Nikoo Berenji
Nikoo (Nikoomanesh) Berenji is an accomplished legal scholar, educator, and practicing attorney whose career bridges the worlds of academia and advocacy. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, she has built her professional life around a commitment to justice, rigorous legal analysis, and empowering the next generation of legal professionals. She also holds a master’s degree in Near Eastern Studies from New York University, bringing a rich interdisciplinary lens to her work and teaching. Since 2016, Nikoo has served as a Professor at Los Angeles Valley College, where she is known for her clarity, compassion, and ability to make complex legal concepts accessible to students of all backgrounds. Her academic experience also includes teaching roles at prestigious institutions such as UCLA School of Law and USC Gould School of Law, where she contributed to shaping future attorneys through both foundational and advanced coursework. Beyond academia, she serves as Director of Operations and Managing Attorney at Berenji Divorce and Family Law Group, a Beverly Hills–based practice where she draws on over a decade of state and federal litigation experience, including her impactful tenure as a Trial Attorney with the Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California. Across every chapter of her career, Nikoo has remained dedicated to public service, intellectual rigor, and mentorship. Her dual roles in the classroom and the courtroom reflect a deep belief in the power of legal education to create meaningful, generational change. Whether advocating for clients, guiding students, or contributing her expertise to the legal community, she continues to be a thoughtful and influential voice in the Los Angeles legal landscape.
• UCLA- B.A.
• New York University- M.A.
• University of California, Berkeley - School of Law- J.D.
• Top 30 Matrimonial and Family Trial Lawyers, 2025, National Trial Lawyers
• American Jurisprudence Award, International Law, Berkeley Law School
• Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, Regional Championship Winning Team
• Women Lawyers' Association of Los Angeles
• National Association of Divorce Professionals
• K. Yee Fellowship, Berkeley Law School
• President and former Conference Chair, Pacific Southwest Academy of Legal Studies in Business
• Steering Committee of Foster Care Project
• Iranian American Bar Association
• Girl Scouts Troop Leader of Greater Los Angeles
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to empathy, integrity, consistency, and disciplined leadership, and I’ve found that strong communication, emotional intelligence, and genuinely caring about my clients’ well-being have been the true foundation of my growth as both an attorney and a leader.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received was to seek out mentors early and often, a lesson reinforced by my mother’s unwavering encouragement and an early-career attorney who modeled true professionalism and shaped my approach to legal advocacy.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering the legal field to seek mentors early, ask questions without hesitation, trust in their own capability, and remember that they belong in every room they step into.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the legal field right now is growing a practice without sacrificing quality, and I see a major opportunity in scaling intentionally maintaining strong client care, clear communication, and high standards while balancing the demands of leadership, teaching, and family life.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me—both in my work and personal life—are integrity and compassion, whether I’m supporting clients, spending time with my children and family, or giving back to my local community through professional and non-profit initiatives.
Locations
Berenji Divorce & Family Law Group (formerly Berenji & Associates)
9465 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 333, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
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