Hossein Berenji, Founder & Lead Attorney of Berenji Divorce & Family Law Group, is featured on the cover of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's magazine, Los Angeles Lawyer, for his article examining a rapidly growing concern at the intersection of technology and personal legal matters. The article, titled "Is Your AI Chatbot Listening? Heppner, Attorney-Client Privilege, and Family Law," appears in the September/October 2026 issue and addresses how the widespread use of artificial intelligence is reshaping the way people prepare for and think about legal disputes.
The piece focuses on a trend that has accelerated alongside the rise of consumer AI tools. Individuals increasingly turn to AI chatbots to work through deeply personal problems, including divorce, finances, custody concerns, business interests, and potential litigation strategies. Many do so before consulting an attorney, and often without considering whether those conversations carry any meaningful privacy protections.
Berenji notes that family law presents some of the most sensitive scenarios for this kind of unguarded sharing. Divorce and custody matters routinely involve private details about children, relationships, assets, and family disputes. A person weighing a divorce may describe marital problems, parenting decisions, or settlement thoughts to an AI platform under the assumption that such exchanges remain confidential. According to the article, that assumption can be mistaken, because conversations with public AI platforms do not carry the protections associated with Attorney-Client Privilege.
The article explains, in terms accessible to a general audience, that information shared with an AI platform can create a lasting digital record. Earlier statements, financial concerns, or strategic thoughts may be preserved in ways the user never intended. Berenji draws on the federal court decision referenced in his title to illustrate how courts are beginning to view such communications, while keeping the broader takeaway practical rather than technical.
"If you would not want to see it in pleadings, discovery requests, or opposing counsel's briefs, do not type it to an AI bot," Berenji writes in the published article.
The article also calls on attorneys to take an active role as AI adoption grows. Berenji emphasizes that AI can remain a useful tool when its limitations are understood, and that the responsibility for protecting clients rests with their legal counsel.
"Clients are not expected to know how to protect themselves technologically. It's up to lawyers to educate and protect them," Berenji writes.
A representative for Berenji Divorce & Family Law Group said the publication reflects the firm's ongoing attention to emerging issues in Attorney-Client Privilege and Family Law. "This commentary arrives at a moment when many people are forming new habits around AI without pausing to consider confidentiality," the representative said. "The central message is straightforward: convenience should not be confused with confidentiality."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSgoSExnOwQ
Hossein Berenji is Founder & Lead Attorney of Berenji Divorce & Family Law Group, a California firm that practices exclusively family law. The firm represents individuals in divorce, custody, support, property division, and complex high-net-worth and high-asset family law matters, often involving aggressive advocacy in sophisticated disputes. With more than two decades of legal experience, Berenji represents clients throughout Los Angeles County, with offices in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and San Marino, California.
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For more information about Berenji Divorce & Family Law Group, contact the company here:
Berenji Divorce & Family Law Group
Berenji & Associates
3102716290
nikoo@berenjilaw.com
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Beverly Hills, CA 90212
