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Atousa Saei

Divorce and separation Attorney at Santa Monica, CA

5.0   37 reviews
  • Licensed for 17 years
    State CA
    Acquired 2006
    Status
    Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Atousa

Learn Atousa’s areas of practice.

2
Practice areas
  1. Divorce and separation
    50%
    •Divorce •Child Custody •Legal Separation •Restraining Orders •Services of Areas of Assistance Support Issues, International and Military, Divorces, Domestic Violence, Marital Assets, Dissolution of Partnership

    17 years, 350 cases

  2. Family
    50%
    •Divorce •Child Custody •Legal Separation •Restraining Orders •Services of Areas of Assistance Support Issues, International and Military, Divorces, Domestic Violence, Marital Assets, Dissolution of Partnership

    17 years, 325 cases

The Law Offices of Atousa Saei, APLC--is a boutique family law firm located in West Los Angeles, California that offers a highly personalized approach to handling a variety of family law matters. The firm focuses its attention on the best strategy to resolve and settle family law matters and disputes, including settlement conferences, mediation, arbitration or, if need be, litigation.

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Contact Atousa

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Law Offices of Atousa Saei
2530 Wilshire Blvd
Second Floor
Santa Monica, CA, 90403

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  37 customer reviews
5 Star
 
97%
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Posted by Rahul | October 22, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Would 100% recommend
I’ll start by saying that I would 100% recommend Law Offices of Atousa Saei for both Divorce and Child Custody. My divorce involved a very minor child. During my initial consultation with Atousa, she tempered my expectations and didn’t sugar coat anything. She also briefly discussed how she would approach my case. That’s why I decided to go with her. Before filing for divorce, I had discussed everything with my ex spouse and we had a verbal agreement for both divorce and child custody. I thought since we were going the amicable route, the whole process would be relatively simple and we would mainly need the lawyers for paperwork. But that changed AS SOON AS I actually filed for divorce. My ex spouse did multiple really HORRIBLE things. There was a time when I thought I would lose my daughter and had no idea when I would see her next (thankfully I was able to see her pretty soon). Atousa and Hailey were always there by my side and fought really hard for me. They filed all the briefs and paperwork on time. Their strategy was on point. Although my marriage was short term (less than 4 years), it became EXTREMELY complicated because of my ex spouses action. It took over 2 years to finally get everything done (due to reasons beyond their and court’s control). But I’m EXTREMELY happy with the end result and I have full custody of my daughter as of now (and more importantly she’s safe with me). They put in a lot of effort in all the paperwork and their briefs were beautifully written (extremely detailed and full of substance and on point). To sum it up: - Great lawyers (Atousa, Hailey and Shannon) and they really care - Great team (thanks Alice and Wendy) - Great acumen and strategy - They were always by my side - They were always available and responded quickly - All paperwork was done in a timely manner - Great negotiation skills Special thanks to Shannon Payne for her part in the trial. I would never wish for anyone to go through what I did. But if you are going through a divorce, I would 100% recommend them.
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Posted by Believe | September 13, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
A Blessing!
Our story is as unique and tough as everyone else's when dealing with restraining orders. When you need an attorney, finding the right one MAY make all the difference! Our lives, safety and wellbeing on the line, in a process I would never wish onto anyone, I needed help big time! My previous attorney was not a proper fit for us, our case was not high on his priority list and I did not feel he took the time to get us nor our case ready. Sometimes, days would pass before I received a reply to my concerns. I desperately and urgently hunted everywhere I could for a better attorney. Searching thru friends and posts, I found Ms. Saei's TEAM! From the moment I connected with Ms. Saei and Ms. Payne, my gut and my heart felt the care, the understanding and the dedication they were willing to put into our urgent matters. From day one, this TEAM has been nothing short of a miracle! It's not a 1-2 person office, it's a team of dedicated and knowledgeable, experienced attorneys and assistants to help you and your case and let me say, they all support you! I never went more than an hour or two to receive a reply, I never felt like we did not matter. Our case was immediately put into high priority, the office AS A WHOLE worked together on getting us ready for court, answered ALL questions and concerns I ever had. Ms. Saei and Ms. Payne figured out an amazing plan of action, they put things into motion and followed thru. I was always given the BIG picture, good and bad and everything in between. From the bottom of my heart, I am sooooooo grateful for this! This alone helped this single mama feel at peace knowing I am doing everything I can to fight the right way for our lives and safety. It allowed me to remain as calm and collected as possible under the circumstances. They were on top of every move, every deadline, every whiteness, every research! WOW what a research team! Ms. Wendy, Ms. Hailey and so many others in the office always stayed on top of directions from the attorneys and assisted me in understanding the process, guided me thru what and how things needed to be done. Even knowing that our case could go left or right, I put my trust in this team and I am so glad I did! No attorney can guarantee the outcome, ever! Don't try to cut corners when you have a pressing matter, most of the time, you get what you pay for. When dealing with court and attorneys, a plain Jane cannot compare to what attorneys are made of. I appreciate this TEAM so much and am so grateful to you ALL! We can breathe a bit easier now and we owe it to you and your hard work, thank you so much! If you have a concern, a matter that needs an attorney, ..... you will NOT be disappointed by this team!
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Posted by Adam | June 29, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best money I've ever spent
I hired Atousa and her team to get me out of an extremely sticky situation with my ex. I had already filed for divorce on my own and was failing miserably at getting the courts to move it forward when my ex was unwilling to respond to it. Additionally, I was in serious need of a restraining order. Once I retained Atousa and her staff it felt like everything finally started progressing. They quickly jumped into my case, got me a restraining order and started getting my divorce case to move in the right direction. Her team was sensitive to my situation and very polite/empathetic. Additionally, they communicated well and acted promptly. Hiring Atousa and her staff was the best money I've ever spent. I was in a downward spiral of feeling trapped and unable to move on with my life. As soon as Atousa and her team jumped in, I was immediately able to start moving on. Atousa - I couldn't be more grateful for you and your team. You took so much stress off of my plate and allowed me to move forward with my life. THANK YOU!
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Posted by Ellie | April 29, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Atousa Saei is a Wonderful Attorney
After discovering in mediation that my ex-husband is maliciously working on the side with an attorney, I found myself in need of an attorney to protect myself against him and was forced to go through the court system. I quickly had to learn what to look for and how to choose the right family law attorney. Atousa is a brilliant, proactive, compassionate, resourceful, ethical, honorable, reasonable, and logical attorney. She is extremely dedicated to doing the best for her clients depending on their personal situation. She is constantly reviewing the case, analyzing, and evaluating the best course of action, legally, ethically, and financially. While divorce can be an emotionally taxing event in one’s life, once you decide it has to be done, I highly recommend having Atousa by your side.
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Posted by Heather | March 2, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Lifesavers!
Oh man... .where do I even start? Atousa and her team saved my life. Before hiring them, I was paying alimony, facing possibly losing my son, and already googling ways to live out of my car because I felt so lost - financially & legally. Her law firm whipped my case into shape almost immediately. After our first day in court, alimony was cancelled, my ex had to start paying me child support AND pay me back for the alimony I was wrongfully ordered to pay. They are extremely ethical and kept me on the right path even on days where I was feeling defeated and vindictive. Their honesty and straightforwardness kept me on track and focusing on my ultimate goal of keeping my son safe and having as much custody as possible. They aren't all about "attacking the ex". A couple of them are mothers as well and they understood that the most important thing was my son and ultimately keeping the peace with his dad. I've had a lot of money issues over the last 3 years since my divorce started and they've always worked with me and suggested routes for me to save money in legal fees. (READ: saving money on legal fees, meant less money for them; yet they ALWAYS gave me these types of suggestions). My case got the attention it deserved. I never had to follow up with them to make sure they were still working on my case. I never felt like they forgot about me or I wasn't important enough for them to deal with. Every step of the way, I've felt like I've been going through this with friends by my side (shout-out to Nisha!) who really cared about my outcome. I cannot recommend them enough. Do yourself a favor and go with the Law Offices of Atousa Saei. Because as they say "nobody wins in a divorce" but with Atousa & Nisha - I sure feel like I did! ;)
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Posted by Evaldas | January 21, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Strongly Recommend!
I walked in the office clueless of how the process of divorce works. Every step of the process and possible outcomes were explained to me, and my divorce was finalized earlier than the given expected date. I dealt with 4 different people at their office, and every one of them was very nice and professional.
Posted by anonymous | October 25, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Can’t ask for a better attorney.
Thank you Atousa! I don’t think I could have been in a worse position before coming here. I had lost my son, my home, my reputation, and everything important to me. Thanks to Atousa I got my son back, my home back, and my life back. Even after my ex filed for two restraining orders Atousa and her team were able to prove them false and baseless. They were able to get this divorce/custody battle on the right track and resolved. My son is doing so much better now and it wouldn’t have happened without Atousa and the rest of her team. Through the whole process she was very kind, understanding, and compassionate. It helps a lot through the emotional rollercoaster of divorce.
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Posted by Paul | March 7, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Atousa Saei is simply amazing!
Obviously when one chooses to leave a 'life' partner and start the divorce process the anxiety is intense. Choosing a lawyer is the first stressful part of that long process. The right choice of that lawyer, your guide through this experience, will dictate your sanity on many levels. Lucky for me I made the perfect choice of lawyer in Atousa Saei. Firstly she is a wonderful, sweet, kind, generous and compassionate human being. She is also extremely knowledgable, thorough and 100% honest. Not only was she a sage guide on the law itself but also she would make a great psychiatrist as well as she was able to read the mental state of my ex partner like a book and as a result use that insight in the settlement process. But above all, Atousa saw me as a human being going through an emotionally taxing experience and treated me like one. On no occasion did I feel like just a client that was being kept open just to be billed (like so many horror stories I have heard). In fact with Atousa it was the opposite. She moved quickly and efficiently through the settlement process to keep my costs to a minimum. If you are unfortunate enough to split with your 'life' partner then your choice of 'divorce' partner is so important. You could choose no better than Atousa! I could not possibly recommend her highly enough!
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Posted by Edith | October 29, 2015
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Atousa Saei is the Best
I never thought I would need an attorney until I got served with a child custody modification. So, I decided that if I was going to hire an attorney as might as well hire the best. I search the web, I found and met with several attorneys and no one really met my expectations until I met Atousa. I knew right away she was going to be my attorney, so I hired her services. She was great when we met for the first time, but little did I know how Amazing she really is. She had my and my kids best interest at heart. She is not only smart, but aggressive in the most professional way. I know that she will be the one to represent me from now on.
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Posted by Mark | October 5, 2015
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
They mean business!
We had a situation that was going to be an up hill battle and it looked as if it could be on going. But with the expert advice and the plan that they put in place for us worked out exactly as planned. They know there stuff, hands down and they play no games. I'll just say this, Atousa is the teammate you need and not the opponent you want to go up against...Atousa and her team are the difference makers.
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Posted by anonymous | August 18, 2015
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excellent Experience With Atousa's Firm!!
Atousa has and continues to represent me in my divorce & custody case; she is my first legal representation in any matter. I researched upward of a hundred attorneys and interviewed over a dozen firms before selecting Ms. Saei. With resounding confidence, I can assert that I am very happy with my decision. My case deals with a combative, manipulative, and high conflict ex-spouse. I knew that reaching closure wasn’t going to be easy. The entire process has been flooded with blatantly false accusation, over/understated half-truths, alienation from my child, and highly unethical / unprofessional conduct from opposing counsel. Navigating this custody and dissolution process has been the most difficult experience of my life, through which Atousa and her team has stood solidly behind me. The first time our pleadings were heard by our case judge (not a stand-in), we quickly dissolved a bogus, tactical restraining order and secured near equal custody. Through this process, Atousa has always struck me as well grounded, pragmatic, and ultimately very effective. Beyond the functional attributes of legal representation, she communicates with a strong, compassionate, and warm demeanor. Whether your case is simple or complex, I would highly recommend the team at Law Offices of Atousa Saei. We have a significant road ahead before this is all over. For now I have my daughter back and moving forward I’m confident in the team I have on my side. Thank you Atousa, Kian, Anna, Jonathan, and Scott!!
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Posted by Kevin | June 18, 2015
5+ STARS! WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW!!!
WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW!!! Before moving over to Atousa, I spent over 5 months with my first attorney that instead of pro-actively creating my Paternity case, was constantly in reaction to Opposing Council driving the case. I finally decided to upgrade from that first attorney, researched online and found 5 highly rated attorneys that specialized in Family Law. I called them all and 3 of them were quick to respond, and super impressive on the phone. So I set appointments with them all. Atousa being one of them. The other 2 attorneys were extremely impressive, but Atousa was so many levels above them. She completely blew them away! She was so impressive during our meeting and we came up with a 'pro-active' strategy that would completely put us in the driver's seat for my case. I was sold and Atousa took over and immediately. Within a few days the tides of my case had turned and within a few weeks we were in a meeting with Opposing Council to settle the case. Lesson learned: first attorney had cheaper hourly rate, but his inability to drive my case cost me so much more time, stress and money than if I would have gone with Atousa from the very beginning. I really wish I knew about Atousa from the beginning, but I'm beyond content that I found her before the end!! Thank you Atousa, you are the absolute best!!!
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Posted by Pete | May 14, 2015
A great family law attorney
I would like to say thank you to Ms. Atousa Saei for helping me out in my time of need. Ms. Saei is an amazing attorney and extremely knowledgeable. She's very attentive, kept me well informed and always had my best interest in mind. She's a very no nonsense go getter and fought hard for me, which I really appreciate. I will continue to refer Ms. Saei to anyone who needs a family law attorney.
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Posted by anonymous | May 7, 2015
Amazing! Wonderful! Smart! Caring!
Atousa and her team did a wonderful job with my case. Divorce is awful. It is a long process. It is draining. It is expensive. But Atousa knows that and she doesn't forget it. She stands by your side. She is not only a great attorney but she is also a friend. She cares. My divorce is finally over. She really worked with me throughout the process. Her and her staff were always there for me. We finally finished and I am single once again with this divorce behind me. Now I can care for my children and start over. Thank you Atousa!
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Posted by Johnny c | April 15, 2015
Amazing Lawyer
Ive been around quite a few attorneys and I must say Atousa was on of the best I have ever dealt with. She made my child support settlement smoother than I could have Imagined it being. I could not thank her enough for everything she has done for me and will continue to refer her to anyone I know looking for legal advice. Keep up the great work!!
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Posted by anonymous | April 9, 2015
Excellent attorney!
I used Atousa for a matter and was very very happy with the results as she is very good at what she does. She went over everything and answered everytime I would call her.
Posted by Jorge J. Flores | April 9, 2015
Best Attorney Ever!
Ms. Atousa Saei has been everything and more than what I could possibly ask for in an family law attorney from day one. She has listened to my concerns and has been very attentive the entire time and walked me through this difficult time in my family's life. I know Atousa has not only taken a personal interest in what is in my best interest but most importantly in what is in my children's best interest. I am truly thankful to have found Atousa as she took over my case and substituted another attorney who was never available to me via emails, phone, etc. and never returned a call. I assure anyone in need of a great attorney who is compassionate that Atousa will not disappoint. I would never hesitate to recommend Atousa to anyone as I am sure she would never disappoint. Thank you Atousa! Sincerely, Jorge J. Flores
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Posted by Gerard | December 19, 2014
Thorough and a real Pro
Atousa did a great job for me during a stressful time in my life. She prepared me for best case and worst scenarios and was always clear and honest. She did a extremely thorough job and it took the judge about 30 seconds to side with me. Nonetheless, we were still ready for a protracted battle. Highly recommend!
Posted by James | July 29, 2014
Genuine Attorney Who Truly Cares
I was referred to Mrs. Saei from my last Lawyer who I worked with in San Diego. I am so glad I got the opportunity to speak her....she really cares! I could not believe how helpful she was and how much she was willing to go out of her way for me. I have had bad experiences before with other attorney's who were focused mainly on getting you in their office just so they could get your money....she is DEFINETLY NOT ONE OF THEM! She truly cares and wants to help. Thank you so much!
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Posted by Nadya | July 22, 2014
The best attorney I have ever worked with!
Atousa Saei was exceptional on all aspects of my case. Her ability to communicate and address my issues was outstanding. She explained all of my options and gave me the best advise to achieve the outcome I had hoped for. Her patience and compassion for her client's outcome is evident and admirable. She is prompt (always) to return calls and messages which was very reassuring to me. Her knowledge of family law and the courts made my case a success. I appreciate her work on my case and will be using her on any future matter. A smart and resourceful lawyer, who believes in justice. She was able to resolve my case successfully with positive results.
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Cost

Rates
  • Retainer Always
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 9.9 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • President
  • Law Offices of Atousa Saei
  • 2007 - Present
  • Associate
  • Scott Gailen, Inc.
  • 2006 - 2007
  • Legal Assistant
  • Law Offices Elizabeth T. Fields
  • 2001 - 2002

Education

  • Loyola Law School
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 2005
  • Pepperdine University
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 2001
  • Pepperdine University
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 2001

Legal Cases

  • In Re: Marriage of Nixon
  • Successful in setting aside Child Support Judgement
  • In Re: Marriage of Farkhani
  • Post Nuptial agreement set aside, entire community estate confirmed as community property and client received
  • In Re: Marriage of Rochel
  • Client family hierlooms returned to client
View all legal cases

Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2010 - Present
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2007 - Present
  • Iranian American Lawyers Association
  • Member
  • 2007 - Present
  • Beverly Hills Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2006 - Present
  • Iranian American Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2006 - Present
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • Farsi
  • Spanish
  • Persian
View all languages

Honors and Awards

  • Rising Stars
  • Super Lawyers Magazine
  • 2015
  • Top Women Attorneys in Southern California
  • Los Angeles Magazine
  • 2015
  • Super Lawyers - Rising Stars
  • Los Angeles Magazine
  • 2015
  • Up-And-Coming Top 50 Women Rising Stars
  • Super Lawyers Magazine
  • 2015
  • Up-And-Coming 100 Southern California Rising Star Top List
  • Super Lawyers Magazine
  • 2015
  • Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2014
  • Super Lawyers - Rising Stars
  • Los Angeles Magazine
  • 2014
  • Top Women Attorneys in Southern California
  • Los Angeles Magazine
  • 2014
  • Family Law Top Contributor
  • Avvo
  • 2012
View all awards

Publications

Speaking Engagements

  • Bridging The Gap
  • Marriage and Cultural Clash
  • 2010

Attorney endorsements

Received (83)
Given (16)
Endorse Atousa
Divorce and separation Attorney | May 03
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Atousa is an outstanding lawyer. She is fierce without being unnecessarily aggressive, and she excels at suggesting the most peaceful and fair exchanges between parties."
Family Attorney | Apr 05
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have known Atousa for over 5 years. In my practice, whenever I have clients with family law issues, Atousa is a go to attorney. I have always found her to be highly professional, kind, thoughtful, competent and, in whole, a terrific attorney."
Family Attorney | Feb 03
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Atousa is very knowledgeable in her practice area and zealously represents her clients. If you choose to work with her, you will be in good hands."
Unknown Attorney | Apr 20
Relationship: Other
"I endorse this lawyer. An intelligent and an amazing attorney."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Feb 28
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I terrific Lawyer who consistently achieves great results for her clients. It is without reservation that I endorse her..."
Unknown Attorney | Feb 19
Relationship: Other
"Well respected in the community and known for effective advocacy for clients!"
Family Attorney | Jan 14
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Family law is a very difficult area of the law, but Atousa manages to make the experience as smooth and pleasant as possible. If you are looking for an attorney that has the perfect balance of restraint and zeal, give Atousa a call."
Unknown Attorney | Sep 30
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Jul 17
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Jul 16
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Very good family law attorney, with knowledge of the law that is second to none."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Jul 15
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Attorney Saei is an excellent and experienced divorce attorney. She is well respected among her peers and clients. I endorse this lawyer."
Unknown Attorney | Jul 11
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Divorce and separation Attorney | May 14
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"A truly excellent attorney well respected in the legal community. I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for a lawyer who knows the law and truly cares about protecting the rights of her clients and getting them the most favorable result possible."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Jan 29
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Top-notch lawyer. Highly respected in the legal community."
Family Attorney | Jan 09
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Unknown Attorney | Nov 06
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Oct 30
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. She is very knowledgeable and a dedicated hard worker."
Unknown Attorney | Oct 11
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Sep 08
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Awesome attorney. Highly respected in the legal community."
Family Attorney | Aug 28
Relationship: Other
"It's interesting and I can't go into detail on certain aspects of this and I do not know Ms. Saei personally but, I had someone in my office today that used to live out in her area. All I heard about was how good Ms. Saei in representing the person in my office in a past case. Although I live and work in Ohio, I felt like I was competing for a new client with Ms. Saei. After the person left I decided to search here and found her, I've read the numerous client reviews and looked at some answers to legal questions she has given people seeking legal advice. Every now and then I need to get an attorney for someone in another state and, if LA is where I need to find one, I can say without hesitation Ms. Saei is the attorney I would call first."
View more endorsements
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