Prior to joining the Law Office of Benjamin Kanani, Ms. Desmond practiced as a criminal defense attorney at the Law Office of Robert L. Shapiro, where she represented clients in high-profile misdemeanor and felony matters in both State and Federal Court. Directly working with internationally renowned litigator Robert Shapiro, Ms. Desmond’s first trial was a murder case which made headlines and was featured on Dateline NBC and the CBS investigative television show, 48 Hours.
After several years in criminal court, Virginia was inspired to transition into family law, where her trial experience and knowledge of high-stakes litigation made her an ideal fit. While participating in the Harriet Buhai Center’s Family Law Intensive Program (“FLIP”), where she volunteered her time to help low–income individuals seeking domestic violence and family law assistance, Ms. Desmond developed a passion for helping families find a peaceful resolution to their disputes during emotionally difficult and trying times.
Upon completion of the FLIP program, Ms. Desmond decided to transition fully into family law and began practicing in the Greater Los Angeles Area, taking on clients in her own private practice for referrals that began coming in immediately from friends, family and colleagues that were looking for help. We are fortunate to have her with us today given her broad and specialized experience in both a courtroom and highly charged litigation that allows the Law Office of Benjamin Kanani to confidently handle even the most aggressive parties and litigants.
Ms. Desmond received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women’s Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles and obtained her law degree in 2012 from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California. She is also an active member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.