Arguably the most well-known, high-profile clientele-laden attorney in Los Angeles and possibly the country, Mark Geragos is the managing partner of the 13-partner firm Geragos & Geragos. The firm opened when he was just 12 years old; but now Mark Geragos, along with his father and 11 other lawyers, practices out of recently acquired historical real estate in downtown L.A. Many have quipped that the 6th and Figueroa building, a firehouse for the first half of the 20th century, is exactly the venue needed for the Geragos specialty: putting out fires. The firm, having rented for the past 20 years, is thrilled with the architectural acquisition.
Mark Geragos is the managing partner of the 13-partner firm Geragos & Geragos.
Mark Geragos graduated from Haverford College in 1979 and then from Loyola Law School in 1982. He was admitted to the California state bar in 1985 and, soon after, began practicing with his father. The firm has grown steadily since then to include the following areas of practice: administrative law, appeals, civil rights, civil trial practice, commercial litigation, criminal trial practice, personal injury, real estate law, and tax law.
The Geragoses are of Armenian descent and maintain a close relationship with and support for the Armenian community. Most notably, Mark Geragos was a leading lawyer in a class action lawsuit against AXA and New York Life Insurance. Policies were issued by both companies in the early 1900s to Armenian victims of the Turkish genocide. The cases were settled for more than $37.5 million in 2004 and 2005. In a similar suit, Geragos took on two German banks that profited from, concealed, and prevented the recovery of Armenian families' assets deposited prior to the genocide as well as assets deposited by Ottoman Turkish looters. He serves on several nationwide Armenian committees and has earned high praise and recognition from the greater Armenian community.
Geragos may be better known, however, for his role in defending many pop-culture icons as well as other high-profile criminal cases. Before being replaced early on, Geragos defended Michael Jackson in his molestation trial. He also defended rap star Nate Dogg, gaining him a dismissal of arson, kidnapping, and criminal-threat charges. He won Bill Clinton's brother, Roger Clinton, a dismissal of DUI charges, as well. As Winona Ryder's counsel, Geragos landed an easy three years' probation with supplementary psychological and drug counseling for $5,500 shoplifting charges. In addition, he defended both former congressman Gary Condit, who was questioned regarding the disappearance of Chandra Levy, as well as Scott Peterson, who stood trial for the murder of his wife and unborn child.
The strength of the Geragos team does not end with Mark Geragos. Several of his partners are well known for their work in civil and criminal litigation. George Buehler, for example, is on the board of directors of the Inner City Law Center, which provides legal services to the poor; he also played a role in the development of legislation to improve the living conditions in slum housing. Another attorney at the firm, Shelley Kaufman, has a federal court-published opinion in which the court determined that an arrestee who has been sexually harassed by a police officer has had his or her rights violated.
Mark Geragos leads his team in terms of awards and recognition, having received the 1999 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the Los Angeles Criminal Courts Bar Association, the 2001 Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Mexican American Grocers Association, and the 2006 Attorney of the Year honor from California Lawyer magazine, among many others. He has appeared on Larry King Live, The Today Show, Good Morning America, 60 Minutes, and On the Record.
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