MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE IPBA It is a great honor and pleasure to invite you to attend the 18th Annual Conference of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association, to be held in Los Angeles, California, from April 27 to April 30, 2008. Los Angeles is, as you know, renowned everywhere for its world-class entertainment and cultural attractions. Further, as the largest city on the west coast of the United States, it is the primary focal point for trade and investment between the United States and Asia. It is also home to the largest concentration of lawyers in the United States outside New York City, including thousands of Asian-American lawyers. Our Los Angeles Host Committee, chaired by IPBA President-Elect Gerold W. Libby, has worked tirelessly to provide our 2008 Annual Conference delegates and accompanying persons educational and social programs of the highest order. The 2008 Annual Conference will feature a substantive opening ceremony and plenary session, more than 35 educational programs organized by IPBA committees, spectacular social events at the Getty Center and Sony Pictures Studios, and the traditional IPBA golf tournament. I believe the 2008 Annual Conference will offer IPBA members an unsurpassed opportunity to learn about legal developments in the Asia-Pacific region, to develop and enhance professional relationships, and to enjoy the traditional collegial friendship that is the hallmark of the IPBA. I look forward to welcoming you to the IPBA 2008 Annual Conference in Los Angeles! Zongze Gao IPBA President