MALA BALL
Highlights of the Ball
Highlight of the Social Calendar
Hard-pressed lawyers, judges & others working in the legal community will have their fair share of legal events to attend; from seminars to socials, from parties to client mixers. However, the MALA Ball promises a blend of fun, partying and great food. It's not serious or stuffy, as some formal events can be, but relaxing, enjoyable with minimal speeches. At the same time, it is a ball which packs entertainment, speeches and a huge dance floor. The MALA Ball allows you to get your best black tie/dress or Asian clothes for a great night out with colleagues, clients or even the competition! MALA Ball tickets are highly sought-after for client entertainment or for staff.
Below we explore what makes the MALA Ball unique!
The Venue
The MALA Ball is held annually at Athena, Leicester; one of the West Midland's unique and most stunning venues. Athena offers a reception area, a large banquet hall, a gallery area upstairs with a large stage for entertainment. Athena is decorated by MALA and offers exceptional waitering. There are two bars, inside the banquet hall and another outside. There is ample parking nearby (both on-street and in car parks) as well as fantastic links to road as well as a short walk to Leicester train station.
Cuisine
MALA loves its food and goes to great lengths to pick the very best dishes from the very best caterers we can find. For the last few years, our caterers have been Sanjay Foods and we have loved very dish! MALA specifically picks the dishes for each ball and has to taste well over 30 varieties of Indian food to pick the canapés, starters, mains and desserts. We pretend this is a huge burden but can't wait for it every year!
At the MALA ball, guests are served finger food on arrival at our drinks reception, with waitered drinks and a wide-range available at the bar. When seated, a selection of starters are served, followed by a selection of mains. Desserts are served for each guest. Our food is halal and provides vegetarian, chicken and meat options; each served with both rice and naan.
Without doubt the culinary experience sets apart MALA from other legal events.
If this is making you hungry, enjoy going looking at our 2023 Menu and the 2019 Menu
Speeches
The MALA Ball doesn't do awards and MALA tries to allow guests to enjoy the ball in each other's company. While we're not big fans of speeches, we always have at least one short speech from a special guest. This is usually a BAME member of the legal profession or judiciary. Past speakers have given thought-provoking, memorable and short speeches recounting their experience in our great profession.
MALA is very proud to count among its special guest speakers Imran Khan QC, Nazir Afzal OBE, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, Her Honour Judge Dhir QC, His Honour Judge Hammond, His Honour Judge Mota Singh, District Judge Afzal OBE and in 2019, Lord Justice Singh; the first BAME Judge elevated to the Court of Appeal. On the MALA Ball's return in 2023, the keynote speaker was Mr Justice Choudhury.
We are grateful to all supports, past and present, who have watched Asian members of the legal profession rise to the very highest ranks since MALA was formed over 10 years ago. Indeed, MALA's own president became the first blind judge and then, the first blind Circuit Judge on his promotion; joining an ever-growing cadre of Asian judges in the judiciary.
Dress
MALA loves dressing up! Of course, most balls and dinners involve a dress and a tuxedo, but how many involve glitzy Asian dresses! Bangles, saris, lengas, tunics, shirwanis, bindis, kajol and these are just the Indian words one of the gents on the committee knows!
Guests from all walks of life and from all backgrounds wear the most beautiful and colourful outfits, just once a year and genuinely pull it off; a legitimate Asiana bride for any seasons. That's just the male solicitors!
Of course, Asian clothing is not a must; guests can come in black tie and ball gowns as they like!