Baghdaserians Law Group Inc.

In 2019, while practicing family law within a large firm, Patrick Baghdaserians yearned for personal and professional growth and a new challenge. He decided it was time to start his own boutique family law firm. Three weeks later. he and firm partner Daniel Leonetti opened the doors to Baghdaserians Law Group. The firm has since grown to six attorneys and 10 staff members.

"No one expected the growth and the success to come this fast. I figured it would take three to four years for us to get up and running, to have a multi-attorney firm." Baghdaserians said. "And the types of cases we're handling are getting bigger and better over time. and we're handling more complex matters."

Baghdaserians Law Group specializes in complex family law litigation, including divorce. child support determination. child custody and visitation. spousal support determination, domestic violence, division of property, business valuation and more.

Family law is a different animal than civil law. Baghdaserians said. because disputes often have multiple actions and involve many legal areas. In a personal injury case. for example. there might be one cause
of action, such as a car accident. With a divorce, you could have many issues to sort through, such as custody of children, how to split a business, domestic violence issues or spousal abuse.

"It's truly a melting pot area of law." Baghdaserians said. "If you want to be a really good family law litigator in California you have to be a Swiss Army knife. You have to. There's no way you can be a well­rounded family law litigator in California without having an understanding of the Civil Discovery Act. the Evidence Code. procedure. Family Code, and in some instances. an understanding of the Probate Code."

In addition to the breadth of expertise. the attorneys· attention to detail and care for clients is what distinguishes Baghdaserians Law Group from other firms. said co-founder and partner Leonetti.

"The opposition may not be thinking clearly or rationally. and sometimes your clients have the potential to be blinded by emotion," he said. "Throughout the whole life of the case. it's important for an attorney to keep that in mind, to be especially sensitive - because this isn't just about numbers, this is about people's lives."

Though the firm's cases are confidential. Baghdaserians did discuss a recent "move-away" matter. These types of cases involve heart-wrenching, difficult decisions for judicial officers, he said, because when one parent moves away with a child, it necessarily negatively impacts the other parent's custodial rights and relationship.

Baghdaserians advocated for the relocation of a minor child outside the United States for a client that held an important role at an NGO working on redevelopment in Central America. Despite very strict requirements in dealing with international move-aways, the firm pushed forward with the case. relying on case law and cross-examination of the other parent. Baghdaserians convinced the judicial officer to grant the client's request.

"This was a very, very difficult case. I believe one or two other family law litigators who were approached with the case declined to take it because they said it would never be granted," Baghdaserians said. 'That's the second international move-away I've been able to accomplish."