Announcing the launch of The Elite Firm, a full-service law firm, and crisis management agency. Founded by Demetria Graves, California Family Law Specialist, and Merissa V Grayson, Esq., America’s Blended Family Expert, The Elite Firm pushes the boundaries of what legal representation should look like. The Elite Firm will officially launch January 5, 2018, and based in Century City, California. After running extremely successful individual firms of their own for many years, these high powered attorneys decided to come together to offer African American celebrities, athletes and high profile influencers and individuals something currently not available to them; a premier law firm founded, managed and staffed by a team of successful, dynamic Black women who truly have their client’s best interest, and not just their billable hours, as the focus. The Elite Firm provides top-notch legal representation resulting in optimal results inside the courtroom. Moreover, the Elite team- comprised of professionals experienced in Anger Management, Mental Health, Personal Development, and Crisis Management- properly advises clients, ensuring they have the tools they need to not only win their case, but to positively affect all aspects of their lives. This is what sets Elite apart. Too often we see high profile individuals engaged in legal battles, making completely avoidable but highly detrimental decisions outside of the courtroom which not only have negative effects on their cases, but lingering effects on their lives and reputations long after their legal issues are resolved. For most firms, if it isn’t directly related to the case and can’t be included in the billable hours, it’s not their concern. Not the case with Elite. Simply put, The Elite Firm takes care of the
client, not just the case, and is committed to ensuring its clients have the full support system they need to keep things from falling apart. “We were just tired of seeing people who looked like us being consistently misrepresented.”~Merissa V. Grayson Managing Partner, Demetria Graves, is a Family Law Specialist certified by the State Bar of California as an expert in Family Law. She was named one of California’s Super Lawyers and received Woman of the year honors by Women in Business. Attorney Graves is the current President of the Black Women Lawyers Association, Los Angeles, serves on the Family Law Executive Committee of the State Bar of California, and has authored, “It Doesn’t Have to Be Ugly,” a comprehensive guide to lead individuals facing divorce. Managing Partner, Merissa V. Grayson, Esq., is a divorce and child custody attorney specializing in father’s rights. She was named one of the “Top 10 Black Female Attorneys You Should Know” on Black Enterprise online and serves on the board of the Black Women lawyers Association Los Angeles. Attorney Grayson is a Co-Parent coach, mediator, author of a 3-part book series, The Business of Co-Parenting, and regularly travels the country to speak on CoParenting, Family Law and other blended family related topics. Lead Criminal Defense Attorney, Jill Carter Melton, Esq., handles criminal cases ranging from minor infractions to serious felonies. Her top priorities are making sure her clients are treated fairly and aiming to reduce charges and avoid jail time whenever possible. Attorney Carter Melton is also an expert in criminal record expungements and works steadfast to ensure Elite’s clients can still achieve their dreams despite the mistakes of their past. The Elite Team is rounded off by two Case Managers, two Client Liaisons; two Therapists, specializing in overall mental health and major mental illness, and Licensed in Clinical Social Work, a Personal Development Instructor, Certified to teach court approved Parenting, Anger Management & Domestic Violence Classes; and one Communication Strategist and Crisis Management Liaison, as well as various support staff that works at their direction.
“The Elite Firm takes care of the client, not just the case.”~ Demetria Graves The Elite Firm is the first of its kind, providing Legal representation in Family Law, Criminal Defense and Business Services. The Attorneys’ client rosters include celebrities, athletes, musicians, television personalities and other high profile influencers and individuals, whose cases are handled with the utmost diligence and discretion. The Firm is comprised of a highly skilled team of hand-picked Black women lawyers, specialists, strategists and problem solvers; all with extremely successful careers in their individual fields of expertise, who are driven by something more than just dollars, who were tired of seeing people who looked like them being misrepresented, and who all recognized the need for a firm like Elite to exist. The firm will be opening additional offices in New York, Atlanta, Miami, and Las Vegas.
