Welcome to our Members in the News page! Keep track of your colleagues as they receive awards, accept appointments, and gain recognition around the globe. To submit your newsworthy item you can submit your information here.
Caroline Kedeshian was recently featured in the Palisadian-Post for her work with the Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law’s Disaster Relief Clinic, which provides free legal assistance to survivors of the Palisades and Eaton Fires. A Pacific Palisades resident who lost her home in the fires, Caroline served as a Summer Law Clerk with the clinic, helping survivors with insurance claims, FEMA appeals, landlord-tenant disputes, and property-loss documentation. Her personal connection to the community brought empathy and firsthand understanding to her advocacy.
Caroline previously worked at Phillips ADR Enterprises under the Honorable Layn R. Phillips. She joined as a summer intern and continued through the academic year. Her formal position ended in May 2026, but she remained involved with a case until it settled in June 2026. Her responsibilities included conducting legal research and drafting memoranda for mediators preparing for settlement conferences.
Caroline is especially interested in business law and alternative dispute resolution, particularly its ability to provide practical, efficient solutions to complex legal disputes.
Caroline graduated with highest honors from Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business in June 2024, earning a Bachelor of Science in Commerce with a major in Economics. She is a rising third-year student at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law and a proud member of the Armenian Bar Association.
Armen Akaragian of Mardirossian Akaragian LLP recently secured a $35 million jury verdict in a case involving the City of Los Angeles. A Chatsworth jury found that the City allowed the intersection of Rinaldi and Amestoy in Granada Hills to remain in a dangerous condition, contributing to a collision between a motorcycle ridden by a young Armenian attorney and a driver who turned left in front of him. The case presented many obstacles, including the lack of reported prior traffic collisions, the motorcyclist’s failure to properly strap his helmet, the City’s immunity defenses, and video evidence showing the motorcyclist exceeding the speed limit in the seconds before the collision. The trial lasted four weeks, and nearly 30 witnesses testified.
Throughout his career, Armen has handled a litany of complex catastrophic injury and death cases against auto manufacturers, governmental agencies, and multi-billion-dollar corporations. Several of the cases he has litigated have resulted in published decisions that have helped promote consumer safety and, hopefully, make California a safer place. A few of those decisions include the California Supreme Court’s decision in Tansavatdi v. City of Rancho Palos Verdes, 14 Cal.5th 639 (2023), and the Court of Appeals decision in Purton v. Marriott International, Inc., 218 Cal.App.4th 499 (2013).
Beyond his practice, Armen serves as the Secretary of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Litigation Section and as the Co-Chair of the Armenian Bar Association’s Annual Judges Night, which draws more than 140 sitting judges from across the state and at all levels of the judiciary. He is also a member of the Association’s Judicial Evaluation Committee.
Zaven Sargsian recently founded Sarg Law, a firm focused on complex litigation, regulatory matters, and advisory work for companies across a range of industries.
His practice includes business and trade litigation, intellectual property disputes, securities and cryptocurrency matters, real estate and construction litigation, insurance coverage issues, and First Amendment claims. He also works on white collar defense and government investigations, privacy and data security compliance, and transactional matters for emerging companies, including commercial agreements and copyright licensing for artificial intelligence.
Prior to founding Sarg Law, he practiced at Ballard Spahr LLP and Snell & Wilmer, and later served as senior counsel at Buchalter PC, where he handled complex litigation across multiple subject areas. He has also represented both start-ups and Fortune 500 companies and advised emerging businesses as outside general counsel. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers for his work in commercial and business litigation.
He earned his J.D. with high honors from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law and holds a B.S. in Finance from the University of Utah.
Zaven serves as Secretary to the Board of Governors of the Armenian Bar Association and has played an active role in shaping the organization’s strategic approach to Artsakh-related legal matters.
April 2026
Anoush Baghdassarian, of New York, recently authored and filed an amicus brief before the Supreme Court of the United States in Cisco v. Doe, 24-856 (2006), in her capacity as Legal Director of Rerooted. The brief, submitted on behalf of a coalition of Christian minorities persecuted abroad, addresses aiding-and-abetting liability under the Alien Tort Statute and the Torture Victim Protection Act. The submission includes accounts from affected communities in Syria, Egypt, Artsakh, Sudan, and Nigeria.
Anoush is an associate at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, where her practice includes global investigations and white-collar defense, asset recovery and judgment enforcement, class actions, product liability, and sexual misconduct litigation and investigations. Her prior experience includes work with the International Criminal Court and litigation before the International Court of Justice, United Nations treaty bodies, regional courts, foreign national courts, and U.S. courts, as well as investigations in conflict zones and clerking for the Hon. Joseph F. Bianco of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
She received her J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School; her M.A. in Human Rights Studies from Columbia University; and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Claremont McKenna College, with a minor in Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies.
During the 44-Day War on Artsakh, Anoush played a leading role in the Armenian Bar Association’s United Nations Initiative, serving as the primary author of multiple submissions to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and other UN bodies.
David Chambers, of St. Louis, Missouri, recently accepted a position as Managing Counsel, Collateral & Investments, at Reinsurance Group of America. At RGA, he focuses on collateral and investment matters in corporate finance and lending.
Prior to joining RGA, David was an Associate in the Corporate and Finance Transactions group at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP. He also practiced at Akerman LLP and Clifford Chance, focusing on banking and finance. Earlier in his career, he served as a Senior Analyst at the New York Stock Exchange, monitoring mergers and acquisitions and debt covenant compliance for a wide range of public companies.
David earned his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, an M.A. from Columbia University, and a B.A. from Saint Louis University.
Before becoming an attorney, David served in the United States Marine Corps, where he led a team of intelligence specialists and was awarded the Purple Heart Medal and Achievement Medal with Valor Device.
David is an active member of the Association’s Armenian Genocide Reparations Committee and Pogroms Project.
Kahren Harutyunyan recently achieved a confidential $7 million wrongful life medical malpractice settlement, reflecting his dedication to securing meaningful justice in complex and high-stakes matters. In addition to this result, he has obtained notable outcomes, including a $1 million settlement in an assumption of the risk horse-riding case and a $1 million settlement in a premises liability matter.
Kahren is an attorney at Balaban & Spielberger, LLP, where he focuses on complex litigation involving catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, product defects, medical malpractice, and business and government torts.
Before starting his legal career, Kahren had a distinguished 15-year boxing career, earning an amateur national title in 1999. He also played a key role in advocating for local athletes and sports fans, working closely with the City of Glendale, including the City Attorney’s Office, Glendale Police Department, Fire Department, and Parks & Recreation. Following a two-year effort, he successfully helped overturn a 63-year-old ban, leading to nationally televised events at the Glendale Civic Auditorium and generating significant attention and economic benefits to the community.
Kahren earned his Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School and his Bachelor of Arts in English from UCLA.
Arteen Mnayan recently joined the Polsinelli Law Firm’s Los Angeles office as Head of California Land Use Practice, where he leads the firm’s work across California.
Before joining Polsinelli, Arteen practiced for more than eight years at Mayer Brown, focusing on land use and real estate law, where he advised developers, investors, and lenders on entitlement and regulatory matters, including large-scale, mixed-use projects in Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, and Burbank. Earlier in his career, he worked for California State Legislator Khatcho Achadjian, whose mentorship encouraged Arteen to engage in public service and contributed to his subsequent appointment to the Court Reporters Board of California by the President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate. He also served as a judicial extern to Judge Victoria S. Kaufman in the Central District of California.
Arteen is also involved in the policy and planning professional community through organizations including the Valley Industry Commerce Association, the Los Angeles Business Council, and the Central City Association of Los Angeles.
Arteen earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and his B.A. in political science from the University of Southern California. He began his involvement with the Armenian Bar Association as a student member, volunteering on special projects focused on government relations
Aram Ordubegian has been named Managing Partner of ArentFox Schiff’s Los Angeles office.
ArentFox Schiff is an international law firm that provides legal services to businesses, organizations, and individuals across a range of industries, including finance, health care, and technology. Ordubegian is a bankruptcy and financial restructuring attorney with more than 15 years at the firm and serves on its Executive Committee. He previously led the firm’s Financial Restructuring & Bankruptcy and Cannabis Law practices.
Before his current role, Ordubegian focused his practice on reorganization, bankruptcy litigation, and insolvency matters, representing financially distressed entities in restructuring proceedings and related disputes. He joined ArentFox Schiff in 2009.
Earlier in his career, he practiced at an Orange County firm, representing lenders during the California real estate downturn, and later became a partner at Weinstein Weiss & Ordubegian.
Ordubegian is also a longtime member and dedicated supporter of the Armenian Bar Association’s Student Mentorship Program, serving as a mentor and hosting the program at his firm. In addition, he has been a presenter at ArmenBar’s Young Lawyer’s Committee webinars on the topic of cannabis law, sharing insights on the evolving legal landscape.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.
Jacklin Boyadjian was recently featured in LA Weekly, a Los Angeles-based weekly newspaper, and Prestige Magazine, which highlights the achievements of exceptional Armenians worldwide, where she shared her personal journey in the field of law.
Jacklin is the Director of Settlements at Wilshire Law Firm, a large plaintiff-side personal injury and employee rights law firm. Prior to this role, she worked at several Los Angeles–based law firms, where she honed her negotiation skills.
Jacklin previously served as Executive Director of the Armenian Bar Association, advancing the organization’s mission and supporting Armenian legal professionals. Beyond her legal work, she has served as Vice President of the Armenian International Medical Fund for the past 18 years and has participated in medical missions providing care to children and young adults. As an active parent at Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, Jacklin chaired the school’s 55th Anniversary Gala in 2025, leading a record-breaking fundraising effort that raised over $5 million to support school expansion and educational growth. She also serves on the board of directors of the Arpa International Film Festival, the longest-running film festival in Los Angeles.
She earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science from UCLA, followed by a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Pepperdine University. She later earned her Juris Doctor from University of West Los Angeles School of Law in 2016.
Areen Babajanian was recently promoted to Partner at Fisher Phillips, based in the firm’s Los Angeles office. His practice focuses on management-side employment litigation, including wage-and-hour, PAGA, and class action matters.
Prior to joining Fisher Phillips, Areen spent a substantial portion of his career representing employees in employment disputes. His experience includes litigating high-stakes wage-and-hour and representative actions and participating in matters that resulted in published California appellate decisions addressing PAGA and arbitration issues.
Areen earned his B.A. in Economics, summa cum laude, from UCLA in 2008 and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School in 2012. While at Penn Law, he also completed a Business Economics certificate through the Wharton School.
In addition to his legal practice, Areen previously served as a Luys Foundation Fellow in Artsakh and has participated in pro bono work with organizations such as Public Counsel and Bet Tzedek, including matters related to immigration relief for youth.
December 2025
Mariam Kuregyan was recently featured in Variety, a leading entertainment and media publication, for her inspiring journey from nearly two decades at Paramount Pictures to launching Davana Law Firm. The article highlights her pivot from the entertainment industry to personal injury law, and the values that shaped her decision to pursue more direct, human-centered advocacy.
Ms. Kuregyan founded Davana Law Firm in 2017. Prior to that, she worked at Paramount Pictures, where she drafted and negotiated global licensing and distribution agreements. Her background in the entertainment industry contributed to her experience in communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills, which she now applies in her legal practice.
In addition to her legal work, Ms. Kuregyan is actively involved with the Armenian Bar Association, serving as Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors and Co-Chair of the Scholarship Committee. In these roles, she supports the next generation of Armenian legal professionals and contributes to the ABA’s continued growth and community impact.
November 2025
Judge Sharon L. Kalemkiarian was recently awarded the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of San Diego School of Law, the institution’s highest honor. The award recognizes alumni whose careers reflect outstanding professional achievement, leadership, and a sustained commitment to public service.
Judge Kalemkiarian has built a distinguished career in family law and public service. She co-founded Ashworth, Blanchett, Christenson & Kalemkiarian, a woman-owned family law firm focused on complex matters involving children and families. She was later appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the San Diego Superior Court, where she continues to serve with extensive subject-matter experience.
Earlier in her career, Judge Kalemkiarian was actively involved in legislative and policy advocacy for children. Through her work with the Children’s Advocacy Institute, she contributed to the development of public policy while helping train law students in public interest practice.
Judge Kalemkiarian earned her undergraduate degree from Princeton University and her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law.
In addition to her judicial duties, Judge Kalemkiarian has held leadership roles with Kids’ Turn San Diego, the Environmental Health Coalition, and the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, reflecting her longstanding commitment to community service.
Judge Kalemkiarian also serves on the Board of Governors and is a member of the Armenian Bar Association, where she continues to support and advance the Armenian legal community.
Tatevik Asilbekyan recently joined Shegerian & Associates, a firm recognized by the Los Angeles Times as one of the top law practices in the city. In her role, she handles complex plaintiff’s employment litigation cases and offers a unique international perspective shaped by her cross-border legal experience.
Originally an attorney in Spain, Tatevik moved to the United States two years ago. She earned her LL.M. from Loyola Law School in 2024. Following graduation, she was selected for the prestigious ABOTA Victor E. Chavez Fellowship, a competitive program providing immersive trial advocacy training through rotations at a civil defense firm, a plaintiff’s firm, and the chambers of a Los Angeles Superior Court judge.
Tatevik’s leadership journey advanced when she became the first LL.M. graduate—and the fastest alumna ever—to be elected to the LMU Loyola Law School Board of Governors.
Lana Akopyan was recently appointed Chair of the Intellectual Property Committee of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY), one of the nation’s largest and most influential women’s bar organizations.
With over 15 years of experience in intellectual property and technology law, Lana serves as Senior Intellectual Property Counsel at Markem-Imaje (a Dover company), where she leads global IP strategy for software, AI/ML, SaaS, and digital products. She partners with engineering and business teams across the U.S. and Europe to protect high-value software inventions, manage worldwide patent portfolios, negotiate technology and licensing agreements, and advise on risk and competitive landscape strategy.
Before going in-house, Lana spent nearly a decade at Mauriel Kapouytian Woods LLP, rising from associate to partner and representing clients such as Yahoo!, Ericsson, ByteDance (TikTok), Thermo-Fisher, and Novartis. She previously secured hundreds of patents for Samsung Electronics and began her career as a software engineer, giving her a rare technical depth in evaluating complex technologies.
Since 2018, she has also served on the Armenian Bar Association’s Intellectual Property & Technology Committee, where she led key efforts to modernize Armenia’s IP framework, including achieving the country’s first recognition of software as patent-eligible subject matter—a landmark step for Armenia’s innovation ecosystem.
Lana holds a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and a B.A. in Computer Science from Hunter College, and is admitted to the USPTO, New York, and New Jersey bars.
Vartan Bezhanyan was recently appointed as Vice President and Counsel at Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO”), based in the firm’s Newport Beach office. As a member of PIMCO’s Legal and Compliance Department, Vartan focuses on counterparty-facing legal matters, including derivatives, forward and financing transactions, trading documentation, and regulatory implementation initiatives.
Before joining PIMCO, Vartan served as Counsel at Barclays, advising on repurchase agreement financing arrangements and a broad range of derivatives-related matters. He previously held the position of Counsel at The TCW Group, Inc., where he supported the firm’s derivatives and investment advisory functions. Earlier in his career, Vartan was General Counsel of Ardshinbank and a Board Member of Armenia Insurance, where he provided counsel on international financing transactions.
Licensed to practice law in both California and Armenia, Vartan holds an LL.M. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and earned his Ph.D., M.A., and B.A. in Law from Yerevan State University. With nearly two decades of legal experience, Vartan has been an active and valued member of the Armenian Bar Association since 2020.
October 2025
Washington D.C.-based Dean Shahinian is a charter member of the Armenian Bar Association who has been a role model for successive generations of young professionals and community activists. Though known for his many accomplishments as a top Congressional staff member on Capitol Hill for more than thirty years, Mr. Shahinian is perhaps best known for his involvement in the drafting of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 which came about from what was known as the Enron corporate corruption scandals. And for more than thirty years, Mr. Shahinian has been an equally influential force within the Armenian Bar’s D.C.-Maryland-Virginia region. As far back as the early 1990s, he rose to speak at the United States Supreme Court when he sponsored the first group of Armenian Bar lawyers at their swearing-in ceremony, which was followed by a private reception with SCOTUS justices arranged by Mr. Shahinian.
Most recently, Mr. Shahinian was honored with the inaugural Service and Spirit Award by the Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region (ANCA-ER) at its 19th Annual Gala in Washington, D.C. on October 11, 2025. The award recognizes individuals whose
public service and philanthropy strengthen the Armenian Cause and preserve Armenian faith, identity, and heritage.
Mr. Shahinian was recognized for his transformative support of Armenian youth, education, and the Church. As the principal sponsor of the ANCA Rising Leaders program, he has empowered a new generation of Armenian American advocates in Washington, D.C. His philanthropy also extends to Armenian Christian cultural education through his support of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center and the Grace and Paul Shahinian Armenian Christian Art and Culture Lecture Series at The Catholic University of America and California State University, Fresno.
Harry H. Dikranian recently joined Dunton Rainville as a full partner, where he specializes in commercial litigation and serves as general counsel to corporations across a broad range of transactions in Québec. He is now part of a large, multidisciplinary team that provides comprehensive legal services in areas including corporate reorganizations, real estate, immigration, regulatory matters, and municipal affairs.
Dunton Rainville has seven offices across Québec and brings together more than 140 attorneys, notaries, and labor relations advisors.
In 2025, Harry contributed the Québec chapter on Enforcement of Foreign Judgments and a chapter on Force Majeure in Québec Law for Wolters Kluwer’s 2025 editions of their print and online publications.
In addition, Harry continues to serve proudly as a member of the Board of Governors and Past President of the Armenian Bar Association. In 2025, he oversaw the expansion of the Association into a Montreal chapter.
Outside the courtroom, Harry is an avid cyclist and in September 2025 completed his fourth full marathon – a testament to the same discipline and perseverance he brings to his professional life.
September 2025
Lina Khodaverdi, a 3L at Southwestern Law School, has been elected President of the Armenian Law Students Association (“ALSA”) for the 2025–2026 academic year. Southwestern has the largest ALSA of any law school, with more than 100 new and returning members. Each year, ALSA hosts speaker and social events, provides valuable resources such as mentorship programs and outline banks, and fosters a supportive community for law students.
Lina recently participated in Southwestern’s London Study Abroad Program, which she describes as one of the most rewarding experiences of her legal education. She is currently a law clerk in the litigation practice at Tyler & Wilson, LLP, where she focuses on nursing home defense.
The Armenian Bar Association congratulates Lina on this outstanding accomplishment!
Alex Bedrosyan was recently named a founding member of the Steering Committee of Young AMCA (Arbitration and Mediation Center of Armenia). Young AMCA brings together a global network of emerging Armenian professionals in arbitration and mediation to support and promote the Center’s mission and work.
Alex is counsel at Lewis Baach Kaufmann Middlemiss PLLC, where he focuses on international arbitration and cross-border disputes. In July 2025, he was part of the LBKM team that secured a key win in U.S. federal court, with the D.C. District Court confirming an International Centre for the Settlement of Investments Dispute (“ICSID”) annulment award in favor of the firm’s client, Mr. Edmond Khudyan, against the Republic of Armenia.
Alex has also represented the Armenian Bar Association in international human rights forums, including the U.N. Committee Against Torture (2024) and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (2022).
March 2025
Raffi Teperdjian recently joined McDermott Will & Emery’s Technology Transactions team. In this role, he focuses on complex corporate and technology transactional matters, with a particular emphasis on emerging technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence. His experience includes drafting and reviewing services agreements, intercompany agreements, user agreements, terms of service, market making agreements, and counseling clients on regulatory matters related to token launches and crypto-based products and services.
Before joining McDermott, Raffi served as senior counsel at an open-source research and development lab, where he advised on venture capital investments, restructuring and spinouts, asset-based lending, regulatory compliance, and transactions for FinTech, Web3, blockchain, and other technology-driven companies. He has also counseled technology companies on strategic IP transactions as well as data, privacy, and cybersecurity matters at a prior law firm.
In addition to his practice, Raffi teaches Artificial Intelligence Law and Policy at The George Washington University Law School. His scholarship includes authoring the article, ‘The Puzzle of Squaring Blockchain with the General Data Protection Regulation’ published in Jurimetrics, for which he was awarded the Loevinger Prize (2020).
Emma Hakobyan, of Madrid, Spain, Vice President of the Human Rights Commission and International Criminal Justice of Barcelona, was recently honored by the Barcelona Bar Association (ICAB) with the distinguished 2024 Degà Josep Joan Pintó Ruiz Memorial Award. This accolade commemorates the legacy of former Dean Josep Joan Pintó Ruiz and is awarded annually to recognize exceptional legal scholarship in the field of Catalan Civil Law. Hakobyan’s research project, Cláusula rebus sic stantibus, was unanimously selected by a jury of prominent ICAB representatives.
Her study explores the legal doctrine permitting the adaptation of contracts under unforeseen circumstances—a principle particularly pertinent to legal challenges arising from crises such as the La Palma volcanic eruption and the Dana storm in Valencia.
Beyond this prestigious recognition, Hakobyan has contributed to Economist & Jurist, publishing insightful analyses on international law and human rights issues related to the Artsakh conflict. In her work, she provides important historical context, delves into political dynamics, and highlights the difficulties posed by discriminatory and hostile policies.
August 2025
William Paparian, a longtime member of the Armenian Bar Association, was awarded the California Achievement Medal for his meritorious service as a Judge Advocate with the California State Guard. The Medal is awarded to members of the California National Guard who perform outstanding or honorable service. He successfully defended and secured the exoneration of two service members in a case of extreme difficulty. The citation reads: “His unwavering commitment to justice, professionalism, and legal acumen significantly furthered the interests of justice and promoted good order within the California State Guard. Captain Paparian’s accomplishments reflect great credit upon himself, Legal Command, the California State Guard, and the California Military Department.”
In addition to his military service, Paparian has contributed thoughtful commentary through his recent op-eds in Pasadena Now. In “Will the Supreme Court Reinstate Immigration Enforcement Stops?” he examines a federal district court injunction restricting immigration stops and analyzes the Solicitor General’s petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, offering timely insight into a case with broad implications for Fourth Amendment protections and immigration enforcement. In another piece, “Our Military Used for Domestic Law Enforcement is Fraught with Peril,” he explores the dangers and constitutional concerns of employing military forces in domestic law enforcement roles.
Paparian is a founding member of the Armenian Bar Association and served on our inaugural Board of Directors. He was a member of the Pasadena City Council from 1987 to 1999, including a term as Mayor from 1995 to 1997. He is currently a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney.
April 2025
Danielle Mikaelian, a past Armenian Bar Association scholarship recipient and recent Harvard Law graduate, was recently honored as a 2025 Limitless Leadership Award Honoree by Ms. JD. This award honors “…women and organizations who have gone above and beyond in their leadership, in their innovative gender equality initiatives, and in their exceptional commitment to empowering and inspiring future generations of women lawyers.” Other recipients of the award this year included the Executive Vice President of Lowe’s Companies and the Senior Vice President of eBay.
Danielle was also one of ten law students nationwide to be named a 2024 Akerman Scholar on the basis of her achievements in sports and entertainment law. As a student at Harvard, Mikaelian served as Co-Managing Print Editor for the Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law, was a board member for the Committee of Sports and Entertainment Law, and worked pro bono with clients in the entertainment industry through Harvard’s Recording Artists Project.
May 2025
The Honorable Michael R. Amerian will be recognized as Judge of the Year by the San Fernando Valley Bar Association on May 29, 2025. Judge Amerian was appointed as a Judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in 2018. He has sat in Van Nuys for his entire tenure, where he has presided over Family Law, Limited Civil, and Unlimited Civil assignments. The son of the late Justice Richard Amerian, Judge Amerian began his legal career as a Law Clerk for United States District Court Judge Dickran M. Tevrizian, Jr., (Ret.). Following his clerkship, he practiced at a boutique civil litigation firm before joining the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. There, he served as both a civil litigator—defending LAPD personnel in civil rights cases—and as a prosecutor, handling thousands of cases involving a variety of issues.
April 2025
Yelena Archiyan was promoted to partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP effective as of September 2024. Yelena joined Katten’s Dallas office in October 2020. She made a lateral move from Akerman LLP to establish what is now Katten Dallas’s Insolvency and Restructuring practice. Since then, Yelena has played a key role in building and expanding the practice. Yelena advises a broad range of clients in a wide array of industries in complex, restructuring, insolvency, and distressed situations across the country. Katten is a full-service firm with over 700 lawyers across the U.S., London, and Shanghai. Yelena clerked for the Honorable Russell Nelms (ret.) from May 2017 to November 2018. Before focusing her practice on insolvency and restructuring, Yelena practiced international arbitration at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Paris) and Stein Ray (Chicago). Yelena has a B.S. in International Business from Aquinas College, a J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law, and an LL.M. in International Business Regulation, Litigation and Arbitration from New York University School of Law. Yelena was an Armenian Bar Association 20 Under 40 Award recipient in 2022.
April 2025
March 2025
Tigran Palyan of Los Angeles was recently featured in an interview with The Daily Journal about his firm, Storm Palyan LLP. The full article can be found here: https://www.dailyjournal.com/small_firms/1006. A family law practitioner, Tigran also serves on the Board of Governors for the Armenian Bar Association and is an Adjunct Professor at Southwestern Law School. Notably, The Daily Journal has recognized him as one of the top 20 family law attorneys in California in both 2022 and 2025.
March 2025
Astghik Hairapetian, with her co-author, Ahilan Arulanantham, published an article in the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal called “State Employment Authorization,” which analyzes state governments’ ability to hire individuals without federal work authorization. The article is available here: https://www.law.georgetown.edu/immigration-law-journal/in-print/volume-38-issue-3-spring-2024/state-employment-authorization/
Earlier this fall, Astghik discussed her work with ArmenBar’s UN Initiatives program with Audición Gomidas, an Uruguay-based Armenian radio show. The interview can be viewed here:
December 2024
Marina Manoukian is named Member (partnership) to prestigious international law firm Clark Hill, LLP. Marina joined the firm in February 2022 as part of its robust Construction Practice Group. As a certified Family Law Specialist in California, she brought her family law and construction practice expertise to the firm. Clark Hill has over 750 attorneys with 29 offices throughout the United States, Ireland and Mexico. Marina is a graduate of Loyola Law School and University of California-Los Angeles, for her undergraduate studies. Marina is an active member of our Domestic Violence Committee and has assisted on family law matters at the Armenian Bar Association’s Access to Justice Pro Bono Clinic.
December 2024
San Diego County Superior Court Judge Michael P. Pulos has been temporarily appointed as Justice Pro Tem on the Second District Court of Appeal, Seventh Division, by Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, Patricia Guerrero. Upon the completion of this assignment, Judge Pulos will return to his duties on the San Diego Superior Court bench.
Judge Pulos was appointed to the San Diego County Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021. Before this appointment, he served at the California Office of the Attorney General, starting as a Deputy Attorney General in 2012 and then becoming the Supervising Attorney General in 2018.
From 2010 to 2012, Judge Pulos served as a legal adviser to the Honorable Charles N. Bower at the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal. Prior to this role, he worked in private practice as an associate at Latham & Watkins. Judge Pulos began his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Rosemary Barkett of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in 2007, following his graduation from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.
Judge Pulos is also a founder and the first president of the Middle Eastern & North African Judicial Officers of California (www.menajoc.org). He is a member of the Hellenic Law Society of California and the Armenian Bar Association, and he is active in both the Greek and Armenian communities.
November 2024
Harut Minasian joins prestigious global law firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, as an Associate with their Artificial Intelligence practice group and Litigation Department in their New York City office. The A.I. practice group is led by former federal District Court Judge Katherine Forrest (S.D.N.Y.).
Harut, an active member of the Armenian Bar Association since law school, had been clerk to the Honorable Alia Moses in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas before joining Paul, Weiss. He had also previously clerked with the Honorable Gretchen Walsh, New York Supreme Court, Westchester County. Harut was the Chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Working Group on Judicial Administration and A.I., which released its report on A.I. and the NYS Judiciary titled “Artificial Intelligence and the New York State Judiciary: A Preliminary Path.”
November 2024
Judge Larry A. Burns recently retired from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. After 27 years of distinguished service as a federal judge, Judge Burns has joined Judicate West, one of the leading dispute resolution providers nationwide.
He oversees mediation, arbitration, and private judging of cases in a variety of practice areas, ranging from business and contracts, civil rights, personal injury, real estate, and intellectual property.
While Judge Burns had a wonderful career on the bench, he believed the opportunity with Judicate West would be fulfilling for the next stage of his career. Judge Burns tells ArmenBar that, “..[t]he work is equally as stimulating as serving as a federal judge.” The role requires extensive preparation for mediation sessions by reviewing briefs, researching factual and legal issues, identifying the goals of each party, and offering creative solutions.
Judge Burns is an honorary member of the Armenian Bar Association and an advisor to our Judicial Evaluation Committee.
October 2024
Brigitte Malatjalian of Los Angeles has accepted an in-house position with State Farm where she will be practicing insurance defense. Brigitte is an active member of the Armenian Bar’s Pro Bono Committee. She helped establish the Bar’s Access to Justice Pro Bono Clinic while she was still a student at Southwestern Law School. She continues to assist and lead the bi-annual Expungement Clinic to provide those with a criminal history an opportunity to obtain a fresh start. Prior to State Farm, Brigitte practiced in family law.
October 2024
Anthony Babkhanian, member of the ArmenBar’s Armenian Rights Watch Committee, joins the Plaintiff’s Personal Injury firm of Mardirossian Akaragian LLP as an associate attorney. Mardirossian Akaragian, based in Los Angeles, is an award-winning firm with numerous seven-figure settlements and verdicts over its 45 plus years of existence.
Prior to joining the firm, Anthony was second chair on numerous trials and secured favorable settlements and verdicts for his clients. As member of the Armenian Rights Watch Committee, he works on issues affecting Armenians on the local, national, and international levels. Anthony was also recently appointed to the City of Glendale’s Human Relations Committee.
September 2024
Vicky M. Ourfalian is honored to join the Executive Committee of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA) and will be officially installed as the Communications Officer of the Executive Committee at WLALA’s Awards and Installation Dinner on September 13, 2024, for the 2024-2025 board year.
August 2024
Yelena Nersesyan, longtime member of the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut Chapter of the Armenian Bar Association, has joined the New York office of prestigious global law firm, Linklaters. Yelena is now counsel in the Corporate group, launching the firm’s real estate offering in the U.S. Yelena works with clients on real estate matters for corporate and restructuring transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, and corporate finance. She also advises clients on joint ventures, acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, financing and refinancing of commercial real estate properties, including hotels, retail, industrial sites, office buildings and multifamiliy housing throughout the U.S.
George Casey, the leader of the New York M&A team stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Yelena Nerseyan to Linklaters as part of our strategic corporate expansion in the U.S. Yelena’s deep understanding of complex real estate transactions and her ability to navigate multifaceted corporate structures will greatly benefit our clients. Her contributions will be invaluable as we continue to build on our tradition of excellence in serving corporate clients across diverse sectors and geographies.”
Yelena was previously recognized as a Rising Star by the Armenian Bar Association and is Co-Chair of the Scholarship Committee. She is also a member of the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy.
August 2024
Susan Kassapian, of New York, was recently published by the New York Law Journal/Law.Com. The article titled “Defrauded Consumers Harmed by Two New York City Agencies That are Not Doing Their Jobs” was published on July 23, 2024. Susan’s article chronicles her endeavors since retiring as Deputy Commissioner at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) to help restore consumer restitution hearings for defrauded New Yorkers.
Prior to coming to OATH, Susan worked for the New York City Department of Consumer of Affairs (DCA) for over 28 years. During that time, she served as DCA’s Consumer Advocate and Chief of Litigation, Assistant Commissioner and General Counsel, and Principal Administrative Judge. She is an active member of the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut Chapter of the Armenian Bar Association and previously served as Chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Consumer Affairs Committee. She also served on the board of the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators.
September 2023
Judge Zaven V, Sinanian, a founding member of the Armenian Bar Association recently retired from the Los Angeles Superior Court after 21 years of service and joined Signature Resolution, a leader in alternative dispute resolution.
For the past 5 years, Judge Sinanian served as the managing judge of the Court’s Mandatory Settlement Conference Program.
Judge Sinanian previously served on the Board of Directors of the Armenian Bar Association and as Chairperson in 2002.
Judge Sinanian has been involved in many planning committees and activities of ArmenBar and has mentored young lawyers many of whom were members of ArmenBar.
His passion for teaching was evident in the countless hours he spent educating lawyers to become more effective advocates, with special emphasis on promoting civility in the practice of law.
Judge Sinanian has lectured, participated in meetings, and advised the Armenian Bar leadership and planning committees on a variety of issues concerning the management of ArmenBar’s mission.
September 2023
Patrick’s primary practice area is complex commercial litigation at the law firm of Friedman Law Professional Corporation. Prior to practicing in Ontario, Patrick worked at a well-known boutique commercial litigation firm in Miami, Florida. Patrick appears before various levels of courts and numerous administrative tribunals, including representing clients at all levels of Ontario courts and the Court of Appeal for Ontario. He is an active member of the Armenian community in Toronto. Patrick is a board member of the Armenian Bar Association, Ontario Chapter and the Canada-Armenian Business Council. He also practices in the areas of real estate litigation, shareholder disputes, planning and development law, construction law, class actions, professional disciplinary defense, civil forfeiture, commercial leases, employment law, and family law.
May 2022
Artak Paskevichyan is the tort litigation attorney for the Sacramento Regional Transit District. He has been able to utilize his BS in Risk Management and Insurance and his MBA, along with his civil litigation experience, to manage the District’s Risk Department. Artak focuses on high exposure claims, defends the District against lawsuits, and provides advice to various departments. His prior litigation experience includes medical malpractice, premises liability, and automobile liability defense. Artak was recognized as one of 2021 Super Lawyers Rising Stars. He has been a member of the Armenian Bar Association since law school, which provided him valuable guidance. He is motivated to mentor and provide advice to aspiring attorneys.
January 2022
Dorine Martirosian
December 2021
The Board of Governors of the Armenian Bar Association unanimously appointed Giselle Davidian and Vartanoush Hindoyan as co-chairs of the Young Lawyers Committee on December 6, 2021. Giselle Davidian is an associate lawyer at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP in Toronto, Canada. Giselle provides specialist advice and solutions to clients on all aspects of environmental laws across sectors, including transaction due diligence, regulatory compliance, defense of prosecutions and environmental litigation. Varty Hindoyan currently serves as Associate General Counsel in the Brands and Marketing team of Meta (formerly known as Facebook) and is based out of Los Angeles, California. Varty supports marketing teams across the Meta portfolio in the development and execution of global consumer marketing initiatives, providing strategic advice on advertising, intellectual property, privacy, and related regulatory matters. The Young Lawyers Committee strives to support the rising generation of legal professionals by engaging with and cultivating lawyers early in their careers (those practicing for less than 10 years) in both professional development and community building. To that end, the YLC provides events and programming across North America, both virtual and in person, including seminars, workshops, and networking opportunities.
December 2021
Armen Tashjian, a Glendale, California-based trial attorney, is listed by Top Verdict in two of its highly-prized lists, the Top 20 Personal Injury Verdicts in California and the Top 100 Personal Injury Verdicts in the United States. Armen is a longtime member of the Armenian Bar and an integral member of the Association’s Pro Bono Committee, assisting the indigent in a variety of matters, most recently in the area of elder abuse. He is also involved in various community endeavors and institutions, including service on the Board of Directors of St. John Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church in Hollywood, California. In the case that earned him top honors (Cassady v. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority), the jury awarded Armen’s client $2,239,350.00, number 14 on the California list and number 66 on the United States list. The case involved a 67 year-old plaintiff who was riding his bicycle within a bike lane when he observed a transient walking in the same direction and pushing an overloaded grocery cart, blocking plaintiff’s lane of travel. The plaintiff attempted to bypass the transient and briefly moved into the number three lane when he was side-swiped by a Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority Bus. Armen successfully contended that the bus was traveling at a speed excessive for relevant traffic conditions and failed to look forward for a period of 10-15 seconds. He argued that the bus, being in an elevated position, provided the bus operator with the best clear chance of observing the plaintiff. The bus operator claimed that she sounded her horn, but the video-tape had no sound and Armen argued that there was no convincing explanation for the missing soundtrack. Armen also practices Immigration Law and matters relating to Medical Malpractice, Insurance Bad Faith and Real Estate Broker and Lender Fraud.
November 2021
Aram A. Gavoor, a leading member of the Armenian Bar from his student days to his integral role at the United States Department of Justice and then to the White House, has been appointed by the George Washington University School of Law as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. As Dean, he will oversee the part-time faculty program, teaching, and researching.
Most recently, Aram was a panelist speaker on the subject of “Executive Orders in Theory and Practice” hosted by the American Bar Association. The panel discussed the practical and legal limits of executive orders in the modern administrative state.
Aram, who is active in a number of the Armenian Bar’s standing committees, was recognized in 2019 as a Rising Star: Top 20 Under 40 at the Association’s gala banquet in New York. He also has been honored with GW Law’s Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award from the 2017 and 2020 graduating classes. In 2021, the National Law Journal named Aram a DC Rising Star Honoree.
Aram’s co-authored work was cited by the United States Supreme Court in Department of Commerce v. New York (2019). His scholarship has earned him placement in the Florida Law Review, Indiana Law Journal, Ohio State Law Journal, Administrative Law Review, and other legal journals and periodicals.
October 2021
Vartges Saroyan was recently selected as a Compliance Program Director at Northwell Health, the largest private employer and healthcare provider in New York State. Prior to joining Northwell, he served nearly nine years at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Justice, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Vartges is an active member of the Association’s NY/NJ/CT Chapter. He has been recognized by the Armenian Bar Association as a Rising Star: Top 20 Under 40, and by the American Bar Association as On the Rise: Top 40 Young Lawyers. Vartges is a licensed real estate broker in New York and New Jersey. He serves sellers, purchasers, landlords and investors in both states.
September 2021
Steve Gokberk has joined the Kohan Law Group, located in Manhasset, New York, as trial counsel. Steve will continue his focus on plaintiff’s personal injury and medical malpractice as well as various other areas of civil litigation. His case results are in the multi-millions with settlements and decisions published in the New York Law Journal, Verdict Search and WestLaw. In October 2019, Steve was awarded as one of the “Top 20 Under 40 Rising Stars” by the Armenian Bar Association. He has also been named as a top “40 Under 40” by the Long Island Business News and has been recognized as a “Super Lawyers” New York Metro Area Rising Star every year since 2018. Steve serves as the Co-Chair of the Armenian Bar Association’s Newsletter Committee and New York/New Jersey/Connecticut Chapter Board, the Associate Board of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers and the Board of the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief, New York Chapter.
August 2021
On July 22, 2021, Elina Avakian of Los Angeles, California, received the In-House Counsel Leadership Award by Los Angeles Times B2B Publishing in the Mid-Sized Public Company category (301-3,000 employees). Elina is Senior Counsel at Snap Inc., which is a publicly traded social media and camera company. She is also co-lead of Snap Women LA, which is the company’s employee resource group that helps support, empower, and advance women at Snap.
July 2021
Sheila Paylan has been appointed by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to a select team of international experts mandated by the UN Human Rights Council as its Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Specialist. Sheila will lend assistance to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in investigating and prosecuting violations of international criminal, humanitarian and human rights law. She is an international law and human rights expert who regularly advises non-governmental organizations as well as governments themselves , including the Republic of Armenia in the aftermath of the 2020 Artsakh conflict. Currently based in Kinshasa (DRC), Sheila otherwise divides her time between The Hague and Yerevan.
Eric Altoon of Porter Ranch, California was recently appointed to a two-year term to the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA). As a trustee, Eric is among a select group of leaders who plan and determine the future of LACBA in terms of membership, outreach, sponsorship, CLE programming and networking. Previously, Eric was the Chair of LACBA’s Real Property Section, where he has volunteered for the past 24 years. Eric has his own real estate transactional law practice, which encompasses acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, finance, construction and sustainability. He is the son of Armenian Bar Honorary Member, Judge Alice Altoon, and of world-renowned architect, Ronald Altoon.
Tigran Palyan of Palyan Law, APC was recently appointed to the Los Angeles County Bar’s Association’s (LACBA) Delegation to the California Conference of Bar Associations (CCBA). The Delegation directs the study of legislative resolutions proposed to the CCBA in seeking, debating, and promoting creative, non-partisan legislation for the benefit of Californians. The proposed legislative resolutions are intended to improve access to justice, advancing education of lawyers, fostering professional excellence, and supporting the judicial system of California, among other things. Tigran serves on the Executive Committees of the LACBA and Beverly Hills Bar Association Family Law Sections and is a Certified Family Law Specialist. Tigran also teaches as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Southwestern Law School. He is a longtime member of the Armenian Bar Association, having served on many of its committees and currently serves on its Domestic Violence, Student Affairs, and Pro-Bono Committees. Tigran has been recognized as a “Top 20 under 40 Rising Stars” by the Armenian Bar Association, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers.
May 2021
Kathryn Ossian publishes “Social Media and the Law” with the Practising Law Institute (PLI) Press. Social Media and the Law can help readers minimize the risk of litigation and other legal problems arising from the use of social media platforms. The guide covers a wide range of issues including privacy, copyright and trademark, defamation, employment matters, and discovery. Kathy has previously been a Co-Vice Chair of the Armenian Bar Association and an active member of its Board of Governors. She graduated in the top of her class from Michigan State University College of Law and has been lauded as one of the top lawyers in information technology. Kathy has also been a frequent speaker and author on a variety of IT law topics and trends. As of May 1, 2021, Kathy has retired from Ossian Law P.C. and is continuing to practice law as Of Counsel to Schuster Law PLC and Of Counsel to Young Basile.
Rouman Ebrahim appointed Assistant Head Deputy of the Cyber Crime Division at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Rouman will be in charge of the day-to-day operations of a team at the Division which prosecutes cases involving online child exploitation, identity theft, hacking, and other internet-based crimes. The Division also provides training and instruction on cyber issues to law enforcement, adjacent industries, community groups, and other attorneys. Rouman has been active in the Armenian-American community as a Constitutional Rights Foundation Mock Trial coach for several Armenian schools and a volunteer with the Armenian Bar Association. Rouman was formerly the Deputy-in-Charge of the Victim Impact Program and has served for decades at the District Attorney’s Office.
April 2021
Raffi Teperdjian wins the Loevinger Prize for his contribution to Volume 60 of Jurimetrics, The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology. Raffi’s article on “The Puzzle of Squaring Blockchain with the General Data Protection Regulation” addresses the regulatory conflicts of blockchain data governance model variations in EU privacy law and the relevant failings of EU regulators. Raffi is a law clerk with Ropes & Gray LLP in Washington D.C. and works extensively in financial technology, intellectual property, data privacy, and cybersecurity. He is a graduate of George Washington University Law School and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems and Finance from James Madison University. Raffi has worked on systems development and big data analysis projects in both federal and commercial information technology consulting. His articles have been published in The National Law Review and the Journal of Cyber Policy. Jurimetrics is the official journal of the American Bar Association’s Section of Science and Technology Law and the annual Loevinger Prize is awarded to the author of an article to make the best contribution to the field.
March 2021
Shant Karnikian joins the partnership at the leading plaintiffs’ law firm, Kabateck, LLP. Over the past eight years, Shant’s practice has focused on insurance bad faith, catastrophic injury, and the firm’s trial practice. At Kabateck, Shant has been second chair in numerous long cause trials and has secured over $100 million in verdicts and settlements for his clients. In 2019, Shant was a finalist for the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) Rising Star Award in recognition of his significant achievements as a trial lawyer. Currently, Shant is a Director of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s (LACBA) Counsel for Justice initiative and he serves on the Board of Governors of Loyola Law School and the Consumer Attorneys of California.
February 2021
January 2021
January 2020
October 2019
June 2019
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a decree on Wednesday appointing the co-founder and chief executive of Yerevan’s Impact Hub and a Armenian Bar member Sara Anjargolian to serve as the chief of staff of the newly-established High Commission of Diaspora Affairs. In 2014, Anjargolian co-founded the Impact Hub Yerevan and served as its chief executive while serving on the Impact Hub Global Association board. The international organization bills itself as “a member-based network of changemakers. Part innovation lab, part business incubator, and part community center, we offer our members a unique ecosystem of resources, inspiration, and collaboration to grow impact.” More on this story here.
Armenian Bar Member Marina Manoukian, Head of Family Law at ADLI Law Group will be among a list of other business women honored by the Women’s Council Awards for her hard work and achievements in the city of Los Angeles. The Women’s Council Awards is a half day event that recognizes top business women in Los Angeles for their hard work and outstanding achievements.
May 2019
Long standing member and proud supporter of the Armenian Bar Association, the Honorable Barry P. Sarkissian retired from the bench in July 2018. He served as a judge on the Vicinage 6 Superior Court in New Jersey and was appointed to the bench in 2005, obtaining tenure status in 2012. He now practices as Counsel in the Arbitration and Dispute Resolution group of Schumann Hanlon Marguiles LLC, in New Jersey.
April 2019
On April 2, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres named Armenian Bar Association member Nicholas Koumjian as head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar. The investigation was established by the U.N. Human Rights Council on Sept. 27, 2018, and welcomed by the General Assembly on Dec. 22. Mr. Koumjian has served as the international co-prosecutor for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia since 2013.
February 2019
ArmenBar member Steve Gokberk obtained a $274,000 verdict in a Suffolk County motor vehicle case wherein a 33 year-old client was struck from behind by the defendant. The client sustained injuries to her neck, back and knee, but did not undergo any surgeries or injections. The jury awarded $24,000 for past pain and suffering and $250,000 for future pain and suffering. Mr. Gokberk currently practices personal injury and medical malpractice law throughout New York as an associate at Salenger Sack Kimmel and Bavaro. In 2018, he was was recognized a New York Metro Super Lawyer, Rising Star and given the designation as a “Top 40 under 40” by the National Trial Lawyers.
ArmenBar member Marina Samson of Ivie McNeill & Wyatt, APC obtained a default judgment against rapper Desiigner for posting defamatory remarks on his Instagram about College Gurl, LLC President, Jessica Brown. Desiigner was ordered to pay Brown $185,000 in economic and emotional damages for defamation and invasion of privacy. College Gurl, LLC educates students and families on how to pay for college. In 2017, Desiigner hired Brown to mentor his sister and help her get into Howard University. Through Brown’s mentorship, Desiigner’s sister was enrolled into a summer program at the university to improve her grades, and was ultimately accepted to Howard University. Read more here. Ivie McNeill & Wyatt, APC is an accomplished law firm with a diverse range of practice areas.
ArmenBar sponsor YMPK Law Group, LLP were pleased to announce their involvement in a project of the international rap artist Drake, announcing that “It was an honor to provide legal services for the music video of God’s Plan.” The song, God’s Plan, featured in the video took home the 2019 Grammy for Best Rap song. YMPK is a civil litigation firm in Los Angeles, CA.
January 2019
Aslin Koskel Tutuyan makes partner at The Mandell Law Firm, which announced: “Aslin joined our firm 11 years ago as a brand new attorney fresh out of law school. Since then, she has worked countless hours, sought out experienced mentors, fought glorious battles and earned the respect of clients, juries and colleagues. And today, we are so proud to announce that she earned the well deserved title of Partner at The Mandell Law Firm! Aslin, we are so proud of you and your hard work, dedication and loyalty and congratulate you on becoming the newest Partner at our firm!” Aslin is also a volunteer mock trial coach at AGBU MDS.
Civil Rights Attorney Narine Mkrtchyan represented three brothers against the city of Pomona in reaching a settlement agreement to pay her clients $700,000 to resolve a federal civil rights lawsuit that claimed Pomona police officers violently and unlawfully arrested them in 2015. It will be the third settlement the city has paid in the past several years in cases in which Pomona police officers were accused of misconduct. “The settlement reached before trial was a successful resolution for my clients, victims of police brutality, who were attacked and arrested in front of their homes while getting ready to go to work, and then were false accused of crimes they never committed,” said Narine. Read more here.
As a veteran Deputy District Attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, ArmenBar member and lead mock trial coach at AGBU MHS Rouman Ebrahim will now be serving as the Deputy-in-Charge of the Victim Impact Program in the Van Nuys Branch. This comes after almost 14 years of being assigned to downtown (8 years in Sex Crimes Division and 5+ years in Cyber Crime Division). The Victim Impact Program handles cases involving sex crimes, domestic violence, child abuse, hate crimes, elder abuse, and stalking. “I look forward to working with the amazing prosecutors in Van Nuys VIP,” said Rouman.