September Edition

Our Pasadena Doors Are Officially Open! FMBK's Newest Office Location

Our 2023 Pasadena Top Attorneys are looking forward to serving the local community!

Our Certified Family Law Specialists* that will be based in the Pasadena office include (pictured L to R) Anthony Lai, Tyrrell Nunez (FMBK Partner) , & Tom Simpson (FMBK Partner)

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

The FMBK Team Celebrates Our September Milestones:

Megan Green - 15 Years Practicing Family Law at FMBK

"In my 15 years at FMBK, I have had the honor to assist many families and experience many memorable moments with my clients and colleagues. One remarkable and rewarding case comes to mind. The matter had been pending for a couple of years, involving litigation on many issues including child custody, child and spousal support, various business valuations, division of real properties, bifurcation of the marital status, and multiple discovery disputes. We appeared in court on a Motion to Compel Responses to Request for Admissions and monetary sanctions, and were gearing up for a bifurcated trial on the issue of the characterization of various business entities. We certainly were not appearing that day for any settlement conference. However, on the date of the court proceeding, we found ourselves crunching numbers, vigorously researching the law, drafting and redrafting the settlement agreement, and settling issues one by one in an impromptu voluntary settlement conference as we were cheered on by the judicial staff.

The 13^th century poet, Rumi, wrote “Somewhere beyond right and wrong, there is a garden, I’ll meet you there.” As a family law attorney, I have often cherished the wisdom of this passage.  I had often envisioned Rumi’s garden to be on a majestic plateau, never the courthouse. 

Despite the spontaneity of the settlement conference, the complexity of the case, the heightened emotions and intense dialogue, the stipulated judgment was signed. One party walked over and gave the other party a hug and said “We did it.” In that moment, I realized that we had made it to the garden. I felt tremendous gratitude to bear witness to both parties’ grace and also for the opportunity to usher them through this journey on to the next chapter for their family."

-Megan Green, CFLS*, FMBK Equity Partner

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

Chelsea Stevens - 5 Years Practicing Family Law at FMBK

"As I reflect on the last five years with FMBK, one feeling comes to mind: gratitude. I am incredibly grateful to work in an office that supports my individual development as a lawyer in ways that are most interesting and fulfilling to me personally. I am grateful for the incredible mentorship I have received from our amazing team of lawyers and am grateful to learn from them every day. Most of all, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our clients and their families. I’m excited to see what the future brings and grow with FMBK."

-Chelsea Stevens, FMBK Senior Associate

FMBK Is Now Accepting Applications for our 2024 Summer Program!

Application Deadline is Wednesday October 25th, 2023

Steve Mindel, AAML National Webinar Committee Chair, Moderates the Webinar:

The Future Law Office, What will it look like and how will it affect our law practices?

Register for the FREE prerecorded webinar where various members of the AAML Law Practice Management & Technology Committee engage in thought-provoking conversation about changes that are impacting our businesses and how all of our law practices should be considering changes to our day to day procedures, from the technology that we use, to how we will handle remote work vs. in-person, and contract work, in order to transition smoothly into the Future Law Office.

BHBA Family Law Section Chairs Chelsea Stevens & Erin Grey Present for the "Direct Examination" Webinar Series

Each month on Direct Examination, Dan Bemel and Lauren Youngman interview a Family Law practitioner, judicial officer, or mediator. The conversations focus on various technical aspects of family law practice: how to build a case, managing relationships with clients, arguments judicial officers find most persuasive, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

Dan and Lauren often discuss how to work most effectively with opposing counsel, especially when faced with difficult personalities or aggressive styles. Grounded in case law and the code, together Dan and Lauren also explore each guest’s personal and professional history including key moments in their career, landmark family law cases, and legislation that has special resonance.

FMBK Sponsors the Upcoming BHBA State of Department 2

This year, The BHBA Family Law Section will present the Family Law Legend Award to Betty L. Nordwind of Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law, welcome incoming chairs Ashley K. Quan and Ava Jahanvash, and thank the outgoing chairs Erin and Chelsea for all of their hard work. Judge Shelley L. Kaufman, Supervising Judge of LASC Family Law Division will present the State of Department 2.

We look forward to Congratulating Chelsea Stevens and Erin Grey on a successful year serving as Co-Chairs of the Beverly Hills Bar Association's Family Law Section! The FMBK Team is proud to sponsor this important annual event.

Join us on October 26th, 6pm PST at the Maybourne in Beverly Hills