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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.

GENA C. STRATEGOS

EDUCATION

GENA C. STRATEGOS completed her undergraduate education at the University of Southern California where she received a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with an emphasis in Strategic Studies. She continued on to receive her Juris Doctor from the USC Law Center and was admitted to the California State Bar immediately following. Ms. Strategos was admitted to the California 9th District Court of Appeals in 1989 and is a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law.

BACKGROUND

Ms. Strategos began her career in Workers’ Compensation as a partner of a small defense firm representing large self-insured companies and municipalities. In this role, she gained experience handling client meetings, cross examining AMEs, doctors and raters, and appearing at trial. Her strong performance resulted in an increase in case load and level of service with major self-insured clients for the firm.

Prior to joining Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown, Ms. Strategos was a partner at a large Workers’ Compensation Defense Firm. In addition to managing a large case load, Ms. Strategos was also in charge of training new attorneys for the firm. Some of her biggest accomplishments in this position were an Answer to Writ to the Supreme Court and an Arbitration which included a win against the California Insurance Guarantee Association. Over the years, Ms. Strategos has become an expert in the areas of depositions, arbitrations, appellate briefs, cross examinations and trials. She has achieved remarkable success in all phases of litigation and has received many take nothing awards. Ms. Strategos has over 25 years of experience representing employers, insurance carriers, and third party administrators making her an asset to our firm.

We are pleased to have Ms. Strategos as an associate in our Long Beach office.

TINA M. BACKER

EDUCATION

TINA M. BACKER obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, majoring in History with Honors. She received her Juris Doctor from the Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, California.

BACKGROUND

Ms. Backer served as a Paralegal Instructor prior to becoming an attorney. Ms. Backer practiced as an applicant attorney for more than three years in Workers’ Compensation for a large firm where she handled 132(a) discrimination complaints and Serious and Willful violations as well. Her background in applicant work has given her the knowledge and skill to practice Workers’ Compensation Defense aggressively. She now solely represents large employers, third party administrators and insurance companies in Workers’ Compensation for all Southern California boards. On the weekends, she devotes her time to being team mom for her daughters’ OC Allstar dance team as well as helping her son coordinate various charity activities through his service organization. Ms. Backer joined the Newport Beach office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown in 2008.

MICHAEL K. MARMER

EDUCATION

Undergraduate, California State University at Long Beach, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 1973-1978

Graduate, Southwestern University School of Law, Juris Doctor, 1978-1981, Admitted to California Bar 1981

BACKGROUND

Mr. Marmer specializes in the following practice areas: Defense of employers and carriers in workers’ compensation claims arising under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the Defense Base Act (DBA), the War Hazards Compensation Act, as well as representation of employers and carriers in civil subrogation claims arising under the Jones Act, the Federal Maritime Law, and Suits In Admiralty Act.

Mr. Marmer also practices defense of workers’ compensation claims arising under the California Labor Code as well as representing employers and carriers pursuing civil subrogation in the California Superior Courts.
Mr. Marmer has jury, and administrative trial experience in the U.S. District Courts, California Superior Courts, the U.S. Office of Administrative Law Judges, and before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board of California.

PUBLIC SPEAKING/LECTURES

Speaker: Longshore Claims Association, Attorney fee issues under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, and Defense Base Act, arising within the jurisdiction of U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. San Diego, CA 2012.

Speaker: Hearing Loss Claims under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act; National Association of Waterfront Employers, West Gulf Maritime Association, June 2014.

Speaker: Hearing Loss Claims under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, Longshore Claims Association, Annual Conference 2014. Newport Beach, CA.

Speaker: Workers Compensation Institute; Defending Employers and Carriers in foreign nationals’ claims arising under the Defense Base Act. Orlando, FL August 2018.

Speaker: Work Comp Central Annual Seminar; Civil Subrogation: Employers Rights, Remedies, and Litigation Strategies. May 2019.

Member: Joint Department of Labor Bar Association which is a Claimant and Defense counsel bar regarding practices and procedures under the LHWCA and DBA of claims before the federal Office of Workers Compensation Programs, and the federal Office of Administrative Law Judge.

ROBERT R. CAMPBELL

EDUCATION

ROBERT R. CAMPBELL, II graduated on the Deans Honor Roll for all semesters from California State University, San Bernardino in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Minor in Psychology. Mr. Campbell received his Juris Doctor from University of Laverne, College of Law, in 2004 with an American Jurisprudence Award in Criminal Law.

BACKGROUND

Mr. Campbell has over 21 years of experience handling Workers’ Compensation. He started his career as a Hearing Representative, Vocational Rehabilitation Coordinator and Paralegal. Thereafter, Mr. Campbell became a Managing Attorney where he operated and managed an office in the Riverside area and concurrently handled the case management of over 1000 Applicants from case inception to settlement and/or trial. Mr. Campbell also served as a Senior Associate Attorney where he had daily appearances at numerous Workers’ Compensation Appeals Boards including: San Bernardino, Riverside, Pomona, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Van Nuys, Marina Del Ray, Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego. Mr. Campbell has settled 1000’s of cases, taken over 500 depositions throughout his career and filed numerous Petitions for Reconsideration resulting in persuasive law. Mr. Campbell has a winning record in the courtroom and in ADR proceedings based on strong capabilities in preparing expert witnesses for court testimony. With Mr. Campbell’s extensive experience as an Applicant Attorney, he understands how to most thoroughly represent Employers, Insurance Companies and third party administrators on their Workers’ Compensation claims.

Mr. Campbell brings great knowledge and experience to the firm. He joined the law office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown as an Associate in 2010 and is currently a partner where he handles Workers’ Compensation Defense in our Newport Beach office.

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.

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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