Magazine Summer 2009 A lawyer apart
A lawyer apart
When Tigran Martinian first set foot in Los Angeles at 16, he didn’t know where he was headed, nor did he speak a word of English. But, he knew one thing: how to stand up for the underdog with his bare hands, which often got him in trouble with school authorities back home in Yerevan, Armenia.
Today, at 35, he looks like he just stepped straight off a Godfather movie set. But, upon closer examination I find out, he leads a multi-million dollar law firm in Los Angeles that provides a voice for thousands of people caught in the long arm of the United States justice system or wronged by powerful defendants, such as National Oilwell and City of Westminster, to name a few.
His clients are colorful, diverse and high-powered and span the many layers of the American culture from celebrities to blue-collar workers. Other lawyers may have won greater verdicts or resolved a greater number of high profile criminal cases, but I doubt anyone can catch up with Martinian’s 777 miles per hour success train as a rainmaker, litigator and a zealous advocate for his clients in and out of court, all at the same time.
His fiery charm and persuasive negotiation skills no doubt go a long way in a courtroom, but what sets him apart from other lawyers, I’m told by his peers, is the way he identifies with clients, opponents, judges and jurors, alike. They like him, because he comes off like he’s one of them, but interestingly, Martinian credits being Armenian as the biggest factor of his success as a lawyer.
Born in Armenia, Martinian comes from a close-knit family whose ties were put through the test of the many challenges that immigrants face, when he migrated to Los Angeles with his parents and younger brother in 1990. But, through hard work and sheer determination, they were able to build everything they left behind in Armenia once again, including their house. And, it is from those roots that Martinian inherited his strong sense of family values, commitment to hard work and passion for helping people.
Unl ike most successful trial lawyers, Martinian did not go to ivy league schools, but he hit the ground running as a paralegal for various boutique civil litigation and criminal defense law firms, where he flexed his legal muscles for over 15 years. He completed his undergraduate degree in Business Management and Law School education by attending night school. But that only tells half the story.
I first met Martinian last summer at the Castle Bar of Chateau De La Messardiere, a pink-turreted hotel in Saint-Tropez, South of France, where he was vacationing with his wife, an Eastern European version of Charlize Theron and his close friends from GAVATY INC., where Martinian is a member as well.
They were a good-looking couple, but my attention was drawn more toward the language that they were speaking, a mixture of Russian and Armenian. As we got acquainted, I found out that they were not only originally from the former Soviet Union, like myself, but also virtual neighbors at home in Los Angeles. Their stories resembled the typical struggles of immigrants, but when I asked Martinian about his practice, it suddenly uncovered a story that was definitely different, refreshing and at times exhilarating. I couldn’t help but to ask him for an interview upon our return to Los Angeles to which he graciously agreed.
Who or what inspired you to become a lawyer?
My parents. Back in Armenia, they were always so in control of everything in their lives. When we moved here they had to let go of some of that control and depend on other people’s help to figure simple things out because they didn’t speak English. So, when I learned the language, I became that person that figured things out and my parents would always volunteer my help to everyone. They really taught me how to take care of people and speak for them, when they could not speak for themselves. I guess, it was just a natural progression for me.
What was the hardest part of making it happen?
Juggling work and law school and being patient and persistent despite all the roadblocks.
What type of cases does your firm handle?
Catastrophic Personal injury cases and Criminal defense cases.
