Jorge Jaramillo is a practicing lawyer in the state of California handling criminal and family law matters.

"The law has always fascinated me. I told my parents when I was about 7 years old that I wanted to be an attorney and strived for that goal throughout school." Attorney Lena Ghianni is a native San Diegan. She was born and raised in East County, graduated from Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, and obtained her law degree (Juris Doctor) from the University of San Diego School of Law. The only times Lena has lived outside San Diego County was while attending the University of Southern California for a bachelor's degree in Political Science and for her first job as a lawyer in Victorville, California. During her career, Lena gained experience in the areas of general civil, criminal, family law, and probate, including but not limited to issues of real estate, contract, child custody, dissolution of marriage, guardianship, conservatorship, petitions for administration, and estate planning. She was responsible for handling a heavy caseload including all aspects of the general practice such as preparation of pleadings, motions, writs, settlement negotiations, and trial and appellate briefs. Lena successfully argued cases at mediations, arbitrations, motions, and trials. For several years now, Lena's focus has been in the areas of family law and probate. Lena has helped her clients through the very difficult and emotional hurdles that accompany divorce, child custody, support, caring for ill or disabled family, and the death of a loved one. Since passing the bar in 2002, Lena has handled a wide range of cases, including real estate and business disputes, personal injury, and criminal cases.

Puja A. Sachdev is a top-rated San Diego divorce attorney and family law mediator who focuses on family law, child support, and divorce cases and is a Certified Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She received her law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law at San Diego, graduating cum laude with her Juris Doctorate. She is admitted to practice law in California and the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California. As a Certified Family Law Specialist, Ms. Sachdev has met the rigorous requirements set by the California State Bar. Some of these include passing a written exam, demonstration of a high level of experience in family law issues, fulfilling specific educational prerequisites and receiving favorable recommendations from colleagues and the judiciary. In order to fulfill these demands and to continue to meet this benchmark, Ms. Sachdev continues to be an expert in the field. Ms. Sachdev serves on a select court-appointed panel of attorneys who are appointed to represent minor children in high conflict and complex child custody cases. Custody and visitation matters are often some of the most contentious issues in Family Law. By taking her lead, the entire team is incredibly passionate about the well-being of children in Family Law cases. Family Law is an incredibly diverse and challenging field, which frequently involves issues in tax law, real property law, contract law, and criminal law. By having a widespread professional network ensures Ms. Sachdev can connect clients with experts in their field and work with these legal experts on their cases. Ms. Sachdev is a trained family law mediator. She received her training from the renowned Forrest “Woody” Mosten of Mosten Mediation in Los Angeles, California who focuses on cutting edge approaches to skill building and creative resolutions. Ms. Sachdev is widely recognized as one of San Diego’s top attorneys receiving honors from San Diego Daily Transcript, SD Metro Magazine, San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program and Super Lawyers. She has been featured in the Alumni Spotlight by San Diego State University College of Business Administration, as a Mover & Shaker in Mission Valley News and quoted by Divorce Magazine and Huffington Post. She has also been a panel speaker for the San Diego County Bar Association and Lawyers Club on work-life balance for new attorneys and solo practitioners and has presented Continuing Legal Education courses to the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program, San Diego Law Library and the Institute of Divorce Financial Analysts. Attorney Sachdev is also noted for her extensive background in the finance and business field. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno in Marketing and Management. She completed her Masters of Science in Business Administration in Financial & Tax Planning at San Diego State University and obtained the certificate for Personal Financial Planning. Ms. Sachdev enjoys the distinction of being the first family law attorney in the greater San Diego area who obtained the designation of Certified Divorce Financial Analyst ™.

“She’s a badass with a good heart, soft but strong. Unapologetic and honest. She’s the type of woman you go to war beside – not against.” – R.H. Sin ​ Immediately after becoming licensed, Abby began her own law firm. She is a tough-as-nails litigator, but her law practice has always been a success for another reason. She has a sincere dedication to putting the lives of her clients back on track. She focuses on their individuality. She helps prosecutors and judges see her clients as more than just a case, a number, and a list of charges. Abby has handled hundreds of criminal cases. She has appeared in all 5 major branches of the San Diego Superior Court as well as various courthouses throughout the State of California. From smaller issues such as traffic violations and warrant recalls to complex felony litigation, Abby treats every client like an individual and every matter like a serious impediment to their future success. Abby loves community involvement and is always looking for new ways to give back to causes she cares about. Intern Program. Abby has helped to train, supervise, and mentor countless attorneys and future attorneys in criminal law. Court Panelist on Community Youth Court, Southeastern Division. Since 2015, Abby has served as a Court Panelist on the Community Youth Court, a diversion program sponsored and run by the Office of the San Diego District Attorney as an alternative to criminal court for minors. President of the San Diego Parents of Twins Club. As a parent of twins, Abby knows the importance of community when it comes to raising kids. She currently presides over this organization that is comprised of over 150 twin families. When not defending justice, Abby enjoys sailing and traveling to adventurous destinations with her husband, twin boys, and Goldendoodle. She is a member at San Diego Yacht Club and loves cruising around with friends and family on her beloved boat

Julia M. Garwood is a family law attorney and mediator. Her Certified Family Law Specialist designation indicates that she has met the rigorous standards set by the California State Bar. She is also a former adjunct professor at a local law school, where she taught professional responsibility to future lawyers. She has worked in the field of family law for more than 30 years. As an acting settlement judge and mediator, Ms. Garwood sees each case from many different perspectives, including a judge’s perspective. Seeing the case through the eyes of a judge, she says, helps her plan cases to achieve the best possible results for her clients. As a Jewish family law attorney, she can offer keen insight and understanding to clients of the Jewish faith.

Garwood Attorneys is proud to welcome Attorney Lia Siganporia to our family law team. Lia received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with a minor in Psychology, from San Diego State University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Knowing she wanted to practice Family Law, Lia went on to receive her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law, with a concentration in Child, Family, and Elder Law and graduated Cum Laude. During law school, along with maintaining her grades, and playing Semi-Professional basketball, Lia completed various family law internships at the Family Law Facilitator’s Office, YWCA of San Diego, and the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program. Lia also worked for several local Certified Family Law Specialists at prestigious San Diego County law firms, as well as for the Family Law Judges and Commissioners in the North County Court. Lia has experience handling various family law issues, including dissolution of marriage, child custody and visitation, move-away requests, child support, spousal support, property, and asset division, and domestic violence restraining orders. In her free time, Lia enjoys spending time wither her loved ones, playing basketball, and cheering on the Los Angeles Lakers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Emma Magidson Slattery brings over twelve years of family law experience to Garwood Attorneys. Emma has successfully litigated countless cases in all aspects of family law, including custody and visitation, move-away orders, child and spousal support, high-income wage earners, jurisdictional issues, income imputation, the division of community property, division of stock options, and reimbursement claims (among others). Emma brings a unique perspective to Garwood Attorneys. Emma comes to our firm after having the privilege of spending ten years as a stay at home mom raising three children. While Emma cherished her time with family, she is excited to return to family law where her understanding and compassion for the family law litigant is indisputable. In her twelve years of family law practice, Emma was truly adored by her clients. Emma provides her clients with a knowledgeable and sympathetic ear to guide them through the difficult divorce process. Emma joins the prestigious Garwood Attorneys as our Client Concierge Attorney. In this position, Emma welcomes prospective new clients to the firm, learns their individual case needs, then pairs each client with the Garwood attorney best suited to their unique case. Emma remains available throughout each case to assist each client. Contact Emma Magidson Slattery today, and see how Garwood Attorneys can help you.

Casey A. Reeves comes to Garwood Attorneys with vast experience in litigation, discovery, and evidence. Having graduated near the top of his classes in these areas, Mr. Reeves went on to work in high stakes cases dealing with complex business and valuation issues. Mr. Reeves prides himself on his commitment to an open line of communication with his clients and recognizes the need to keep clients fully informed of all aspects of their case. When requested, Mr. Reeves takes an information-gathering approach to the area of family law and uses the discovery process to fully vet all issues in a case. His love of the mediation process has enabled him to think outside the box when structuring settlements that benefit the law firms clients beyond measure. Mr. Reeves believes that the art of structuring the Marital Settlement Agreement and the subtleties associated with all that encompasses allows his clients to feel confident when walking into their new life. Mr. Reeves has the distinct honor of being a San Diego native. He attended San Diego State University for his undergraduate degree and was the third in his immediate family to attend California Western School of Law.

Frank Terrazas brings fourteen years of combined family law experience to Garwood Attorneys. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of San Diego, Frank obtained a Graduate Certificate in Paralegal Studies, and quickly found himself in family law. Frank spent ten years under the tutelage of two preeminent family law attorneys in San Diego county (now retired). After gaining ten years of invaluable experience as a distinguished paralegal in family law, Frank took the natural next step, and attended law school. While in law school, Frank earned the prestigious Bonnie Reading Memorial Scholarship, awarded by the Certified Family Law Specialists Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association to a law student who shows dedication and commitment to the area of family law. Eager to commence his legal career, Frank began making appearances in Family Court as a Certified Law Student. Upon graduation from law school, Frank opened his own family law practice which took little time to thrive given Frank’s unique qualifications. Frank swiftly obtained extensive courtroom experience in contested matters and trials, successfully representing his family law litigants. Frank also negotiated countless settlements on behalf of his clients. Frank’s unique background as a family law paralegal, then attorney, coupled with his engaging personality, make him a tremendous asset to Garwood Attorneys and his clients.

San Diego Family Law Divorce Attorney, Marlene J. Keen limits her practice to Family Law matters including Divorce, Dissolution of Marriage, Legal Separation, Nullity of Marriage Paternity, Child Custody, Child Visitation, Child Support, Spousal Support, Domestic Violence, Temporary Restraining Orders (DV TROS's), Property Division, Enforcement and Modification of Orders.Divorce and Separation is most often followed with a great deal of pain and confusion for all involved. With any divorce, there are a number of issues that will need to be addressed immediately and it is important to establish a relationship with an experienced San Diego family law attorney who will give complete personalized attention. At the Law Firm of Marlene J. Keen we dedicate 100% of our time to helping individuals who are going through a Divorce or other Family Law related issues to assist them in going through the process.This is exactly what sets us apart from other family lawyers in San Diego. We have almost 60 years of experience in Family Law matters. We remember what is most important and this is always our clients and their best interest. More than 90% of Divorces and Legal Separations do not end up in a contested trial. Usually, the parties will negotiate and settle issues related to child custody, child support and property division.We handle Family Law matters in San Diego County including Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, Escondido, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Del Mar, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, La Mesa, El Cajon, Chula Vista and other surrounding areas. We have also represented clients in Temecula and Riverside. Call today for your free 20-minute consultation (619) 232-2217.