Meet Maggie Arutyunyan, Esq. of Arutyunyan & Associates

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Arutyunyan, Esq.

Hi Maggie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Yerevan, Armenia. My parents migrated to the US when I was six. I graduated UCLA with a Philosophy degree and then attended Southwesten Law School. I knew early on what my career path would be. I had a one-track mind to becoming an attorney at a very young age. It was always to help the little guy though – the disenfranchised, the victim, the one going up against the system or the company with the deep pockets. I founded my law firm in Glendale CA, as soon as I passed the State Bar Exam. I started off doing personal injury work, representing victims of car accidents and slip and falls against big insurance companies who would fight tooth and nail not to get my clients paid. Of course, I fought back with the opposite result.

About six years ago, I met a talent agent who was managing Content Creators, Bloggers and Influencers who needed an attorney to review paid partnership contracts. That’s when I started representing them (the Content Creators, Bloggers and Influencers). I learned the ins and outs of this very new and very niche field of law very quickly. It is a cross between entertainment law and business law. I represent Content Creators from all walks of life with all kinds of backgrounds. They each have a very unique message and represent different cultures and minority groups. They each find it in them to give us a glimpse into their lives, they talk about their struggles, their insecurities and the lows they go through while navigating their lives. It takes a very special and brave person to open their life up like that and expose themself to scrutiny; especially on social media. I respect them for that. It’s not always glamour and fun events and free products. They put in the work. I’ve represented clients with their contracts with brands from Netflix and Amazon to Sephora and Dolce & Gabbana – all the while staying true to what I became an attorney for: protecting the rights of the individual.

Although mostly fun and interesting, it does get contentious sometimes as brands and companies may sometimes shortchange the Content Creators or fail to show respect or fail to value what they bring to the table. That’s where I come in, staying true to my foundation of ensuring I fully protect their interests and securing ironclad contracts for them. This way, they can be creative and work on their craft with a peace of mind, knowing their rights are protected.

Additionally, a few years ago, my friend (and business partner) and I realized there is a void in the beauty safety industry for ear protectors while styling one’s hair. Hence, my friend invented silicone ear covers called Miss Careful, that protects your ears from hot styling tools, dyes and harsh chemicals. It took over two years to develop the products, get it to production and patent it. The response to this ingenious product has been resounding and always sounds a little like, “Oh wow! Why didn’t we think of that?!!” They’re available on Amazon.

Additionally, I’m a founding member of the Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ). We are a non-profit NGO comprised of 30 LA-based attorneys, wherein we collect evidence of war crimes of the 2020 war of Nagorno Karabakh. The war took the life of 5000 Armenians and ethnically cleansed a region in the Caucasus called Nagorno Karabakh of hundreds of thousands of Armenians. We take testimonies from the victims of war crimes who had their human rights violated at the hands of Azerbaijan and present them in reports to international governing bodies, the International Court of Justice at the United Nations as well as to US Congress and other dignitaries. The goal is to get justice for the war crimes committed by Azerbaijan against the Armenians. This is my passion project. It feeds my soul as I channel the anger and rage I feel about this injustice into meaningful action for my people.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a smooth ride. I’ve never had to advertise my services. They all come from word of mouth or through agents. When you put in the work and you truly defend your client’s rights, they see that and value that. Even if you don’t see the returns now, it somehow comes back in the most unexpected and delightfully surprising ways.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have a niche practice of representing Content Creators, Bloggers and Influencers with their brand partnership or paid partnership deal. When a brand wants to do a collaboration with a Content Creator, they reach out to them or their manager/agent and settle on the terms of the deal. Then the brand sends out a contract for the Content Creator to sign. I edit, negotiate and revise those contracts on behalf of my client, representing their interests and protecting their rights. What sets me apart from others is that I’m specialized in this very niche practice of law. I am relentless at ensuring the contract is fair and beneficial for my client. I don’t care if my adversary is Estee Lauder or Hulu; my client needs to feel protected in the partnership and I will go head to head with any brand to ensure of that.

One time a PR agency told me that when they represent the brand against me, they hate it, but when they represent the talent against another brand, they use my contracts as their template because they know how hard I’ve advocated for my client in that contract. That’s the ultimate compliment.

I’m proud of my brand because I’ve maintained my integrity throughout this process. My clients become my lifelong friends and they know they’ve got a protector in me. I don’t just represent them, I counsel them, I offer advice and I am so incredibly proud of them.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
It’s important to have integrity in this business. Lawyers have a bad rep. That doesn’t sit well with me. You can be tough with your adversary, but you have to ensure you are not compromising your values in the process. Having a solid contract for your client is a balancing act; a dance of give and take. You just have to make sure you are not giving up too much and sabotaging your client’s interests along the way just because you want to close the deal. My client’s come first and foremost. Having that mentality will pay back in dividends; you will earn their respect and trust: Two important components of a successful attorney/client relationship.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.arutyunyanlaw.com
• Instagram: Maggie_Arutyunyan
• Facebook: Maggie Arutyunyan
• Linkedin: Maggie Arutyunyan
• Twitter: MaggieArutyuny1
• Youtube: ArutyunyanandAssociates