Ask the Experts: Interactive Workshop With Construction Lawyer

PROFILE:

Milene Apanian

As a partner at Abdulaziz, Grossbart & Rudman, Milene Apanian assists contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, sureties and owners prevent and resolve disputes on all types of public and private construction projects.

She counsels clients throughout the construction process, starting with contract drafting and review. She represents clients in administrative hearings, including Contractors' State License Board disciplinary actions and complaints, labor code violations (prevailing wage), public agency bid disputes and challenges, contractor "responsibility" and bid "responsiveness" issues, subcontractor "listing law" issues and substitutions, "sole-sourcing," "or-equal" approvals and petitions for writ of mandate/prohibition. She negotiates and litigates business transactions and disputes, breach of contract/termination lawsuits, mechanic's lien and stop notice actions, change orders, delay, disruption, acceleration, extra work, and changed conditions claims. She routinely handles mediations, arbitrations and litigation from inception to settlement or trial.

Prior to practicing law, Ms. Apanian worked for local architectural firms and construction companies, and gained valuable knowledge and experience regarding the construction industry. Before joining Abdulaziz, Grossbart & Rudman, she worked at Hunt Ortmann Palffy Nieves Lubka Darling Mah, Inc. in Pasadena and Kamine Ungerer, LLP in Downtown Los Angeles and externed at the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, Community Redevelopment Agency and at the Public Works Litigation Department.

Ms. Apanian served as mediator on the Los Angeles Superior Court panel. She is a frequent guest speaker for various trade associations, such as the Construction Specification Institute Western Region Conference and Los Angeles Chapter, Engineering Contractors Association, American Institute of Architects and Women in Architecture, CMA, NAWIC, and periodically publishes construction law related articles. Ms. Apanian is an adjunct professor at Southwestern University School of Law, where she teaches construction law.

Milene Apanian obtained her Bachelor of Architecture from University of Southern California (USC) and her Juris Doctorate from Southwestern University School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in the State of California, Nevada and the Court of Federal Claims.

Ms. Apanian is an affiliate member of the American Institute of Architects, and a member of the Construction Specification Institute, Los Angeles County Bar, Armenian Bar Association and NAWIC San Gabriel Valley Chapter. She volunteers as a board member for various nonprofit organizations. She served on the City of Glendale's Community Police Partnership Advisory Committee and was appointed to the Arts and Culture Commission.

Ms. Apanian has served on the Greenbook Committee of Public Works Standards, Inc., Specifications subcommittee and has reviewed, analyzed, revised and drafted "Greenbook" specifications used on public works projects. She has also volunteered as a guest judge for the Building Industry Association, Home Aid Los Angeles/Ventura Project Playhouse, and for the National Association of Women in Construction Los Angeles Chapter Lego contest.

Ms. Apanian's California Architect Registration is currently pending.