Our Associates
Meet the supporting players behind our partners
Hamed Amiri Ghaemmaghami, Senior Associate
From Bristol, England
Mr. Amiri Ghaemmaghami is a seasoned litigator with over 20 years of experience advising and defending insurance companies, their insureds and public entities. His legal practice and experience are informed by years of handling and supervising claims for a major carrier, including the supervision of Special Investigations Unit claims and the evaluation of coverage questions prior to becoming an attorney.
An experienced trial and arbitration attorney, Mr. Amiri Ghaemmaghami advises his clients on, and handles, every aspect of claims handling, analysis, and litigation, including demands, whether within, for, or in excess of policy limits, global settlements, examinations under oath, appraisals, mediations, arbitrations, coverage and other legal opinions, declaratory relief actions, and interpleaders. His experience defending bad faith litigation is invaluable in analyzing, and advising on, all first-party insurance issues. He has handled dozens of appeals in the California Court of Appeals and the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Education
University of California, San Diego (B.A., Economics, 1996)
Southwestern University School of Law (J.D. 2004). Lead Articles Editor, Southwestern Journal of Law and Trade in the Americas, 2003-2004; Staff Member, 2002-2003.
Memberships
Mr. Amiri Ghaemmaghami was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2004. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Central, Southern, Eastern, and Northern Districts of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Mr. Amiri Ghaemmaghami is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Other Information
Mr. Amiri Ghaemmaghami speaks English, French, Farsi, and Spanish. He grew up in four countries on three continents, giving him a breadth of perspective that often enlightens his analysis in California’s diverse communities.
Published Appellate Opinion
Ytuarte v. Superior Court (2005) 129 Cal. App. 4th 266.
Admitted to bar, 1998, California; 1998, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California; 2003, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
Karen M. Stepanyan
From Arkalyk, Kazakhstan
Admitted to California bar, 2021; Admitted to U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, 2023; Admitted to U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, 2024; Admitted to Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2024
Education
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (LL.M), 2019
Member
State Bar of California
Beverly Hills Bar Association
Practice
Mr. Stepanyan concentrates in Appellate Practice and Civil Litigation
Published Appellate Decisions
County of Los Angeles v. Superior Court (Hernandez) (2024) 107 Cal.App.5th 160
Wiley v. Kern High School District (2024) 107 Cal.App.5th 765
Harland v. City of West Hollywood (2026) 120 Cal.App.5th 1166
C.F. v. Alternative Family Services (2026) 120 Cal.App.5th 1208
Karen@PollakVida.com
Emily C. Vida
From Santa Monica, California
Admitted to Oregon bar, 2022; Admitted to California bar, 2025; Admitted to U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, 2025; Admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northen District of California, 2026; Admitted to Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2025
Education
University of Oregon School of Law, 2022
University of California, Santa Cruz, 2014
Member
State Bar of California
Oregon State Bar
Practice
Insurance Coverage and Appellate Law
Emily@pollakvida.com
