Ara Babaian is a Partner in the Business and Corporate Law Department of Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP. Mr. Babaian advises companies and individuals in all areas of business and contract law—from the formation of a company to its financing and management—as well as business sales, mergers and acquisitions, loan transactions, contract drafting/negotiation, ’34 Act reporting and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. He also handles intellectual property matters, executive compensation, buy-sell agreements, and confidentiality agreements.
A graduate of UC, Berkeley, Mr. Babaian double majored in molecular/cell biology and English literature and minored in creative writing. He received his law degree from Loyola Law School in 2001. While at Loyola, Mr. Babaian served as Symposium Editor of the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review. He also served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Margaret M. Morrow in the U.S. District Court, District of California.
Mr. Babaian has authored articles, including “Fewer Investors Will Be Able to Qualify as ‘Accredited Investors’ under the New Dodd-Frank Act,” published in Business & Corporate Law Reporter (2010); “Key Issues to Consider in the Operation of Your Business,” published in Business & Corporate Law Reporter (2010); “Key Issues to Consider in Anticipation of a Major Transaction,” published in Business & Corporate Law Reporter (2009); “Preparing Your Business for a Major Transaction: Seven Key Issues to Consider,” published in The Directive (2009); “Major New Amendments to SEC Rule 144 Regarding the Resale of Restricted Securities,” published in Business & Corporate Law Reporter (2008); “Delaware High Court Holds ‘Quasi-California Corporation’ Statue Violates Delaware’s Internal Affairs Doctrine,” published in Andrews Delaware Corporate Litigation Reporter (2005); “How the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Fits into Your Company’s Growth,” published in the Los Angeles Business Journal (2005); and “Striving for Perfection: The Reform Proposals for Copyright-Secured Financing,” published in the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review (2000).
Mr. Babaian led the effort to build “Parkman Triangle Park” in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, which was completed in August 2010. He serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing Corporation. In his pro bono representation, Mr. Babaian has handled numerous adoptions through The Alliance for Children’s Rights and has represented various non-profit organizations, including Ferrahian Alumni Association, the West Hollywood Recovery Center, the Armenian Center for the Arts, and the Genocide Project. He also has mentored law students through the Loyola Alumni Mentor Program and the Armenian Bar Association Mentorship Program. Mr. Babaian is fluent in Armenian.
Mr. Babaian is a member of the State Bar of California and the Armenian Bar Association, where he serves as chairperson of the CLE Committee.