The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) announced that attorney David M. Balabanian, Esq. will be honored with the ANCA-WR Advocate for Justice Award at its Annual Gala Banquet on Sunday, November 2, 2014 at the world-famous Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Balabanian has selflessly dedicated time to advocating Armenian American rights and has been a leading voice in advancing the Cause.  His work is a testament to the power and efficacy of the Armenian American grassroots movement and demonstrates its expansive reach from our local community centers and neighborhood councils, to the halls of the United States Congress and judicial court system for the pursuit of Genocide recognition and beyond.

“Balabanian is a street fighter in the courtroom and for the Cause and a model example of a true Hye Tad soldier,” said ANCA-WR Board Member Raffi Kassabian, Esq.  “Balabanian’s work in helping to shape the blueprint for reparations is a tangible reminder that beyond recognition, our grassroots has, and will continue to, vigorously seek reparations for the wrongs that were perpetrated against the Armenian people during the Genocide.”

Balabanian was the first President of the Armenian Bar Association and a litigator with more than 40 years of experience handling complex, high-stakes commercial matters, including securities, energy and antitrust cases.  He is currently a partner in the international law firm of Bingham McCutchen LLP, having previously served as Chair of the McCutchen firm.  He also served as President of the Bar Association of San Francisco.  David received his BA and LLB. degrees from Harvard, and a B.Phil. degree from Oxford which he attended as a Rhodes Scholar.

Balabanian has utilized his legal skills, resources and network to further advance issues of concern to the Armenian American community.  This includes representing the ANCA, the Armenian Bar Association and other organizations in filing an amicus brief in the Movsesian/Arzoumanian Armenian Genocide-era life insurance case and successfully defending the Mt. Davidson cross in San Francisco from Turkish attempts to silence speech on the Armenian Genocide.

Martin Luther King, Jr. powerfully proclaimed that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  Balabanian’s tireless commitment has led the Armenian American community one step closer to securing justice and is a testament to the work that lies ahead to secure recognition, reparations and restitution to further our Cause.

The 2014 ANCA WR Annual Gala Banquet will be held on Sunday, November 2, 2014 at the world-famous Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. The main event will begin at 5:00 p.m. with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction. A three-course dinner will follow at 6:30 p.m. with a powerful program and presentation of the awards.

This year’s honorees include, His Excellency Bako Sahakyan, President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh), CA Senate President Pro Tempore Elect Kevin de Leon, Mr.  Vahe Karapetian, the Near East Foundation, in honor of the efforts of the Near East Relief in the immediate aftermath of the Armenian Genocide, David Balabanian, Esq., and ANCA Grassroots Stars from across the nation.

Individuals interested in attending the Annual Gala Banquet are encouraged to purchase tickets online at www.ancawr.org/gala or call 818.533.8587.  To obtain individual or corporate sponsorship information visit www.ancawr.org/gala/sponsorship or call (818) 500-1919.  For up to the minute updates on the event like the ANCA Western Region Facebook page or visit ancawr.org/galanews.

The ANCA WR Gala Banquet represents the single largest annual gathering of Armenian American public policy leaders throughout the western United States, and is attended by over 1,000 prominent Members of Congress, state legislators and officials, community leaders, and many of the organization’s strongest activists and generous donors from California, Nevada, Arizona, and throughout the western United States.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.