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NANCY J. BROWN

December 4, 2024 , , , , , , Comments Off on 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.

PRISCILLA SHIRKHANLOO

April 20, 2017 , , , , , Comments Off on PRISCILLA SHIRKHANLOO

EDUCATION

PRISCILLA SHIRKHANLOO graduated Cum Laude from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Middle East and North African Studies. She continued on to receive her Juris Doctorate from Chapman University Law School in 2012 where she was in the top 16% of her class. Ms. Shirkhanloo was admitted to the California State Bar in 2012.

BACKGROUND

Before joining the Law Offices of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown, LLP, Ms. Shirkhanloo was a Supervising Attorney for a large defense firm in Orange, representing clients in all aspects of workers’ compensation defense. While Ms. Shirkhanloo attended law school, she started her career as a Law Clerk for Paris Law Group. There, she drafted legal documents on various issues in civil law, including worker’s compensation and employment discrimination. Ms. Shirkhanloo also conducted legal research and writing projects. During the summer of her second year and throughout her third year of law school, Ms. Shirkhanloo was a Law Clerk for Lanak & Hanna. There, she wrote memoranda and Motions for construction matters; complied reports and graphics of the firm’s findings to be used during expert witness testimony; and drafted and responded to discovery.

RECOGNITIONS

  • Dean’s Honor List, 4 quarters, UCLA
  • CALI Excellence for the Future Award for Property II
  • L.S. Palmos Award, 2012, Chapman Law School
  • OCBA Barbri Law Review Scholarship Recipient, 2012, Chapman Law School
  • Certificate in Environment, Land Use and Real Estate Law, 2012, Chapman Law School

Ms. Shirkhanloo joined the law offices of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown, LLP as a Partner 2017 where she handles Workers’ Compensation Defense in our Newport Beach and San Diego offices.

KARINA YANOVSKY

November 2, 2015 , , , Comments Off on KARINA YANOVSKY

EDUCATION

KARINA YANOVSKY graduated from San Francisco University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She then received her Juris Doctor from John F. Kennedy School of Law in Pleasant Hill, California and was admitted to the California State Bar shortly after. Ms. Yanovsky is admitted to the United States District Court, Northern District and is a Board Member for the Diablo Valley Industrial Claims Association.

BACKGROUND

Ms. Yanovsky began her career practicing family law with an emphasis on child custody, support disputes and domestic violence claims. As an associate attorney she handled a wide variety of tasks including preparation of legal documents, interviewing litigants and attending short-cause, reissuance & proceedings. In 2007, Ms. Yanovsky began practicing Workers’ Compensation Law, representing injured workers in many different phases of litigation. On top of serving as the principal negotiator for her firm, Ms. Yanovsky was the sole attorney responsible for handling Expedited Hearing’s Priority Conferences and formal/informal settlements. Prior to joining Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown, Ms. Yanovsky was a partner for a busy Workers’ Compensation Defense firm in Oakland. In addition to handling all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense, she served as Lead Counsel for several high end accounts and also assisted in acquiring new business for the firm. Over the years, Ms. Yanovsky has gained substantial experience in all phases of litigation and has successfully handled a heavy caseload at a high volume litigation practice. Her aggressive approach and excellent oral advocacy skills have gained her favorable results in the courtroom, including multiple Take Nothing Awards.

Ms. Yanovsky is an attorney in the San Francisco Office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown.

STEVEN A. SCHWARTZ

August 28, 2014 , , , Comments Off on 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

September 14, 2012 , , , , Comments Off on 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.

SHAWN S. HAGHIGHI

September 14, 2012 , , , , , Comments Off on SHAWN S. HAGHIGHI

EDUCATION

SHAWN S. HAGHIGHI graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English (British Literature) and a minor in Policy Studies. He received his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and was admitted to the State Bar of California the same year.

BACKGROUND

In law school, Mr. Haghighi was an active member in Phi Alpha Delta International Law Fraternity, a Judicial Extern for the Los Angeles Superior Court, and volunteered for two years for VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) assisting low income families. In law school, Mr. Haghighi also served as a law clerk for the state’s leading firm in enforcement of family support judgments as well as interning for the business affairs department in one of the nation’s largest talent agencies.

Following law school, Mr. Haghighi served as an associate attorney in a well-known Orange County plaintiff’s firm handling a wide variety of civil matters from medical malpractice to class action lawsuits. Subsequently, he continued his civil experience at a high-volume Orange County plaintiff’s firm. Thereafter he began his defense career, exclusively handling civil matters for a large insurance authority, on behalf of self-insured cities, towns, and other public entities.

M. Haghighi joined the law offices of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown as an associate attorney in 2011. He has been handling workers’ compensation defense in our Long Beach office, including both state matters and cases under federal jurisdiction. Mr. Haghighi strongly believes in a tailored and pragmatic approach to cases. He prides himself on being a detail-oriented and creative problem-solver. Mr. Haghighi became a partner in 2018.

HARVEY S. BROWN

September 14, 2012 , , , , , , , , , Comments Off on 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.

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