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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.

HARVEY S. BROWN

EDUCATION

HARVEY S. BROWN received his Bachelor’s Degree from California State University of Northridge in 1969, and obtained his law degree from San Fernando Valley College of Law in 1979. Mr. Brown has been working as a Workers’ Compensation attorney after passing the exam with the State Bar of California in 1993.

BACKGROUND

Mr. Brown was admitted to practice in 1979, and worked as an attorney at the State Compensation Insurance Fund from approximately 1979 to 1991. Until 1986, Mr. Brown was an associate attorney, handling complex legal matters including defense, 132(a) and S&W’s. During that time, Mr. Brown also trained in and handled the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation claims for the State Compensation Insurance Fund.

In 1986, Mr. Brown was appointed Managing Partner of the Cerritos office of State Compensation Insurance Fund. In that capacity, he managed 15 attorneys as well as a support staff of 20. During that period, Mr. Brown dealt with various claims departments, providing direction, control and training. From 1986 to 1991, Mr. Brown also provided legal training, conducted seminars, and created teaching materials for the seminars for 300 attorneys with State Compensation Insurance Fund. During that time Mr. Brown also advised school districts and self-insured employers such as the State of California which would often involve meetings with state agencies and state personnel.

In 1991, Mr. Brown became an associate with Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown and in 1994; he became a partner with the firm. Since 1998, Mr. Brown has been a member of the Board of Directors of the firm and currently serves as the managing partner of the Newport Beach, Encino, San Diego and Sacramento offices.

Prior to opening the Orange County office, Mr. Brown was in charge of training all new attorneys with the firm. This included integrating them into the Workers’ Compensation environment, giving them complete training as well as monitoring their daily activities. As a managing partner, Mr. Brown handles all complex litigation including 132(a) ‘s and S&W’s.
Mr. Brown has been the Secretary, Vice President and President of the Long Beach Workers’ Compensation section of the Long Beach Bar Association. In that regard, he has also conducted seminars in the past several years on Workers’ Compensation issues for the Long Beach Bar Association, together with Mr. Allan Bass, the former presiding judge from Santa Ana.

Mr. Brown has also prepared a newsletter for the past several years, providing clients with the latest updates, and giving them legal and advisory opinions on the latest Workers’ Compensation laws. Mr. Brown also performs Workers’ Compensation seminars for his clients, and provides legal advice by telephone and/or e-mail on cases that he may not be representing clients on.

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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