Family ties run strong for some Region families, with parents and grandparents laying down roots many decades ago. This holds true for Arman Sarkisian, longtime resident and associate at his family’s law firm, Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates P.C.
Sarkisian graduated from Valparaiso High School before heading south for college at Nova Southeastern University, where he played soccer and earned his undergraduate degree. Following this, he moved back to Indiana to pursue a law degree at Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
Sarkisian attended law school not with the intent of becoming a lawyer, but because he saw the value of the degree and was hoping it would benefit him in his professional life. Before he graduated from school, he spoke with his uncle about his future. His uncle started a law firm in 1975, which would later become what is today Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates P.C.
“My uncle said he’d make a deal with me, offering me a place to come work at the firm, but if I didn’t like it, there would be no hard feelings if I wanted to leave,” Sarkisian said. “I agreed on the promise that he would tell me if I wasn’t doing well with the work. That was 14 years ago this September.”
Most of the firm’s work involves personal injury. With six attorneys and 12 paralegals working out of their Valpo and Portage offices, they are busy in the office and the courtroom.
The firm represents mostly Region community members, and it works hard to do what is right for their clients. Around 60% of their cases are in Porter County, 35% in Lake County and the other 5% is a mix of surrounding counties and Chicago.
“When you’re looking at it from a community standpoint, we’re a part of the community, and because of that, it’s the same people who were once clients that end up on juries hearing our other cases,” Sarkisian said. “The utmost goal is to settle or resolve all our clients’ cases so that, in turn, they feel inclined to do what’s right for their fellow community members.”
A family business that spans generations naturally means the presence of a lot of family in the area, and they strike a balance between work and play.
Sarkisian stays busy outside of work going for walks with his two dogs and hiking at the Indiana Dunes National Park. He keeps up his soccer game in a local men’s league. He also enjoys playing in golf outings, taking trips to Tennessee, and trying new restaurants in the area with his family..
“Even though we all work together, our family is pretty tight inside and outside the office. We’re always together in one way or another,” Sarkisian said.
Sarkisian notes two draws that make him want to continue life in the Region: his family and the firm.
“My uncle really took the lashings and went through the difficult times to make the basis of what the firm is. We were fortunate enough to come and join him and help him grow the practice on the foundation he built,” Sarkisian said.
To learn more about Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates P.C., visit its website at https://www.sarklawfirm.com/.