July 2024

In 2014, we opened our first Los Angeles office with a small but powerful team. For Market Leader Raffi Zerounian, fast growth was not a priority. It was more important for the office to focus on serving its clients in Southern California and finding its groove first. The growth would come organically over time. Raffi focused on establishing a work environment that might be better described as a community: a place where people of varying backgrounds can come together, learn from and help each other, and feel strongly connected to their work.

The L.A. office was built on this foundation of collaboration, with no small influence from the city itself. As one of the most diverse places in the country, L.A. has always been a multicultural hub where creativity and innovation flourish. At Hanson Bridgett, we take pride in being an industry DEI leader making a positive social impact, and doing things a little differently. Our firm is comprised of diverse individuals bringing their own unique perspectives, backgrounds, and expertise to the table and getting involved—including those within leadership positions.

For partner Alfonso Estrada, this was a key motivator for joining the firm. “They go out there and do things,” explained Alfonso, describing his first impression of Hanson Bridgett and its culture. “I thought, they’re not just talking about it or putting up a nice DEI page on the website—they actually give a damn.”

With its culture of inspired collaboration now fully established, it’s fitting that on its 10th anniversary, our L.A. office is expanding and moving into The CalEdison—a historic Art Deco building in the heart of downtown L.A.’s Financial District. The move is both an investment in L.A.’s downtown community and a celebration of the inclusive culture Raffi and the firm have worked hard to create.

We expect to move in by the end of the year and Raffi is excited the office will offer an elegant and expansive setting for many different purposes. It’s a place where our team will want to collaborate, despite having the option to work remotely. There’s also an outdoor deck and plenty of conference rooms and space for social gatherings, which will be used for events like the firm’s law student interview seminars and to host various events like those in support of our nonprofit partners. The move to the larger space (nearly double the square footage of our current office) was also prompted by the fact that the L.A. office keeps growing—a particularly impressive feat given the industry trend of many AmLaw 200 firms reducing their space over the past year.

Today, the office has about 40 attorneys and 20 professional staff. The growth certainly involves the culture, with Hanson Bridgett’s personal-touch service and community-driven ethos. It’s also because recruits and attorneys understand we’ve been ahead of the curve in using our business as a force for good. We’ve been doing it for a long time.

We care about the people that come in… We try and create a better environment for people to succeed and be the best lawyers that they can be.” — Partner and Market Leader Raffi Zerounian

Alex Grigorians, another mainstay within the L.A. office, strongly believes in the power of interconnectedness. In a business centered around transactions, Alex has helped cultivate the “people first” culture.

“That authentic relationship that you build with people, as opposed to ‘clients’—that’s the best part of my work,” said Alex. There’s a common thread in talking with Raffi, Alfonso, and Alex—and it’s one that’s often overlooked and far too rare in the legal industry: a genuine sense of helping others. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our L.A. office, we are filled with gratitude for the hard work and dedication of our team, the trust and loyalty of our clients, and the support of our community. Here’s to 10 more years!