Sharon Kalemkiarian | Partner
Certified Family Law Specialist, State Bar of California Board of
Legal Specialization
Sharon Kalemkiarian, a founding member of the firm, has more than 20 years of experience in a great variety of Court proceedings involving families. Her practice includes the full spectrum of services clients require when going through a legal separation or dissolution, from litigation to complicated settlement proceedings to mediation. She also has expertise in the areas of guardianship and juvenile law, for clients requiring representation in those Courts. Each client is assured assistance that will meet their unique needs, whether the case involves the division of a complex estate involving a variety of assets, or requires caring and effective resolution of custody disputes.
Ms. Kalemkiarian came to the practice of family law after years as a child advocate at the national, state and local level. A skilled litigator who has prevailed in many complicated trial and appellate cases, she encourages out-of-court resolution of disputes when possible. Ms. Kalemkiarian has completed extensive training in divorce mediation, and both conducts and represents clients in settlement proceedings.
By appointment of the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, Ms. Kalemkiarian served for nine years as a member of the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee, which advises the Judicial Council of California on current issues in family and juvenile law. She is a regular contributor, by invitation, to the California Family Law Monthly, published by LexisNexis.
In the Spring of 2010, Ms. Kalemkiarian was Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of San Diego School of Law, teaching a full semester course in Family Law. From 1993 to 1996, she served as the Supervising Attorney of the Child Advocacy Clinic at the University of San Diego School of Law. An active community leader, she has served as the President of the Kids' Turn San Diego Board for over ten years, and is a longtime Board Member of the Environmental health Coalition.
As a leading voice for children in San Diego County, she oversaw the design and implementation of a new system of care for children's mental health, as the Director of Project Heartbeat. She is a frequent author of opinion editorial pieces regarding public policy and children.
Ms. Kalemkiarian is fluent in German and has a conversational knowledge of Spanish.
Honors
2007-2010 San Diego Super Lawyers®
2007 San Diego Daily Transcript Top Attorney in Family Law
Outstanding Woman Lawyer of the Year/Fay Stender Award -
California Women Lawyers, 2000
Legal Professional of the Year, San Diego County Bar
Association, 1997
Skaaden-Arps Fellow, Legal Aid Society, 1991
Affiliations
President and Board Member, Kids’ Turn San Diego
Member, San Diego County and California Bar Association
Family Law Section
Member, Executive Committee, Certified Family Law Specialists,
San Diego
Founder and Member, Children at Risk Committee,
San Diego County Bar Association
Member, Lawyers Club of San Diego and the Armenian Bar
Association
Board Member, Environmental Health Coalition of San Diego
Education
University of San Diego School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude,
1989
Princeton University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1979
