June 26, 2009

Annapoorni Sankaran (’95) awarded the Rosoff Mentor Award for her commitment to diversity

According to Annapoorni Sankaran (’95), her mentorship to minority attorneys in the greater Boston area is a task she undertakes without even thinking. For both her commitment to her mentees and her promotion of diversity within the law community at large, the commercial litigator was honored with the Ad Club of Boston’s Rosoff Mentor Award.

The Rosoff Awards are named for Arnold Z. Rosoff, the founder of what is now Arnold in Boston. "In the 21st century, workplace diversity is more than a means of achieving social justice; it is an essential business strategy," said Rosoff, in his letter to be published as part of the program.

The Rosoff Mentor Award is given to those who have made an impact by serving as a mentor to create meaningful change and advance diversity in the workplace. The 2009 award ceremony was held on March 23rd at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Nearly 400 people representing Massachusetts area businesses attended the cocktail hour, awards presentation and dinner.

Sankaran, a shareholder in the Boston office of the international law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP, has been doubly honored by the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) of Greater Boston. She helped launch SABA in 2004 and now serves as its president. In this role, she has led the effort for communications between other minority bar associations in the area, including the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association and the Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association.

“I worked diligently to get the leadership of these organizations to communicate and begin to work together on issues of common concern. We realized that issues that affect one minority community actually affect all of us,” said Sankaran. “In addition, through the South Asian Bar Association, I work to ensure that minority communities have access to legal representation and encourage greater participation in American Government.”

SABA recently presented Sankaran with its newly created Excellence in Leadership and Dedication to Service Award, and has named the award after her in recognition of her years of dedication to the organization. The Annapoorni Sankaran Award for Excellence in Leadership and Dedication to Service will be awarded each year to the SABA of Greater Boston board member who best exemplifies the incredible leadership and dedication to service attributes that characterize Sankaran, according to the organization.

In presenting the award to Sankaran, Samia Kirmani, SABA Greater Boston president said, “In everything she does, Anna works to strengthen the foundation of the South Asian legal community because she truly believes that minorities need to participate in the law and government. She does this not only by doing the big things, like building SABA Greater Boston, but also by taking the time to make each and every one of us better lawyers, leaders and friends by providing guidance and setting a phenomenal example.”

Along with mentoring minority attorneys and law students, Sankaran has also taken on a new influential role in the South Asian legal community. She is president-elect for the North American South Asian Bar Association (NASABA), which is one of the six major national affinity bar associations in the country and serves as the unified voice for South Asian attorneys in North America. In June of 2010, she will become president of the organization for the 2010-2011 term.

The role is a perfect fit for Sankaran, who leads not only with drive and experience, but also with passion.

“Working to improve diversity, especially in the legal market, is a cause near and dear to my heart,” said Sankaran.

>>View the South Asian Bar Association of Greater Boston's Web site