On Direct Examination, hosts Dan Bemel and Lauren Youngman interview leading Family Law practitioners, judicial officers, and mediators to unpack the technical realities of practice: building a case from the ground up, navigating client relationships, crafting arguments that resonate with the bench, and avoiding common procedural and strategic missteps. They also explore how to work productively with opposing counsel, especially when personalities or litigation styles add complexity—an area closely tied to civility in the legal profession.
Hon. Susan Lopez-Giss (Ret.) | Direct Examination with Dan and Lauren
Hon. Susan Lopez-Giss (Ret.) served 15 years as a Judge for the Los Angeles Superior Court, with the entirety of her time on the bench devoted to Family Law. Judge Lopez-Giss presided over thousands of cases involving all types of contested and complex Family Law matters, including parentage cases, custody and visitation issues, child and spousal support, business valuation, and property division. In addition to issuing thousands of rulings, Judge Lopez-Giss became known for actively and successfully settling her cases. Her strong legal mind, coupled with an emphasis on collaboration to resolve family disputes, has resulted in her reputation as an effective problem solver and adjudicator.
Prior to her judicial career, Judge Lopez-Giss served 30 years in the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, where she developed a groundbreaking domestic violence diversion and counseling program that was implemented statewide — only one of such programs in the country at the time. She was instrumental in drafting a domestic violence prosecution manual, filing guidelines, and restraining order statutes, and helped train law enforcement and medical personnel across the country. Judge Lopez-Giss also developed guidelines for the handling of child abuse and child sexual abuse and served on interagency councils that addressed child abuse and neglect. For her pioneering work developing these programs, Judge Lopez-Giss was presented with a Resolution by the Mayor and the Los Angeles City Council.
Presented by UBS
📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AKaZ3WlDH06yUk1xtmW36_VL5N4159BG/view?usp=share_link (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AKaZ3WlDH06yUk1xtmW36_VL5N4159BG/view?usp=share_link)
No CLE is provided for this program.
4 Aug 2026
Raymond Hekmat | Direct Examination with Dan and Lauren
Raymond Hekmat's practice of law has been devoted exclusively to areas of family law, including divorce, paternity, custody, support issues as well as prenuptial agreements, since earning his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School in 2009. Since 2018, Raymond's practice shifted from divorce litigation to specializing in marital agreements, divorce consulting, and divorce mediation, where he educates and empowers people on the financial and legal implications of entering or dissolving a marriage and advises his clients based on their rights, priorities and best options.
He is admitted to practice law in California and is a member of the Los Angeles County and Beverly Hills Bar Associations. Raymond received his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies, with honors, and a minor in Business Management from the University of California at Irvine, with study at the London School of Economics. He graduated from Loyola Law School in 2009.
Presented by UBS
📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1biX6aHYIDc99HmnEpeCoTheYL0UGwWpC/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1biX6aHYIDc99HmnEpeCoTheYL0UGwWpC/view?usp=sharing)
No CLE is provided for this program.
3 Aug 2026
Ron Brot | Direct Examination with Dan and Lauren
With four decades of trial and appellate experience, Ronald F. Brot, Founding and Senior Partner at Brot Gross Fishbein LLP, has successfully handled high conflict and complex cases from inception through settlement or trial involving all aspects of family law, including child custody, relocation, domestic violence, support, property, complex financial issues, and paternity. As a highly experienced family law attorney with a strong litigation background, he is tenacious in the representation of clients both in the courtroom and at the negotiating table.
Mr. Brot has held a variety of leadership positions within the organized Bar, including President of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Chair of the Trial Lawyers Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and Chair of the Family Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has served as a Trustee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association since 2016, and as a member of the LACBA Counsel for Justice Board of Directors.
Presented by UBS
📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ra-plFxAKnjISBxniIdithLwZwyyxgbv/view (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ra-plFxAKnjISBxniIdithLwZwyyxgbv/view)
No CLE is provided for this program.
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