Nina Shayan Depatie manages her own family law firm in Los Angeles, California. This soon-to-be-mother understands the challenges of managing a caseload, a thriving business and the needs
of a growing family.
AALM: Can you tell us about your mentors and some of the best lessons they’ve imparted on you?
NSD: I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by mentors who are wise, experienced, and generous with their time. Family law is known to be emotionally taxing and that reality hits you hard at the beginning of your career. Some divorces are messy, facts can be complicated, and negotiations can be contentious.
Early in my career, a mentor pointed out that “the facts won’t always be on your side, so all you can do is do your best.” That perspective has stayed with me.
Clients rely on you to be the best advocate in the room, and you need to approach every case knowing what facts are in your favor and how to manage those that are not. With that said, however, perspective is important. Litigation is unpredictable and you can’t allow bad days to stick to you.
AALM: Tell us about your decision to launch your firm and the transition as you got started?
NSD: Prior to starting my own firm, I was a partner at a larger family law firm in Century City. While I had some management authority, there were limits to how much I could influence the firm’s direction and strategy. I aspired to provide a more personalized service, trading a heavier caseload for more high-touch representation. The best way to do this was to start my own firm.
Transitioning from one firm to another can be daunting, and doubly so when the new firm is a startup. Fortunately, I had great mentors, the support of my old firm, and many clients who put their trust in me and became Shayan Family Law’s first clients. This allowed us to hit the ground running and our growth over the last two years has been a testament to the power of quality service, strong relationships, and great reputation.
AALM: How has your firm evolved since you launched? What are some of the most exciting experiences?
NSD: From a process and technological standpoint, there is an undeniable advantage to starting from scratch – you can implement best practices in every phase of your process, and you aren’t burdened by legacy systems or “the way things have always been done.”
Familiarizing ourselves with new technology and learning how to implement it is a constant learning experience, but we’ve been successful at it. Our firm is tech-forward and was purpose-built to allow us to scale quickly in a cost-effective manner. It’s helped us be more responsive, more efficient, and more affordable than firms with legacy systems that rely heavily on manual processes.
As far as knowing we’re on the right track, client feedback is the most exciting and rewarding experience you can have as a family law attorney. Clients’ sincere gratitude for the positive impact that Shayan Family Law has had on their lives and their families is the best reward and getting referrals from past clients is also extremely validating.
AALM: What are some of the challenges to being a woman in the practice of law?
NSD: Starting a family while running a law firm is a significant challenge as a woman in this field. It’s a challenge that I am familiar with, as I am expecting to give birth in early June.
Family law is a service business where clients are going through challenging periods of their own, so being able to deliver the highest quality representation while going through the physical demands of pregnancy is not easy. I’m not the first woman to start a family while running a law firm though, and I drew the courage to do it from peers who reassured me that I could do it.
Logistically-speaking, if it’s something that matters to you, you can plan around it. I thoughtfully managed my caseload over the last year, with a view toward pregnancy. On the staffing side, I was able to recruit a great attorney to join our team and I’ve also taken on some cases with another well-respected family law attorney as co-counsel. I’ve had little downtime but having a strong team has afforded me support on days where I needed it.
Ultimately, despite the challenges, motherhood and first-hand parenting experience are invaluable assets in this field – it gives you a parent’s perspective, which I think makes you a better advocate for your clients.
AALM: How are you involved in the local and professional community?
NSD: I’m a member of the Santa Monica Bar Association, the Beverly Hills Bar Association, and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. The events put on by these organizations are a great way to build relationships and stay informed on the latest developments in the law and our industry.
The Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law is another organization that I care deeply about. They provide essential services to victims of domestic violence and volunteering there was an incredibly rewarding experience. They do great work, and I look forward to doing more with them in the future.
