Biography
John K. Karanian is Executive Vice President and Shareholder at Barnes & Diehl, PC who has focused his practice on family law matters since 2004. He is a former practicing forensic and clinical psychologist with the Central Intelligence Agency. Mr. Karanian has been voted a Virginia Super Lawyers© Virginia Rising Star 8 years in a row from 2015-2022.
Professional Associations
- Virginia State Bar
- Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section
- Metropolitan Richmond Family Law Bar Association
- Metro Richmond Bar Association, Judiciary Committee (2009)
- Chesterfield County Bar Association
Published Works
- "Frequent Childhood Moves - Poorer Quality of Life," Virginia Family Law News, Volume 31, No. 1, Spring Issue (2011)
- "Do You Really Want to Put the Child on the Stand?," John Karanian & Michael HuYoung, Esquire, Virginia Bar Association News Journal (Focus on Family Law), Volume 35, No. 4, Winter Issue (2009)
- "Challenging Expert Testimony About Child Sexual Abuse," John Karanian, Virginia State Bar, Family Law News, Volume 25, No. 4, Winter Issue (2005)
- "Assessing Elopement Risk from a Forensic Hospital," Greg Wolber & John Karanian, Journal of Forensic Psychology (2002)
- "The Relationship Between Depression and Self-Efficacy in a Sample of Sheltered Homeless Adults," John Karanian, Doctoral Dissertation (1997)
Honors
- Selected to Virginia Super Lawyer, by Richmond Magazine Law & Politics (2015-2022)
- Voted a Rising Star Super Lawyer in Virginia, by Richmond Magazine Law & Politics
- All-American Scholar Award, United States Achievement Academy (1992)
Classes & Seminars
- 25th Annual Bench-Bar Conference, Moderator- "Come Play the Family Feud: Mental Health Solutions in Family Custody/ Visitation Disputes" (2016)
- "Mental Health Issues in Family Law," National Business Institute, Continuing Education Seminar (October 22, 2014)
- "Sexual Abuse in Family Law Cases," Virginia CLE (July 7, 2009)
- "Selecting a Qualified Expert," 8th Annual Advanced Guardian Ad Litem for Children Seminar: What GAL's Need to Know about Child Custody Evaluations (December 12, 2006)
- "Legal Ethics for the Criminal Practitioner," Virginia Trial Lawyer's Association, VTLA's Annual Criminal Law Seminar(presentation by Michael HuYoung & outline by John Karanian)(October 28, 2004)
- "Stalking," Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC (August 10, 2000)
- "The Clinical Assessment of Malingering," Institute of Law, Psychiatry, & Public Policy, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (June 9, 1999)
- "The Multiphasic Sex Inventory and Assessment of Sex Offenders," Central State Hospital, Petersburg, Virginia (April 29, 1999)
- "Sex Offenders: Pedophilia," Forensic Evaluation Seminar, Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia (August 21, 1998)
- "Legal and Ethical Issues in Behavioral Health in Virginia," Richmond, Virginia (June 7, 2013)
- "29th Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar," Richmond, Virginia (April 26, 2013)
- "30th Annual Family Law Seminar," Richmond, Virginia (October 27, 2011)
- "Ethical Issues in Child Custody Matters," (October 26, 2011)
- "Assessment and Treatment Issues with Sexually Violent Predators," Charlottesville, Virginia (May 24, 2011)
- "Digital Forensics: Surveillance and Ethics in Domestic Relations Cases," Williamsburg, Virginia (January 15, 2011)
- "Conflicts of Interest," Richmond, Virginia (October 22, 2010)
- "American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute for Family Law Associates," Advanced Program, Chicago, Illinois (June 24, 2010)
- "Emerging Issues in Neuroscience and Neuropsychology," Charlottesville, Richmond, Virginia (May 27, 2010)
- "Mental Health Issues in Family Law Cases," Richmond, Virginia (2007)
- "Conducting Scientifically Crafted Child Custody Evaluations," Marc Ackerman, Ph.D., Washington, D.C. (March 29, 2006)
- "38th Semi-Annual Fall Forensic Symposium: Assessing Criminal Behavior," The Importance of How the Crime was Committed, Charlottesville, Virginia (September 26, 2003)
- Assistant Clinical Professor, Medical College of Virginia, Department of Psychiatry, Richmond, VA (August 1998-January 2000)
- "Clinical Work With Difficult Families," Washington, DC (October 16, 2000)
- "Capital Sentencing Evaluation Training," (June 11, 1999)
- "Expert Testimony and Forensic Evaluation," Institute of Law, Psychiatry & Public Policy, University of Virginia (April 30, 1999)
- "Juvenile Evaluation Training Update," Institute of Law, Psychiatry & Public Policy, University of Virginia (January 26, 1999)
- Alternatives To Patient Consent," Institute of Law, Psychiatry & Public Policy, University of Virginia (October 15, 1998)
- "The Legal Implications of Co-Morbidity: Substance Abuse and Mental Illness," Institute of Law, Psychiatry & Public Policy, University of Virginia (September 17, 1998)
- "Emerging Policy and Research and the Sex Offender," Institute of Law, Psychiatry & Public Policy, University of Virginia (May 8, 1998)
- "Insanity Acquittee Evaluation," Institute of Law, Psychiatry & Public Policy, University of Virginia (February 12, 1998)
- "Advanced Forensic Training," Institute of Law, Psychiatry & Public Policy, University of Virginia (January 13, 1998-January 14, 1998)
- "Risk Assessment," Institute of Law, Psychiatry & Public Policy, University of Virginia (November 21, 1997)
- "Basic Forensic Training," Institute of Law, Psychiatry & Public Policy, University of Virginia (October 6, 1997)
Past Positions
- Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, Clinical Psychologist (2000-2001)
- Riverside Regional Jail/Liberty Forensic Unit, Hopewell, Virginia, Forensic Psychologist (1999-2000)
- Central State Hospital, Maximum Security Forensic Unit, Petersburg, Virginia, Forensic Evaluation Team & Psychologist Senior (1997-1999)
- United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution, Butner, North Carolina, Psychology Intern (1996-1997)
Certified Legal Specialties
- Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider, Virginia (December 4, 1998 - June 30, 2012)
Education
- University of Richmond, School of Law, Richmond, Virginia
- J.D. - 2004
- University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT
- Psy.D. - 1997
- Major: Clinical Psychology
- Georgetown University, Washington, DC
- B.A.
- Major: Psychology
Bar Admissions
- Virginia, 2004