The Las Vegas Strip was buzzing with energy on Saturday as Bollywood beats, colorful performances, and the spirit of community filled the room at the South Asian Bar Association of Las Vegas (SABA-LV) 2026 Annual Gala at TI Las Vegas.

Presented as a “Bollywood Gala,” this year’s banquet celebrated South Asian heritage, honored members of the legal community, and supported scholarships for aspiring lawyers. With multiple Indian community clubs in Las Vegas, the gala stood out as one of the most professionally managed Indian community events in Las Vegas, reflecting the dedication, countless volunteer hours, and commitment of the SABA-LV leadership team led by SABA-LV judicial liaison Judge Tina Talim. 

The gala welcomed judges, representing the Nevada Supreme Court, the Nevada Court of Appeals, and the Clark County judiciary, underscoring the growing relationship between the South Asian legal community and Nevada’s judiciary. Many attendees including judges donned colorful Indian attire to celebrate the occasion, fittingly named after India’s famed Bollywood film industry.

The festivities began with opening remarks from the evening’s master of ceremonies, Lalita, a second-year law student at the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law. A local dance group, Dishoom Boys, energized the audience with lively Bollywood performance, setting the tone for an evening that blended Indian cultural traditions with the accomplishments of Nevada’s legal community.

Indian-American Assemblyman Reuben D’Silva followed with a proclamation recognizing and celebrating the SABA-LV Annual Gala, acknowledging the organization’s contributions to the community.

Lalita then introduced Eric Kohli, president of SABA-LV, who welcomed the distinguished guests and reflected on the organization’s growth and accomplishments. “It is beautiful to see so many people bringing and celebrating Indian heritage,” Kohli said, expressing his appreciation for the strong turnout and the community’s continued support. Kohli also thanked the State Bar of Nevada for supporting scholarships over the past three years. Reflecting on his tenure, he described how he helped guide SABA-LV from an organization with virtually no funds to one on a more financially stable footing.

After serving as president for four years, Kohli announced his intention to pass the leadership baton to the younger generation, signaling a new chapter for the organization. He expressed gratitude to the sponsors, supporters, and volunteers whose contributions have helped SABA-LV flourish, with special recognition for Paul Padda, chairman of SABA-LV, for his support over the past six years. He introduced the incoming President Arun Lackoor, a graduate of UNLV Boyd School of Law.

The formal proceedings soon gave way to entertainment, proving that lawyers know how to have fun, too. Kohli invited board member Arun Gupta to kick off the evening’s musical celebration with a popular Bollywood hit from the 1980s. Impersonating the iconic character Amitabh Bachan as Don, Gupta performed “Main Hoon Don” from the film Don. As dinner was served, Gupta continued with another crowd-pleasing performance. He then encouraged attendees to get on their feet for “Om Shanti Om”, another Bollywood super hit song. Before long, hands were waving in the air and guests were joining in, enthusiastically following Gupta’s dance moves.

The evening’s keynote speaker, Judge Deborah Westbrook of the Nevada Court of Appeals, was introduced by Lalita, who shared a personal story about the judge’s impact on her legal education and career aspirations. Lalita recalled meeting Judge Westbrook at the previous year’s SABA-LV gala. What began as an introduction developed into a meaningful friendship and mentorship. Following that event, Judge Westbrook offered Lalita an externship, providing her with a valuable opportunity to gain practical legal experience. “I had the privilege of knowing Judge Westbrook. She is the kind of hero everyone needs,” Lalita said.

Beyond introducing the keynote speaker, Lalita highlighted the formation and growth of the South Asian Law School Students Association (SALSA) at UNLV Boyd School of Law. The student group is already active on campus, pursuing academic and legal initiatives while helping build connections among aspiring South Asian legal professionals.

In her opening remarks, Judge Westbrook addressed the importance of diversity in Nevada’s legal profession. She noted that only about 20% of lawyers in Nevada come from diverse minority groups and emphasized the role affinity bar associations play in encouraging and guiding future generations toward law school. Her remarks underscored the importance of mentorship, access to legal education, and collaboration among Nevada’s affinity bar associations to help aspiring attorneys navigate the path to the profession.

As the evening progressed, attention turned to the awards ceremony. Judge Tina Talim addressed the attendees before presenting the scholarship. “The SABA-LV Board had worked diligently to select this year’s honorees from among the distinguished members of the South Asian legal community,” said Judge Talim.

The awards recognized individuals whose professional achievements, community involvement, and dedication reflect the values SABA-LV seeks to promote. Board member Hardeep “Dee” Sull presented the Legacy Award to ACLU of Nevada President Athar Hasebullah. Puneet Garg was recognized with the South Asian Attorney of the Year Award, while Board member Sagar Raich presented Paul Padda with the Community Impact Award in recognition of his founding of SABA-LV and his longstanding dedication to supporting its programs.

In a brief message to the scholarship recipients, Paul underscored the importance of giving back to the community and advancing the public good. “There is no better way to earn a living than by helping society advance civil rights and justice,” he said.

President-Elect Arun Luckoor introduced Dean Leah Grinvald of the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law to award LSAT scholarships to Jerardo Nataren, Isabel Baca and Shivani Shah.

The student scholarship recipients were paired with individual judges, who introduced the students and presented them with their scholarship checks. This year, 8 students received scholarships to pursue their legal education, while three additional students were awarded LSAT scholarships.

The judges and their scholarship recipients included:

• Judge Jasmin Lilly-Spells – Sofia Christine
• Judge Jessica Goodey – Daliyah Lainez
• Judge Nadia Krall – Natalie Nguyen
• Judge Jessica Peterson – Ana Bonillas Vega
• Judge Joanna Krishner – Sana Azim
• Judge Jacob Reynolds – Devaansh Singh
• Judge Colleen Brown – Deekshana Ram
• Justice Patrica Lee – Lalita Kumar

The unforgettable sold out evening celebration brought together Bollywood glamour, judicial leadership, SABA-LV members, and law students, to dance the night away on Bollywood beats by DJ Amit with a renewed commitment to mentoring future lawyers from South Asian community.