Barristers’ Banquet and Awards Program

At a membership meeting in 2001, Napier-Looby Bar Association (“NLBA”) President, Julian Blackshear, proposed the formation of a 501(c)(3) to serve as  a philanthropic arm of the NLBA. In 2002 the NLBA authorized the formation of the Napier-Looby Bar Foundation (“NLBF”) to provide educational assistance to talented students seeking professional and legal careers.

The NLBF is a 501(c)(3) organization which serves as the philanthropic arm of the Napier-Looby Bar Association, an affiliate of the National Bar Association, the oldest and largest association of black attorneys, with more than 10,000 members.

Each year during Black History Month, the Napier-Looby Bar Foundation celebrates black history and honors exceptional leaders and businesses in the Nashville Bar through the Napier-Looby Bar Foundation’s Annual Banquet.  The Nashville legal community and larger community convene each year at the Barristers’ Banquet and Awards Program in celebration of Black History Month for an evening of great food, music and conversation. In addition to celebrating Black History Month, the purpose of the banquet is to recognize outstanding achievements in the legal and business community and, more importantly, to raise money to award scholarships to deserving students and to fund the charitable efforts of the organization throughout the year. For over 15 years, the NLBF has awarded countless scholarships to college and law school students in memory Senator Avon Williams and Judge Robert Lillard. The Foundation has given over $100,000 in scholarships to deserving students and made charitable donations to worthy organizations.  This has been made possible by the support of NLBF fellows, NLBA members and the Nashville area’s legal and business community.