LACBA Family Law Section installs new officers

Tigran Palyan was installed as the 60th chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Family Law Section at its annual Installation Dinner, using the occasion to call for greater investment in the next generation of family lawyers.

More than 400 guests attended the Aug. 22 event at the Skirball Cultural Center, which featured a "Hooray for Hollywood" theme and performances evoking the Rat Pack, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and Marilyn Monroe.

Palyan, founding partner of Palyan Hiett LLP, tied the evening's old Hollywood theme to his own history. Born in Armenia, he immigrated to Los Angeles at age 6 and grew up in Hollywood before eventually entering family law.

After law school, Palyan worked as a research attorney at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse and later practiced at Trope and Trope LLP, where he was mentored by Sorrell Trope, the prominent divorce attorney whose name now adorns the section's trial institute.

Palyan said his primary goal as chair will be establishing a pipeline for young family law attorneys. He announced that the section's new Summer Associate Program is moving forward, with firms already signed up to host, train and pay law students.

"It is a triple win," Palyan said, describing a program intended to give students training, help firms identify talent and provide more lawyers for families who need representation.

Other officers sworn in were Lynda Sheridan, chair-elect; Veronika Melamed, vice chair; David Shebby, secretary; and Steven Yoda, treasurer.

The evening also honored Judge Lawrence P. Riff, head of the Los Angeles County Superior Court's Civil Division, with the Spencer Brandeis Award, Judge Shelley Kaufman, head of the Los Angeles County court's Family Law division, with the Distinguished Judicial Service Award and attorney Cari Pines with the Distinguished Service Award.

Palyan said the section's broader mission extends beyond professional networking to improving the justice system.

"Our section," he said, "aims not just for attorneys to network, but rather to come together for a purpose."