Jeffrey L. Kaloustian
Attorney at Law
Of Counsel

Attorney Jeffrey Kaloustian brings a unique blend of knowledge, skill, and passion to the Summit Defense legal team.

Prior to studying law, Mr. Kaloustian, an adventurer and mountaineer, instructed and directed expedition-style courses for Outward Bound in the mountains of Colorado.  While leading these programs — often in remote areas — Mr. Kaloustian learned that preparation and skill result in success.

Today, Mr. Kaloustian uses this same methodical approach to win cases for his clients.

Excelled Academically

While in Law School at the University of San Francisco Law School, Attorney Kaloustian excelled academically.

• Graduated at the Top 25% of his Class
• Served on the School's Law Review
• Co-chaired the Public Interest Law Foundation
• Received the Pursuit of Justice Award at Graduation
• Semi-Finalist Advocate of the Year Award

Defending Human Rights

Attorney Kaloustian has a passion for international service and human rights. Jeffrey's human rights journey has brought him to both Bangalore and Dharamsala, India, Thailand, the Dominican Republic (DR), and Europe. Jeffrey's two primary areas of human rights expertise are the right to food and freedom of expression and access to information.

As a Frank C. Newman International Human Rights intern with Human Rights Advocates, Attorney Kaloustian highlighted the human rights implications of international land-grabbing at the 10th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Jeffrey's work includes investigating the living conditions of Haitian migrants living in the DR and conducting post-graduate field research on food security and grassroots micro-finance cooperatives in Bihar, India and Nepal.

During the summer of 2010, Attorney Kaloustian served as a post-graduate Fellow at the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) in Dharamsala, India-- the home of His Holiness the VIXth Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration (in exile). Sponsored by The Forgotten International (TFI), Jeffrey wrote a special report for TCHRD called Dissenting Voices: Targeting the Intellectuals, Writers and Cultural Figures, which highlights the Communist Party of China's use of vague "endangering state security" laws to carry out arbitrary, abusive political prosecutions of Tibetans.

In 2010 Attorney Kaloustian co-founded the International Center for Mental Health and Human Rights ("ICMHHR") and currently serves as the organizations Human Rights Program Director. Mr. Kaloustian's work with the ICMHHR includes collaborating with law students working with the Global Justice Advocacy Program at the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Complaints against the San Francisco Police

In addition to working as a Criminal Defense Attorney at Summit Defense Attorneys,  Mr. Kaloustian volunteers his time working as a mediator at the San Francisco Office of Citizen Complaints, where he mediates complaints against the San Francisco Police Department.

Originally from Massachusetts, Jeffrey holds a Bachelors degree in geography from the University of Utah and a Law degree from the University of San Francisco.