Beverly Hills Bar Association welcomes new president

Anthony D. Storm, a family law attorney, was sworn in Tuesday night as the newest president of the Beverly Hills Bar Association.

In his inaugural speech, Storm shared a personal story: More than two decades ago, his sister suffered a mental health crisis that left the family fighting in court to gain custody of her newborn daughter. That experience, he said, revealed the power of the law to "heal families, create stability during chaos and offer hope" - ultimately inspiring him to pursue a legal career.

Sworn in by Presiding Judge Sergio C. Tapia II of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Storm told the crowd at Skirball Cultural Center in West Los Angeles that the law at its core is about people.

"Every order our bench officers make, all the testimony we take, every judgment at stake - all have a ripple effect on our community. Our actions follow all litigants, their families and their communities. They impact families, businesses, and neighborhoods."

The Beverly Hills Bar Association has flourished in recent years, even as many bar groups nationwide have struggled with membership declines amid shifting attitudes toward professional networking. The association has nearly 7,200 active members, and its programs drew more than 210,000 registrants over the past year. It is now certified to provide continuing legal education in all 50 states.

One key driver of the association's growth is BHBA Barristers, its division for younger attorneys. On Tuesday, the group presented its DEI Award to Jinna Kang, one of three certified family law specialists in California fluent in Korean. Kang, who often assists domestic violence survivors and others with limited English proficiency in navigating the legal system, used her remarks to reflect on her own experiences with self-doubt.

Despite immigrating to the United States at 15, she said she has often struggled with feelings of inadequacy.

Before swearing in Storm, Tapia told Kang that he understands how she feels and that he, too, sometimes experiences "imposter syndrome" even though he has been a lawyer for decades and currently heads the largest trial court in the nation.

Storm, a partner at Storm Palyan LLP and a leading authority on electronic security issues in high-profile divorces, outlined ambitious goals for his year-long presidency in his speech. He pledged to expand the association's national legal education programs, double its partnerships with local bar groups, and strengthen its free mediation services. Acknowledging the nation's deep political divide, Storm said he hopes to use his term not only to build bridges across differing perspectives but also to defend judges and law firms from attacks on their independence.

Quoting the Jewish principle of tikkun olam -- "heal the world" -- Storm said that phrase has guided his career and will guide his leadership. "Every day as lawyers and judges," he said, "we are guardians of the law. With that comes the responsibility to apply it with fairness, compassion, and sensitivity."