Spearheaded by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Pupils Welfare Committee (“KLPWC”) of this term, the Kuala Lumpur Bar Young Lawyers Committee (“KLYLC”) and KLPWC organised a meet and greet informal lunch event dubbed “The Luncheon: A Taste of the Bar II” at The Smokehouse Restaurant, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar on Saturday, 22.06.2013 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm (“the Luncheon”). The Luncheon provided an excellent platform and avenue for budding lawyers and pupils-in-chambers to dine with the senior members of the Bar.
The Luncheon saw a total number of 42 members of the Bar attending the event as participants, being young lawyers and pupils-in-chambers, senior members of the Bar and KLPWC members. Indeed, the younger members of the Bar were humbled by the gracious gestures from the senior members of the Bar who took time off to attend the Luncheon. The senior members who attended were:-
1. Tommy Thomas, Partner at Tommy Thomas;
2. Theresa Chong, Head of Corporate Division at Skrine;
3. Dato’ David Morais of M. David Morais;
4. Christopher Leong, President of the Malaysian Bar and Managing Partner at Chooi & Co;
5. Lim Chee Wee, Immediate Past-President of the Malaysian Bar and Partner at Skrine;
6. Gopal Sreenevasan, Partner at Sreenevasan Young;
7. Ramesh Sathasivam, Partner at Adnan, Sundra & Low; and
8. Sharmila Sekaran, Partner at Jerald Gomez & Associates.
Special mention goes to the Honorary Secretary of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee, Jeremiah Gurusamy, who also took time off to attend the event on behalf of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee.
The Luncheon kicked off with a reception from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (“the Reception”). The Reception gave an opportunity for the younger members of the Bar to freely mingle with the senior members and to interact and build bridges with their fellow younger members. Facilitated by the KLPWC members, the younger members and the senior members were encouraged to introduce themselves to each other and conversations were struck. Surrounded by such a diversity of backgrounds, different ranges of seniority at the Bar and the myriad expertise in areas of practice, the vibes and dynamism of the reception were positively encouraging.
Circa 1:00 pm, all were invited to proceed to the upper floor of the Smokehouse Restaurant. Tastefully decorated with exquisite English dining settings, each table would sit 4 to 5 younger members of the Bar and headed by one senior member. The seating arrangement was randomised, thus, promoting an added layer of interaction and mingling amongst the younger members and the senior members.
Shortly, the KLPWC’s Chairperson, Vince Chong delivered a short welcoming speech and officially announced that "Lunch is Served".
Whilst savouring the food and beverages on the table, it was observed that most of the younger members were eager to engage in lively conversations and exchanging of ideas and views with their fellow seniors who in turn unselfishly shared their wealth of experiences, pointers, and impart invaluable "know-how" knowledge of the legal profession. The interaction and discourse, without a doubt, had left an indelible impact and immensely benefited the younger members of the Bar.
On behalf of the younger members of the Bar, Clinton Tan was accorded the privilege to deliver a short speech. In gist, he perceived the Luncheon as a "marvelous" experience of camaraderie bonds amongst the members of the Bar before ending with a toast thanking the senior members for giving their time to the juniors. By the same token, Tommy Thomas, rose to give a speech in reply in returning the same courtesy to the juniors. Ever ready to give his words of wisdom, the younger members were reminded to uphold the dignity of the legal profession and keeping faith in their idealism by championing justice "without fear and favour" as enshrined under Section 42 of the Legal Professional Act 1976 despite the realism of legal practices.
The event ended at around 3.30 pm.
The KLPWC and KLYLC fervently hope and are looking forward to transform the Luncheon into a dining culture unique to this country’s legal profession. With that in mind, what would you say to another Luncheon sometime in October / November?
Prepared by Terrence Teng Weng Loong