June Edition

FMBK Summer Program Chairs Alleen Markarian & Steve Mindel Welcome Our 2024 Summer Associates & Launch FMBK University!

FMBK University is our team's latest initiative designed to accelerate the onboarding process and initial training of our new team members. Our three Summer Associates spent their first week with the FMBK team attending classes taught by our family law attorneys, learning everything from the initial client meeting to trial preparation.

"Thank you to our FMBK attorneys for dedicating their time and expertise into creating phenomenal presentations. The depth of knowledge our attorneys have to offer along with their dedication to mentorship never ceases to amaze me. Special thanks to our Managing Partner, Steve Mindel, for his help getting our educational training project off the ground and running. It has been incredibly rewarding watching this project continue to be built upon and improved for this year's Summer Associates and for our future onboards."

-Alleen Markarian

FMBK Attorney, Chair of the FMBK Summer Program,

& Co-Chair of the FMBK University Initiative

FMBK Partners Irwin Feinberg &

Tyrrell Nunez Presenting on Discovery Motions

FMBK Partners Megan Green & Tyrrell Nunez Presenting on Litigating Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

FMBK Senior Associates Tin Le & Anthony Lai Presenting on Drafting & Responding to Discovery

FMBK Partner

Alex Grager & Associate Attorney Maya Doron Presenting on

Initial Custody RFOs

FMBK Partner Thomas Simpson & Associate Attorney Ariana Sisoian Presenting on Judgements, Stipulations & Orders

FMBK Partner Greg Girvan Presenting on Legal Writing & Trial Preparation

FMBK Partner Robert Brandt & Associate Attorney Julia Matzenger Presenting on Initial Client Interviews

Meet our 2024 Summer Associates!

Sara DeLacey

UCLA School of Law

Christine Desbois

USC Gould School of Law

Lindsey Hoyt

Loyola Law School

We look forward to the summer ahead with these three on the FMBK Team!

Anthony Lai, CFLS* - 1 Year Anniversary Practicing Family Law with the FMBK Team 

“My first year at FMBK has been marked by significant personal and professional growth, to which I am very grateful. After receiving my Certified Family Law Specialization from the State Bar of California, I sought a place where I could make an impactful contribution to those facing difficult family law challenges such as divorce, custody, or domestic violence. I found that opportunity at Feinberg Mindel Brandt & Klein LLP. Over the past year, I've gained more experience and have had the privilege of working collaboratively with a team of dedicated and committed family law professionals.

A memorable case this year involved defending a client against a modification of custody. My client had previously obtained a restraining order against the father of their child. After the client and her daughter moved out of state, the father brought an action, after the restraining order had lapsed, to increase his custodial time and modify custody to have equal parenting rights. We were able to transfer the case out of California before any substantive matters could be heard. Additionally, the court commented during the hearing that much of the behavior observed in our evidence against the father's request still constituted abuse within the definition of California’s Domestic Violence Prevention Act, making the likelihood of a modification in favor of the father unlikely. This outcome was a significant victory for our client and her daughter's well-being.

I am thankful for the privilege of working with amazing staff and attorneys, everyday. I look forward to many more years of serving our clients with dedication, empathy, and excellence to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the families we touch.”

-Anthony Lai, CFLS*

FMBK Senior Associate



*Certified Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

AAML National Webinar Committee Chair Steve Mindel Moderates This Month's Webinar:

This presentation covers Alternative Asset Management firms, such as hedge funds, private equity, venture capital and other forms of complex income sources which lead to complicated support issues. Learn about how these different types of structures lead to different equity compensation, as well as the complicated ways to determine income available for support for each. These differing types of compensation present attorneys and parties with alternatives to reach agreements for creative ways to pay support. The panel addresses the tax consequences and considerations to be made when these types of compensation are involved.

FMBK Partners Alex Grager and Robert Brandt Attend the Northern California Chapter's 47th Annual AAML Symposium in Napa

The AAML Nor Cal 47th Annual Symposium focused on advanced topics, including complex marital standard of living and support issues; joint ownership of a business post-judgment; psychological testing; options for post-judgment relief; drafting and enforcement of premarital agreements (in light of the ever-changing case law); technological challenges in our practices (including forensic imaging and artificial intelligence); complicated issues facing clients’ children; and featured an exciting panel discussion on ethics and bias.