MALIBU, Calif. — The Armenian Bar Association held its 2026 Midyear Meeting from October 9 to 11, bringing together attorneys, judges, law students, and community leaders for three days of legal education, professional development, and discussions focused on human rights, the rule of law, and the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage.
Held in Malibu and the greater Los Angeles area, the gathering featured educational panels, distinguished speakers, award presentations, and a special visit to the J. Paul Getty Museum to examine Armenian historical artifacts.
Honoring Courage and Commitment to Historical Truth
The meeting opened Friday, October 9, with a welcome reception at TUMO Los Angeles in North Hollywood, attended by Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian.
During the reception, the Armenian Bar Association presented its Shavarsh Karapetyan Award for Courage and Humanity to brothers Alex and Narek Bazinyan, recognizing their bravery in rescuing elderly residents from a burning home in Glendale.
The Association also honored Dr. Edita Gzoyan with its Hrant Dink Freedom Award during Saturday’s luncheon, recognizing her commitment to historical truth, academic integrity, human rights, and the preservation of the historical record of the Armenian Genocide.
Legal Education and Armenia’s Economic Development
Saturday’s program, hosted at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, featured two continuing legal education panels addressing Armenian commerce, culture, and legal institutions.
The first panel, titled “What’s in a Bottle? The Law, Business & Culture of Armenian Wine,” was moderated by Paul Kalemkiarian, host and president of Wine Talks and Wine Talks Productions. Panelists included Aimee Keushguerian, founder of Zulal Wines, and attorney and entrepreneur Vahe Yacoubian.
The discussion explored Armenia’s longstanding winemaking heritage and the legal, commercial, and cultural opportunities associated with the development of its modern wine industry.
A second panel, “Building the Gold Standard: AMCA and the Promotion of Commercial Arbitration in Armenia and Beyond,” examined the importance of commercial arbitration and mediation in strengthening Armenia’s legal and business environment.
Moderated by Grant Hanessian of Hanessian ADR, Co-Chair of the Association’s Armenia Programs Committee, the panel featured Levon Golendukhin of Eversheds Sutherland; Lilit Petrosyan, Secretary General and Director of the Arbitration and Mediation Center of Armenia (AMCA), who participated virtually; and Harout Samra of DLA Piper.
The speakers discussed how effective dispute-resolution mechanisms can strengthen commercial confidence, attract business activity, and contribute to the development of reliable legal institutions in Armenia.
Discussion on the Legal Profession and Public Service
Saturday’s luncheon featured a fireside conversation between San Diego Superior Court Judge Sharon L. Kalemkiarian and Professor Thomas J. Stipanowich, William H. Webster Chair in Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.
Their discussion addressed alternative dispute resolution, Abraham Lincoln, legal history, professional responsibility, and the broader meaning and purpose of a career in law.
The luncheon also included the presentation of the Hrant Dink Freedom Award to Dr. Gzoyan.
Preserving Armenian Cultural Heritage at the Getty
The meeting concluded Sunday, October 11, with a special program titled “Safeguarding Armenian Provenance in Museums” at the Getty Center in Los Angeles.
Participants received a private viewing of Armenian artifacts, including a visit to the museum’s Manuscripts Department and an examination of the missing pages of the 13th-century Zeytun Gospels, illuminated by renowned Armenian manuscript artist Toros Roslin.
The visit highlighted the importance of protecting Armenian cultural heritage, documenting the origins and ownership histories of historical artifacts, and ensuring institutional accountability in the preservation of Armenian cultural patrimony.
Continuing a Tradition of Legal Advocacy
Founded in 1989, the Armenian Bar Association is an independent organization of attorneys, judges, law students, and other legal professionals dedicated to professional development, public service, and the protection of Armenian rights.
Through educational programming, pro bono initiatives, international legal advocacy, and cooperation with legal institutions in Armenia and throughout the diaspora, the Association continues its work to advance justice and strengthen the legal profession.
Additional information about the Armenian Bar Association is available at ArmenianBar.org.
