Charan Brahma Named President-Elect of the South Asian Bar Association of North America

Brahma, who serves as Co-Chair of Benesch’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee, was voted in by the SABA Board on May 26 after a competitive election. He begins his one-year term as President-Elect on the 2022-2023 Executive Committee this July. Brahma will then serve as President of the association the following year.

SABA has 29 chapters across the United States and Canada, forming the largest bar association of South Asian attorneys in North America. Together, SABA North America serves as the voice of the South Asian legal community in North America. Their goals and objectives include professional growth for South Asian law students and attorneys, diversity and inclusion efforts ensuring South Asian participation and representation in the legal profession and judiciary, and civil rights and access to justice for the South Asian community.

“I am honored to have been elected as President-Elect of SABA North America and work alongside other difference makers to strengthen the South Asian legal community,” said Brahma. “Over the last decade of my involvement in SABA, leadership at the chapter and North America levels, South Asians have made significant strides in the legal profession. But there is still more work to be done. I am proud of my South Asian identity and look forward to continuing to advocate for diversity in the legal profession and strengthening SABA’s efforts to support the legal needs of the South Asian community. I am especially grateful that Benesch has been so supportive of its many attorneys who take leadership roles in minority bar organizations like SABA and has shown such a strong commitment to improving diversity both at the firm and in the broader legal industry.”

Brahma’s election is the latest example of his tireless commitment to representing and supporting the South Asian legal community. He is a longtime member of SABA, previously serving as Vice President of Conference on the Executive Committee for SABA North America, and as President-elect of the Washington, D.C. chapter and President of the Northern California chapter.

“There is no better fit for the role than Charan. He is a natural leader and top-notch attorney who has dedicated himself to achieving and maintaining diversity in all aspects of firm life,” said Krista Enns, lead partner of Benesch’s San Francisco office. “I am confident in his ability to help the organization further promote its mission and execute its vision as President-Elect. I look forward to seeing how he continues to shape the work of SABA North America.”

Brahma is a first-chair patent trial lawyer who focuses his practice on patent and other intellectual property litigation and appeals, patent portfolio development, and other intellectual property matters.  He primarily advises clients in the pharmaceutical, high-technology, vehicle and medical device industries.

“Charan will bring a great deal of knowledge, experience and passion to SABA North America as President-Elect,” said Gregg Eisenberg, Benesch Managing Partner. “This is an exciting achievement for Charan, and I, along with the entire firm, look forward to seeing Charan continue the conversation about South Asian representation in the legal profession.”

Brahma’s election comes after he was selected this past March as Co-Chair of Benesch’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. He is a past recipient of the Minority Bar Coalition 2021 MBC Unity Award and has also been named Nation’s Best — Western Region, Lawyers of Color. In addition, Brahma has been listed as a Rising Star in Super Lawyers and named Best Lawyers® for Litigation — Intellectual Property from 2020-22. He also remains engaged with his law school alma mater, the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, serving on its Foundation Board of Trustees.