Founding & Managing Partner | Kramer & Zitser LLP
Certified Family Law Specialist
Experience & Expertise
Brian J. Kramer is a Certified Family Law Specialist and widely recognized as one of California’s premier family law attorneys. As a founding partner of Kramer & Zitser LLP, Mr. Kramer brings over 25 years of distinguished experience to the firm. Renowned for his strategic versatility, he is equally skilled in guiding clients toward amicable resolutions and, when needed, delivering strong advocacy in complex litigation.
Career Experience
Kramer & Zitser LLP | Los Angeles, CA | 2025 – Present
Founding partner of a premier family law firm. Brings extensive experience representing parties in complex family law matters involving high-net-worth marital estates, property characterization and division, spousal and child support, custody disputes, and the negotiation and enforcement of matrimonial agreements, including prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.
Brian J. Kramer, P.C. | Los Angeles, CA | 2008 – 2025
Founder and principal of a boutique family law firm. Represented hundreds of clients in complex family law cases before both trial and appellate courts across California. Regularly litigated high-stakes matters involving marital property rights, support, custody, and the enforceability of marital agreements such as transmutation and premarital agreements. Also served as an expert witness on California family law in both domestic and international matters.
Hersh, Mannis & Bogen | Beverly Hills, CA | 2005 – 2007
Senior Associate. Managed numerous high-profile and high-net-worth dissolution and parentage actions for clients in the entertainment industry and business community.
Seyfarth Shaw LLP | Los Angeles, CA | 1997 – 2005
Commercial litigation associate. First-chaired multiple complex civil trials and arbitrations, with a focus on business disputes and contract matters.
Latham & Watkins LLP | Orange County, CA | 1994 – 1996
Associate in corporate and litigation departments. Handled matters involving corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, and civil litigation.
Education
- Juris Doctor, cum laude
University of Michigan Law School — 1994
- B.A., Japanese/East Asian Languages & Culture, magna cum laude
University of Kansas —1990
Notable Cases & Media Recognition
Brian J. Kramer’s landmark cases and national media appearances underscore his reputation as one of California’s premier divorce attorneys. He has been at the forefront of high-profile and precedent-setting family law matters involving celebrities, high-net-worth individuals, and complex legal issues.
Significant Legal Victories Resulting In National News
- The Doris Duke Trust Case
Brian gained national attention for his successful use of a California parentage action to establish that his client, Sean Sessums Means, was the rightful lineal descendant of a beneficiary of the storied Doris Duke Trust—one of the most iconic private trusts in American history. Brian’s successful handling of Sean’s case—resulting in a life-transforming outcome for his client—caught the attention of none other than Oprah Winfrey, who featured the story in an eight-page article in O, The Oprah Magazine. That feature article, entitled ‘An Unlikely Inheritance,’ is available on Oprah’s official website and can be read by clicking here. [O Magazine’s Story of Sean Sessums Means – Heir of Doris Duke]
- Terrence Howard Divorce Judgment Reversal
In 2015, while starring as the lead actor on Fox’s hit television series Empire, Terrence Howard retained Mr. Kramer to challenge a divorce judgment entered through mediation. Mr. Kramer successfully argued that the judgment was procured under duress, resulting in the trial court—Judge Thomas Trent Lewis—overturning the judgment. This extraordinary result received national media coverage, including a featured interview with Mr. Kramer on ABC’s Good Morning America that can be seen by clicking here. [VIDEO FROM ABC GOOD MORNING AMERICA Brian Kramer Interview on GMA About Terrence Howard Trial Victory]
The extraordinary ruling that Mr. Kramer secured on behalf of actor Terrence Howard received widespread national media attention, including coverage in USA Today and People Magazine. Mr. Howard publicly expressed his heartfelt gratitude for Mr. Kramer’s successful representation in a press release, which was featured by Entertainment Tonight that can be seen by clicking here. [Judge Overturns Terrence Howard’s Divorce Settlement]
- Celebrity & High-Income Parentage Cases
Mr. Kramer has extensive experience litigating parentage and support actions involving celebrities and high-income earners, including actors Mel Gibson, Jack Nicholson, and former UFC champion Chuck Liddell. He has also represented and defended other ultra high-net-worth fathers, giving him a unique and strategic perspective on both sides of such high-stakes disputes.
- Phil Spector Divorce Case & Representation of Musicians
Mr. Kramer represented Rachelle Spector in her dissolution of marriage from the infamous music producer Phil Spector, handling both trial and appellate court proceedings. The case involved several novel legal issues arising from Mr. Spector’s ownership of one of the largest music catalogs in the United States. Mr. Kramer has extensive experience representing musicians and entertainment professionals, particularly in matters involving the valuation, division, and income characterization of royalties, residuals, and intellectual property rights.
Appellate Cases
- Marriage of Gehr (2011): Appeal involving validity of premarital agreement’s gift of a condominium from business tycoon to his wife.
- Marriage of Spector (2018): This reported frequently cited appeal involved a trial court’s order retroactively modifying a spousal support order.
- Marriage of Goldman (2019): Mr. Kramer was able to defeat several appeals using the disentitlement doctrine for noncompliance with child support and Automatic Temporary Restraining Orders.
- Turkanis and Price (2013): Shaped the FLARPL (Family Law Attorney’s Real Property Lien) use in California dissolution actions.
National Media Appearances
- Inside Edition Legal Analyst & High-Profile Commentary
In addition to his extensive work on high-profile family law cases, Mr. Kramer has been featured as a legal analyst on national news programs, including Inside Edition, offering expert commentary on prominent divorce cases and California family law issues.
- Johnny Depp & Amber Heard. Inside Edition interviewed Mr. Kramer to explain the legal reasoning behind Johnny Depp’s decision to agree to a $7 million divorce settlement following his one-year marriage to actress Amber Heard. That interview can be seen by clicking here. [Divorce Attorney Brian J. Kramer Interviewed about the Johnny Depp divorce settlement.]
- Mr. Kramer was later retained by Amber Heard’s legal team as an expert witness on California family law issues in the civil defamation lawsuit filed by Mr. Depp in Fairfax, Virginia.
- Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne: Mr. Kramer was interviewed by Inside Edition to discuss the highly publicized separation of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, as well as the growing trend of “gray divorces”—later-in-life separations—under California law That interview. can be viewed by clicking here. [Inside Edition Ozzy Osbourne Divorce Interview of Attorney Brian Kramer]
- Charlie Sheen & Denise Richards. Mr. Kramer was interviewed by Inside Edition to provide expert commentary on the post-judgment dispute between Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards, involving allegations of threats and custody-related concerns. That interview can be viewed by clicking here. [Denise Richards Claims Charlie Sheen Threatened to Kill Her and Their Kids]
- Bristol Palin & Dakota Meyer Divorce. Inside Edition featured Mr. Kramer in a segment covering the custody battle between Bristol Palin and her ex-husband, Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer. Mr. Kramer offered insight into the legal and emotional complexities of parenting disputes involving public figures. Inside Edition’s interview of Brian about the custody battle between Bristol Palin and her war hero husband Dakota Meyer can be viewed by clicking here. [https://youtu.be/sferu0RsuDU]
Professional Credentials & Recognition
- Certified Family Law Specialist – State Bar of California
- Super Lawyer in Family Law (2013 – Present)
- Beverly Hills Bar Association – Family Law Executive Committee Member
- Association of Certified Family Law Specialists – Member
- Featured Speaker – 2016 California Association of Licensed Private Investigators: “Use of Social Media in Family Law”
Other Credentials
- Proficient in Japanese
Mr. Kramer is proficient in Japanese and was awarded a Rotary Club Scholarship to study at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan in 1990, where he pursued intensive studies in Japanese language and East Asian culture.
- Real Estate Experience & Licensure
Kramer has a strong background in real estate, including experience as a property developer in Idaho where he partnered with a University of Michigan Law School classmate on a project known as The Idaho Club. He is also a licensed real estate broker in both California and Idaho
- LA Family Law Insights – YouTube Channel
Combining his interest in photography and videography with his commitment to public legal education, Mr. Kramer created and manages Kramer & Zitser YouTube Channel, titled LA Family Law Insights, which offers practical, up-to-date commentary on California family law issues and developments.
