LACBA Names Officer and Trustee Philip H. Lam to Newly Established VP-Level Officer Position to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Association’s Leadership and the Legal Community at Large
LOS ANGELES – March 2, 2018 – The Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA), one of the largest voluntary metropolitan bar associations in the country, announced today that Officer and Trustee Philip H. Lam will be appointed as the first-ever Vice President of Diversity/Affiliate Outreach to coordinate LACBA’s diversity and inclusive initiatives, as well as relationships with Affiliate Bars of LACBA.
In this new volunteer leadership position, Lam will work to increase diversity and inclusion of lawyers of various backgrounds in the Association’s membership, sections, committees, Board of Trustees, and Executive leadership; serve as the dedicated outreach officer for Affiliate Bar Affairs; and oversee LACBA’s new Leadership Training Academy, which will create a pipeline of leaders for the Association and the legal community.
“Having Phil lead our new initiative and step into this role demonstrates our commitment to a long-term focus on diversity and inclusion both in LACBA’s leadership and in the legal profession,” LACBA President Michael E. Meyer said. “It also represents a new emphasis on LACBA’s dedication to working with our Affiliate Bar partners to improve the legal profession and promote a more closely knitted legal community.”
“We are blessed with the open-mindedness, vision, and leadership of LACBA President Michael Meyer and President-elect Brian Kabateck in pivoting the bar toward greater diversity and inclusion. I am honored to be asked to take charge of this directional re-alignment,” Lam said. “This new focus will enhance LACBA’s relevancy to the rapidly expanding diverse population of lawyers, increase LACBA’s long-term viability, and position the County Bar to truly represent the legal community in the County of Los Angeles.”
“This is a new day for LACBA as we embrace and represent the changing demographics of the legal community in California and further strengthen our ties and mutual growth with our Affiliate Bar Associations,” said LACBA President-elect Brian S. Kabateck. “LACBA, its members, and the legal community are fortunate to have someone of Phil’s stature and dedication to diversity leading this new initiative.”
Lam has a long history of civic, pro bono, and bar services since 1998, nationally and locally. In L.A. County, he has served as a LACBA Trustee (2002-2004, 2007-2008) as well as its Senior Vice President and Vice President (2016 - present); President of the oldest Asian American bar association in California, the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association; Co-President of one of the oldest LGBT bars in the state, the LGBT Bar Association of L.A.; and a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board to the City Attorney Mike N. Feuer of Los Angeles; among other services.