Roxana co-founded Valencia-Taghavi LLP with her partner, Benjamin Valencia. She is a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS) recognized by the State Bar of California, a certification held by only about 1% of family law attorneys in the state. With over 20 years of experience, including nearly 10 years at the nation’s largest family law firm, Roxana specializes in resolving contentious custody and complicated financial disputes. Known for her dynamic approach to both settlement negotiations and courtroom litigation, Roxana puts her clients first and forges new paths when they feel underrepresented. She graduated cum laude from UCLA with degrees in English and Philosophy and earned her law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. She has been selected as a Super Lawyer Rising Star and as a Super Lawyer since 2019.
Roxana has extensive experience in high-asset divorce cases, complex custody matters, and interstate and international jurisdiction issues. Her practice includes handling cases involving restrictive gatekeeping, alienation, estrangement, domestic violence, and special needs children. As a mother, Roxana brings a parent’s perspective to her practice, negotiating child-centered custody agreements that help minimize future conflicts. Some of her notable cases include settling a $20 million marital estate, restoring near-equal custody for a father after his imprisonment, and overturning a premarital agreement that many other lawyers had refused to challenge. Passionate about making a difference, Roxana’s expertise and dedication have made her a respected figure in family law.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
On a typical workday, I’m constantly thinking about my cases and never fully “switch off.” My mornings begin with catching up on emails to get a clear sense of the day’s priorities. On office days, I’m often preparing for court appearances, which requires having evidence organized, pleadings ready, and arguments well-structured. This preparation is ongoing over weeks, as I strategize, consult with my partner Ben, and coordinate with experts to refine our litigation approach, including how to present evidence and sequence witness testimony. Ultimately, I aim to be fully prepared well in advance, ensuring I’m ready to effectively advocate in court.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I believe in taking action. It can be frustrating to hear people talk about big goals they haven’t pursued, so I make it a point to take steps toward my own goals, however small. Instead of complaining or overthinking, I actively work toward the finish line. Even if each step leads somewhere unexpected, at least I’m moving forward rather than just sitting idle.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Fashion trends can be fun, but what truly excites me is the trend of people building their own personal brands and stepping away from traditional corporate roles. I recently saw an interview with a former lawyer who now owns several bakeries, following her passion for baking and finding success as an entrepreneur. I think the shift, especially since COVID, toward people pursuing their own interests and starting new ventures is inspiring—it shows you don’t have to stay stuck on one path.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
To stay on top of my workload, I check and respond to emails first thing in the morning to clear my plate before I even arrive at the office or appear in court. I like starting this way, with a clean slate, and an open mind. For the same reason, I don’t leave home without making the bed first. These routines help me feel organized and focused, making it easier to draft documents or present arguments without feeling overwhelmed or distracted.
What advice would you give your younger self?
If I could give advice to my younger self, it would be to prioritize work-life balance. As a dedicated worker, I’ve often put career ahead of personal self-care, family time, and travel—things that I now realize are too important to delay. I’d remind my younger self how quickly time passes and the importance of not letting these moments slip away. While I’m still working on taking this advice myself, it’s something I wish I’d embraced sooner.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
While I believe both parents play important roles in a child’s life, I don’t always support a 50/50 overnight schedule for infants in families where the parents have separated and a mother is breastfeeding. A judge in one of my cases ordered my client, the mother, to wean her child on a relatively short timeline, which made some sense to me in that case as the child was over two years old, and dad’s parenting time had been restricted by the child’s feeding schedule, but it can feel inappropriate when parents are sharing a newborn. Each case is unique, but I feel judges with less experience sometimes ‘split the baby’ rather than focusing on the best interests of a specific child. Early attachment to both parents is important, though I know not everyone agrees with this view.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Taking action immediately, even in small ways, really helps manage the heavy workload and prevents both attorney and client from feeling overwhelmed, especially considering the emotional nature of family law. Communication with clients is crucial in our field—they need to feel acknowledged and confident their concerns are being taken into account.
Even if I’m not able to provide a full response or meet with a client right away, just acknowledging receipt of a client’s message, letting them know I’ve received their request, or that I’ll follow up after a court appearance, can go a long way. That small gesture is often really appreciated by clients.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I need a mental break, I’ll often hang out with Ben for a laugh or go shopping—anything to clear my mind. Stepping away from a problem, even briefly, helps me come back with a fresh perspective. Taking time to refocus allows new ideas to emerge, rather than letting stress suppress them. This reset helps me tackle the issue with a clearer mind.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
For me, hard work is the key to success. Growing up with two working parents, including an immigrant father who with my mom built a beautiful life here, basically from scratch, I learned that no challenge is insurmountable. I believe success levels in any profession are determined by hard work versus complacency, holding yourself to the highest standards versus accepting mediocrity. I routinely analyze how I may have done better at the conclusion of each of my cases, and I welcome constructive criticism from others as well. This ongoing self-reflection is what informs ongoing improvement, which leads to excellence. No excuses—hard work is everything.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I don’t have any regrets, but if I could change one thing, it would be having the confidence to become my own boss sooner. Early in my career, I hesitated to make the leap from being an employee to a business owner, even though I had the necessary skills. However, I believe the timing worked out as it was meant to, and the journey has been incredibly rewarding. If I could offer advice to my younger self, it would be to be brave, embrace risks, and not settle for just a paycheck.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
One business idea I’d share is the importance of diversifying your marketing efforts, especially if you’re in a specific field like law. Ben and I realized early on that we needed to step outside of traditional legal marketing and explore other formats that could expand our network beyond just family law. This includes collaborating on projects that aren’t directly related to our field but help build a broader presence and grow our business. Embracing new strategies, even if they’re outside your comfort zone, can really open up opportunities.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
It’s easy to resist new technologies, especially as we become creatures of habit, but it’s important to embrace change rather than shy away from it. For example, after attending a seminar a couple of years ago, we incorporated AI into our legal search engines. While we’re still learning and refining our use of it, it’s been a valuable resource. I think it’s crucial not to close yourself off to evolving technologies but to use them to your advantage and grow with the times.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
One podcast I enjoy is Making Space with Hoda Kotb. I wouldn’t have predicted that I’d be into it, but I love the content she selects and the way she interviews people. Most of the guests are celebrities, but they’re the kind of people that everyone looks up to as mentors. They share philosophical insights about life, and I find it both inspiring and insightful.
On a similar note, I’ve also started enjoying memoirs and autobiographies over the past decade. It’s fascinating to hear about how successful people got where they are—where they came from, the challenges they overcame, and what shaped their success. It’s not just motivating, but it gives you a sense of what’s possible when you push through adversity.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
A movie or series I recently enjoyed is The Diplomat on Netflix. I watched it over the weekend, and it was really engaging. I love a series led by a strong female protagonist, like in this one, Keri Russell plays a woman who had previously worked as staff for the U.S. government and is promoted to serve as ambassador abroad. She’s smart, strategic, creative, and confident. The line between right and wrong is clear for her, and she doesn’t deviate. At the end of the second season, it looks like she may be the best candidate to replace the presidential vice president, which is an exciting cliffhanger.
It’s interesting how watching shows like this can have an empowering effect on your real life. After watching hours of it, I found myself feeling more confident and even speaking differently. It’s funny how these fictional characters can actually inspire subtle behavior changes in you.
Key learnings
• Take Action to Achieve Goals
Roxana emphasizes the importance of taking proactive steps toward goals, no matter how small, to build momentum and avoid stagnation. This mindset has driven her career success and personal growth.
• Balance Career Ambition with Life’s Priorities
Reflecting on her journey, Roxana highlights the importance of work-life balance, reminding professionals to make time for self-care, family, and personal moments that cannot be reclaimed.
• Hard Work and Self-Reflection Lead to Excellence
Roxana attributes her career growth to her relentless dedication and her habit of analyzing her performance after each case. This practice fosters continuous improvement and upholds high standards of excellence.
• Adaptability and Embracing Change Are Crucial
From incorporating AI into her legal practice to exploring non-traditional marketing strategies, Roxana underlines the value of staying open to new technologies and methods for growth.
• Confidence Can Be a Game-Changer
Overcoming her initial hesitation to start her own firm, Roxana advocates for embracing risks and believing in one’s ability to succeed independently, which has been pivotal in her journey as a business owner.