Barnes & Diehl Attorneys At Law
Barnes & Diehl Attorneys At Law

Call the firm at 804-796-1000

A Tradition Of Experience And Devotion To Family Law

Attorney John K. Karanian

John
K.
Karanian

  • Executive Vice President/Shareholder
(804) 796-1000
  • Family Law Matters

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
  • Best Lawyers Best Law Firms | U.S.News & World Report | 2023
  • Super Lawyers John K. Karanian
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  • Super Lawyers Feature Story John K. Karanian