Mr. Kalfayan received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of San Diego in 1982. He was a member of the honors fraternity Beta Alpha Psi and graduated with honors. He received his Juris Doctor degree in 1985 from University of San Diego School of Law, and his Master of Laws degree with an emphasis in intellectual property in 2012 from the same school. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1988.

Upon graduating from law school in 1985, Mr. Kalfayan first practiced law at the international firm of Arthur Andersen & Co. which at the time was the largest of the big 8 accounting firms in the country. Mr. Kalfayan worked in the audit, tax, and management consulting department of the firm. He then joined the law firm of Borton, Petrini & Conron in 1988 and became partner in 1991. Mr. Kalfayan specialized in business litigation at Borton, Petrini & Conron and handled real estate disputes, partnership disputes, and breach of contract cases. Mr. Kalfayan also handled a number of civil trials before a jury and several major appeals. In August 1993, Mr. Kalfayan became Of Counsel at the Law Offices of James C. Krause, and in January 1994, he became a member of Krause & Kalfayan, which later became known as Krause Kalfayan Benink & Slavens.

In June 2014, Mr. Kalfayan formed a partnership with a friend and fellow alumnus from University of San Diego, Vic A. Merjanian. Together they created Kalfayan Merjanian, LLP, a boutique law firm in Newport Beach and Del Mar which handles personal injury and wrongful death cases.