegant reception where guests greeted colleagues and friends and had an opportunity to meet and thank active duty personnel and Veterans for their service to our country. Each of the services was represented by service personnel on active duty and Veterans, many of who have served oversees in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam or World War II.

Dick Burdge, President of LACBA and U.S. Navy Veteran, opened the Armed Forces Ball and thanked guests for their support, followed by the presentation of the Colors by the United States Air Force Color Guard and the playing of the national anthem. A solemn moment followed, as past LACBA President Alan Steinbrecher, a former Navy fighter pilot with 177 combat missions flown during the Vietnam War and who retired as a Captain in the United States Naval Reserve, led a Toast to Fallen Comrades.

As part of the evening's program, LACBA's Armed Forces Committee recognized several Veterans and attorneys who have made significant contributions to Veterans services, including United States Court of Appeals Judge Harry Pregerson; Public Counsel's Director of the Center for Veterans Advancement, Rick Little; Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP; and Cristin Zeisler, Partner & Director of Pro Bono Services at Manatt.

A surprise Volunteer Leadership Award, which will now be known as the Alan K. Steinbrecher Volunteer Leadership Award, was also presented to Mr. Steinbrecher, who as LACBA president, envisioned LACBA making a commitment to serve Veterans. Adam Siegler, a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who served in the Iraq War and who was the emcee for the night's program, presented each of the awards at this inaugural event.

Proceeds from the Armed Forces Ball will support the training and deployment of pro bono attorneys to assist Veterans with their VA benefits, family law matters, criminal defense, tax issues, housing challenges, outstanding ticket and warrant resolution, and other financial issues.

One of these early programs is the new joint Public Counsel/LACBA Veterans Pro Bono Project, which will provide free legal assistance and representation to Veterans on a range of legal matters from throughout Los Angeles County, including those served by Public Counsel at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Campus.

Among the dignitaries who attended the event were: Undersecretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs Brigadier General (Ret.) Robin Umberg; Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court Lee Smalley Edmon; President of the State Bar of California Pat Kelly; Riverside County Veterans Court Judge Mark Johnson; Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine; President and CEO of Public Counsel Hernan Vera and Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich.

Law firms and corporations also showed their support for Veterans by sponsoring the Armed Forces Ball and helping to raise funds to support LACBA's legal services for Veterans, including Diamond Level Sponsors: Greenberg Traurig; Keesal Young & Logan; Manatt, Phelps & Phillips; O'Melveny & Myers; Paul Hastings and Wells Fargo Bank. Gold Level Sponsors included: Arent Fox; Gibson Dunn; Havner Family Foundation; Jacobs Engineering Group; Morris Polich & Purdy; Raytheon; and Talisman Law.