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ERICA PHAN

EDUCATION

ERICA PHAN completed her undergraduate education at the University of California, Los Angeles where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics with minors in Accounting and African American Studies. She continued on to receive her Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University School of Law. During her time at Pepperdine, Ms. Phan was a recipient of the Kimberly Dawn Ellis and completed a study abroad program in London where she held a Criminal Defense externship and focused her studies on corporations, international commercial arbitration and federal taxation.

BACKGROUND

After being admitted to the State Bar of California, Ms. Phan began her practice in civil litigation specializing in the areas of complex commercial and insurance coverage litigation, products liability and contracts. She gained experience in all phases of litigation including trial preparation, court appearances and settlement negotiations.
In 2012, Ms. Phan transitioned her focus to Workers’ Compensation defense and has practiced exclusively since. She excels in aggressively defending files while expediting closure through trials and settlements. Ms. Phan is well versed in all phases of litigation, including case in chief, lien resolution, and contribution and has received many favorable outcomes including several Take Nothings. Ms. Phan became a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation in 2017.

We are pleased to have Ms. Phan as a Partner in our Newport Beach office.

STEVEN A. SCHWARTZ

EDUCATION

STEVEN A. SCHWARTZ graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He went on to pursue a law degree from the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California, and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1993. Mr. Schwartz has also passed the certification examination as a Legal Specialist in Workers’ Compensation.

BACKGROUND

After graduating from law school, Mr. Schwartz assisted the Deputy District Attorney at the Office of the District Attorney of Sacramento County. His first experience in workers’ compensation was as an Applicant’s Attorney, before shifting his practice to defense in 1998. While working for several statewide law firms, he has held positions of an Associate Attorney to Managing Attorney and Partner. He also has experience handling matters of subrogation.

As an instructor for the Insurance Education Association (IEA), Mr. Schwartz provided training to legal and insurance professionals on topics including permanent disability assessment under AMA guidelines. His familiarity with rating guidelines have greatly assisted in calculating accurate impairment and ratings determinations, as well as assessing errors in AME/PQME reporting as to the application of the AMA impairment standards and reductions in permanent disability exposure.

Mr. Schwartz has appeared on matters at all Northern California WCAB Offices.

BROOK A. ADAMS

EDUCATION

BROOK A. ADAMS received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from University of the Pacific, California. She received her Juris Doctor from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California and was admitted to the State Bar the following year.

BACKGROUND

Ms. Adams began her career as a legal assistant where she specialized in intellectual property, patent and trademark law. She managed transcribing dictation, appeared in court, reviewed motions, and maintained client correspondences. During this time, Ms. Adams also worked a legal intern and learned the overall litigation process of contacting and prepping witnesses for trial, assisting the lead attorney during trial, presenting evidence to the courts, and drafting various legal documents including motions, discovery responses, and retainer agreements.

Since then, Ms. Adams has exclusively practiced Workers’ Compensation law and has gained notoriety for her extreme success with early settlement. Over the years, she has adopted an aggressive strategy and is a skilled negotiator. Ms. Adams possesses a careful attention to detail, which is demonstrated in her solid arguments in court. Growing up in Fresno, CA, it is only fitting that Ms. Adams is now our Managing Attorney in that office. Furthermore, her relations prove strong in these venues and she is well acquainted with the Fresno and Bakersfield Boards. Ms. Adams is a veteran attorney who is well versed in all areas of litigation, including directing depositions, appearing at court proceedings (including trials), and negotiating a variety of settlement agreements.

Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown is pleased to have Ms. Adams as Managing Attorney in our Fresno office.

KIMBERLY R. OGATA

EDUCATION

KIMBERLY R. OGATA received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Science from Colorado State University in 1999. She received her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 2002 and was admitted to the State Bar of California that same year.

BACKGROUND

Born and raised in Kona, Hawaii, Ms. Ogata was a member of the Hawaii Clubs throughout her attendance at Colorado State University and during law school. She served as a Small Claims Clerk Advisor at the Superior Court in South Bay, San Diego County. Ms. Ogata also participated in a non-profit guardianship clinic in assisting walk in clients. Prior to joining the Newport Beach office, Ms. Ogata interned for a civil law firm in the intellectual property department. She joined the Newport Beach office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in August of 2003 practicing Workers’ Compensation Law, defending employers, claims administrators, and insurance carriers with quality legal services for over six years. Ms. Ogata is also Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law.

NANCY J. BROWN

EDUCATION

NANCY J. BROWN received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, in 1981. She received her Juris Doctor in 1991 from Pacific Coast University College of Law in Long Beach, California. She was admitted to practice in 1992 and became a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation in September 1999.

BACKGROUND

From 1981 to 1992 she worked exclusively in the medical field. This included consultation on a direct basis with physicians of various medical specialists including Orthopedic, Neurology, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Radiology. She has an extensive background and working knowledge of how the various medical specialties interact with Workers’ Compensation cases.

Ms. Brown is a partner at Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown. She specializes in Workers’ Compensation defense, and is a former President of the Long Beach Bar Association. Ms. Brown has been Chairperson of the Orange County State Bar Association/Workers’ Compensation section and has served as a Judge Pro-tem. She was also appointed to the State Bar’s Workers’ Compensation Law Advisory Commission in 2005, serving as Vice-Chairperson from 2007-2008, and beginning September of 2008, Ms. Brown served as the Chairperson until 2009. Ms. Brown is consistently top ranking to the competition with our clients. Her aggressive approach to early file closures continues to keep her on top of our clients’ tracking measures. She is also a consistently sought after speaker with many of the Workers’ Compensation industry conferences to include RIMS and the Workers’ Compensation Forums of California for her expertise. Ms. Brown currently works out of the Newport Beach office.

PUBLICATIONS

WCAB decision published: Irvin v. WCAB/City of Los Angeles, 62 CCC 1297 (1997). Additional decisions can be sent to your attention per your request for any attorney.

DANIEL F. VALENZUELA

EDUCATION

DANIEL F. VALENZUELA received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Santa Clara in 1977 and his Juris Doctor (Cum laude) from Arizona State University College of Law in 1980. He was admitted to practice in Arizona in 1980 and in California in 1982.

BACKGROUND

Mr. Valenzuela’s experience includes instruction in legal education as well as an attorney for the U. S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. where he represented the Department in hearings and appeals involving Workers’ Compensation claims under the Black Lung Benefits Act. He joined Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in 1982 and continued his Workers’ Compensation defense practice handling claims filed pursuant to the Workers’ Compensation Laws of California and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. He was certified as a specialist in Workers’ Compensation law in May of 1994. He is currently the firm’s President and Managing Partner of the Long Beach office.

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