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Ivetta Avanesov: Empathy, Resilience, Balance

Beverly Hills personal injury attorney Ivetta Avanesov has a first-hand understanding of what life is like for people who have no rights.

“My parents came from the Soviet Union, a place where they faced oppression and had limited freedoms,” said Avanesov, who was born in Moscow and moved to Los Angeles with her family at age 6. “They experienced firsthand the impact of not having a voice or the ability to stand up for their rights. Because of this, they wanted me to become a lawyer and fight for justice, defend people’s rights, and ensure that others didn’t face the same struggles they did.

“For them, my becoming a lawyer wasn’t just about having a career. It was about making a meaningful difference in the world and helping people stand up against injustice,” explained Avanesov. “My philosophy is compassion, balance, resilience, and empathy. Leading with empathy is how I serve justice in everything I do.”

Avanesov earned her Juris Doctor from Arizona Summit Law School. In 2018, she started a personal injury law firm, Viciti Law. (Viciti means searching, seeking, investigating)

The firm’s core practice is litigating motor vehicle accidents, including those involving wrongful death, catastrophic injuries and property/homeowners insurance claim denials.

In recent months, some of those insurance claims have resulted from the fires that swept through the Los Angeles region early this year. “Whenever the claims are mishandled and the insurance companies do things like deny certain coverages or lowball the value of certain claims or damages, clients start to reach out to attorneys like me. I’ve gotten many calls recently about one insurance company paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars on total cost homes that are going to cost millions of dollars to be rebuild.”

Ivetta Avanesov

For them, my becoming a lawyer wasn’t just about having a career. It was about making a meaningful difference in the world and helping people stand up against injustice."

Calendaring is our Bread and Butter

During our interview, Avanesov was very direct, concise, well-thought-out, and on-the-nose in her answers. She takes pride in the organization and the efficiency of her firm.

“Our calendaring system is our bread and butter. Every little thing is diligently calendared, and we all stick to the same color system so that we always know from the colors whether we have a trial, a hearing, a deposition, a phone call, you name it,” she explained.

“Law practice management software has allowed us to be connected with our clients and provide our clients access to what is going on with their case at all times through the client portal.

“One of my favorite parts of my job is meeting my clients, meeting their families, and getting to know them. I can’t help feeling like my clients are family while I represent them because we work so closely together on navigating a difficult time in their lives.”

Avanesov is upfront in telling clients that personal injury litigation can be a long, bumpy road. “I like to provide a realistic explanation of the kind of work that would be required from them in pursuit of a case. They may decide, ‘I don’t have that kind of time to commit to this or I don’t think that what I’ve gone through is serious enough to open up such a large task.’”

“My clients and I work very closely together through every stage of the process. And with every stage and development of the case, I am reaching out to them to let them know what is going on so that they understand the process and journey of the case. When we are in litigation, we are working closely on discovery and deposition preparation.”

Insurance companies are known for dragging their feet on cases. Avanesov explained that a key to moving a case along at a quicker pace is to hold the insurance company’s defense attorney’s feet to the fire. “Discovery motions are one of the ways, and unfortunately, sometimes it’s the only way to compel opposing counsel to move the case along,” said Avanesov.

“I like to have an amicable relationship with defense attorneys so that we can come together to work on a case. But not all defense attorneys are receptive to that. In the rare situation where I deal with a difficult defense attorney, I turn to the courts with appropriate motions.”

One of the hurdles personal injury attorneys have to clear during a case is making sure their client is getting the medical care they need. “When they are being treated, we are constantly communicating about the process and the treatment they are receiving, how they are feeling, and their condition,” said Avanesov.

“Being that the clients are injured, just on a human level, we like to stay in touch to see if there is anything they may need. I have a spectacular team that communicates with clients about their doctor’s appointments and arranges anything the client needs for treatment.

Think Small

Viciti Law is comprised of Avanesov and her team of paralegals and staff. “We intend to always stay small so that we can continue to deliver this sort of service to our clients and so that I can be involved in each case through every stage.”

“Our clients have the benefit of knowing that I am always handling their case, from start to finish. It provides for a much closer attorney-client relationship, which I take great pride in. It is one of my biggest goals to be very close with my clients so that they know their case is getting the attention and care it deserves.”

Ivetta Avanesov

Preparing For Trial

Ivetta Avanesov

While the approach of some insurance defense attorneys is to come in with guns-a-blazin, Avanesov said her strategy is based on professionalism. “I like to extend courtesies. I like to be available to communicate. I like to meet and confer. I like working together. I like to be polite. I like to be accommodating. I like to be respectful and understanding. I have a lot of respect for what defense attorneys do, and we’re just part of the same game.”

Sometimes that game winds up being played before a judge and a jury. As part of her preparation for going to court, Avanesov stages mock trials with focus groups. “This is an absolute must for me to get a good idea of the case’s strengths and weaknesses from the perspective of a potential juror and my strengths and weaknesses in my presentation of the case,” said Avanesov.

 “I tweak the way I present the case based on the feedback I receive, and in some cases, I do more than one mock trial until I feel comfortable with how we are presenting the case.”

Old-Fashioned Storytelling

I stick to the tried and true, good old fashioned story telling. While I may use some technology like videos, photos, and charts, my style is to focus more on the story, the human element above all else. This takes a lot of preparation because a story told out loud has a rhythm to it,” said Avanesov.

“Rather than just presenting facts, I try to emphasize the emotional and physical impact the injury has had on my client’s life.

“Some jurors may be skeptical or have misconceptions about personal injury lawyers and our clients. I try to address these potential biases by using the law and evidence to show that the case being presented deserves objective consideration,” says Avanesov.

“I am calm, professional, and persuasive by avoiding overstating facts and sticking to the facts in a way that feels honest. I appeal to the jurors’ common sense by breaking down legal language and technical details into simple, relatable terms.”

Judges place a high value on the quality of how well attorneys tell their stories when presenting pre-trial materials to the court. Avanesov’s legal writing has a polish attained as an assistant managing editor of “Lunch Ticket,” a social justice-oriented literary journal from the MFA community at Antioch University in Los Angeles.

Oh, and there is one more skill that Avanesov can rely on in the courtroom. “One of my hobbies is stand-up comedy. I used to do open mics in LA weekly. I find that it really helps with storytelling in trial and connecting to an audience or in this case, a jury.”

Leading with empathy is how I serve justice in everything I do."

A New World View

Avanesov with her husband, Logan, and their son, Neo

Avanesov said her worldview changed when she and her husband, Logan, welcomed their now 17-month-old son, Neo.

“Becoming a parent brings a heightened sense of empathy. One suddenly has a deeper understanding of the emotional complexities involved in family, personal and legal matters,” explained Avanesov.

 “My perspective on the world and relationships has shifted, which has made me more attuned to my clients’ needs and emotions. It has provided me with a new appreciation for what’s truly important to people – stability, security, and future planning. This sort of understanding of people is valuable when negotiating and advocating for clients in sensitive situations. 

“I try to be as present as I possibly can so that I don’t miss out on his childhood. It’s all about time management, calendaring, and being able to be flexible. We’re all striving for that work-balance, especially when we have children and very demanding careers. But sometimes it’s just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other and doing your best.

Avanesov said one of the dividends of motherhood for her has been time spent in the kitchen. “I have an exquisite spicy pasta recipe that is on the menu every week. Since having my son, I have started cooking a lot of traditional Russian foods that I grew up with. It feels nostalgic to have the scents of Russian dishes like borscht, kotleti, and pirozhki in my home. Takes me back to my childhood. There is something to be said for the satisfaction a mother receives from feeding her children.”

“I did grow up differently than my son did, partly because my parents were immigrants and partly because the times were different. But it still remains true that family values are the most important thing and that will never change with time.”

Viciti Law

13743 Ventura Blvd Suite 240
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(310) 740-9469
vicitilaw.com

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