The Armenian Bar Association’s Board of Governors has voted to establish the Association’s San Diego Chapter, with attorney Arameh Vartomian appointed to serve as Chapter Chair. The new chapter formalizes a growing community of Armenian attorneys, judges, law students, and aspiring legal professionals in the San Diego region, providing a platform for professional networking, mentorship, education, and community engagement.

The initiative began with a March 2025 networking event hosted at DLA Piper in La Jolla, which brought together distinguished gathering of legal and community leaders, including San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan; U.S. District Court Judges Larry Burns and Dana Sabraw; San Diego Superior Court Judges Sharon L. Kalemkiarian, Michael P. Pulos, and Albert Harutunian ; and numerous attorneys and members of the Armenian community. Building on the enthusiasm and strong turnout, the organizing committee continued developing programs to foster professional connections, mentorship, and engagement within San Diego’s Armenian legal community.

Since then, the San Diego community has hosted social gatherings, student outreach programs, and educational events, including a screening of My Sweet Land at UC San Diego, a courthouse trial observation for members of UC San Diego’s Armenian Pre-Law Student Association, and a “Careers in Law” panel at the University of San Diego School of Law. These programs have brought together legal professionals and students, introducing the next generation to opportunities within the legal profession.

Vartomian is an associate in DLA Piper’s San Diego office and a 2022 Armenian Bar Association scholarship recipient. He earned his J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law and holds degrees from the London School of Economics and UC San Diego.

The San Diego Chapter joins the Armenian Bar Association’s existing regional chapters, which bring together Armenian legal professionals across North America:

• New York/New Jersey/Connecticut (2017) – Co-Chairs Steve Gokberk and John Halebian
• DC Region (2022) – Co-Chairs Ani Esenyan and Olivia Jerjian
• Ontario (2023) – Chair Alex Kolandjian
• Quebec (2025) – Co-Chairs Vrouyr Makalian and Sevana Poladian

The establishment of the San Diego Chapter reflects the Armenian Bar Association’s continued commitment to connecting Armenian legal professionals across generations and geographic boundaries. Through its chapters, committees, and programs, the Association promotes professional development, mentorship, community engagement, and the advancement of the rule of law.