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An Interview with Lisa Helfend Meyer

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Lisa Helfend Meyer is an accomplished family law strategist and trial attorney who has exclusively practiced family law for more than 30 years. She concentrates her practice on high-conflict child custody litigation, while also representing high-net-worth individuals in complex dissolutions. Her clients include celebrities, professional athletes, and prominent business executives. Here, Meyer, who is certified as a family law specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, reflects on the growth of her firm, Meyer, Olson, Lowy & Meyers, LLP (MOLM), which she founded with partners Doreen Marie Olson, Dana Lowy, and Felicia R. Meyers.

While many law firms are facing mass layoffs and even closures, MOLM continues to expand, recently opening an Irvine, Calif., office; what do you attribute this growth to?

Lisa Helfend Meyer: We’ve been able to remain a stable presence in the family law community because of our focus on bringing in the right people. Over our history we’ve hired new attorneys who have become trailblazers in the legal profession; and, with a current roster of 19 attorneys who all exclusively practice family law, we can offer a collective depth of experience that distinguishes us from other family law firms in California.

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I think clients also appreciate that we are discreet advocates, as many of them are high-net-worth individuals with multimillion-dollar estates and high-value assets. Their cases may involve high-conflict, sensitive issues, but you won’t read about them in the news, and that’s the way our firm likes it.

What resources does your firm offer when it comes to these high-asset cases?

LHM: With complex marital property issues — business valuations, hidden assets, deferred compensation, tax implications, assets characterization, real estate holdings — we’ve truly seen it all. And not only are our attorneys experienced in analyzing financial estates, but they also work with forensic accountants, private investigators, securities and tax professionals, and other financial consultants to safeguard our clients’ interests.

Most importantly, though, we use our experience and resources to tailor our services to our clients’ specific needs and situations, securing successful outcomes through a more personalized approach.

So you take a more holistic view when advising clients?

LHM: Right, because while we are unafraid of confrontation and always prepared to successfully present our clients’ cases to the court, we also empathize with our clients’ circumstances and want to empower them during this difficult process.

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When people come to us they are going through one of the worst periods of their lives. Many of them are highly successful in business and are used to being in total control; and, as a result, a lot of pent-up, painful emotions surface during their divorce. We help them work through these emotions to where they can start their new lives in the best place possible.

Regardless of whether we are representing men or women, we want our clients to know that they’re not just enveloped in this horrible process where they have no control — they have options. And part of that is making sure they are involved in the process and understand that choices have consequences.

You have an impressive track record of trial success in an area of family law that is particularly emotional — high-conflict child custody litigation. What drew you to this area?

LHM: In my practice I handle everything from contested adoptions and paternity matters to issues of support and child custody. I also focus on complex child relocation, or move-away, cases within California and the United States, but also internationally as well.

These, then, are challenging matters, which require attorneys with both the legal knowledge and emotional fortitude to handle all of their complexities. Our clients have a great deal to lose, so it is all the more satisfying when we win. And ultimately, I enjoy the challenge of trying cases, as I would rather roll up my sleeves and tackle matters people think are impossible than take on cases I could do with my eyes closed.

Meyer, Olson, Lowy & Meyers, LLP
10100 Santa Monica Boulevard
Suite 1425, Los Angeles, CA 90067
ph: 310.277.9747 | fax: 310.277.4847

2211 Michelson, Suite 340
Irvine, CA 92614
ph: 949.397.3977 | fax: 949-800-1309
www.molfamlaw.com

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