{ }

JAMES CLAFFEY

EDUCATION

James Claffey received his Bachelors of Science degree from the University of California Berkeley with a Major in History. Mr. Claffey went on to attend New York Law School where he earned his Juris Doctor.

BACKGROUND

While in Law School Mr. Claffey worked at the New York Law Journal as an assistant to the editor preparing extracts of important cases for publication. After graduation Mr. Claffey returned to California and began practicing Workers Compensation Defense. Mr. Claffey prioritizes the opportunity for early resolution of cases however should the need arise Mr. Claffey has extensive appellate experience both before the Workers Compensation Appeals Board and the California Court of Appeals. Though Mr. Claffey has represented clients throughout California he has a particularly high level of familiarity with the WCAB venues in Northern California.

Samuelson Gonzalez Valenzuela & Brown are pleased to welcome Mr. Claffey to our San Francisco office.

EDGAR J. REYNOSO

Edgar J. Reynoso is an Associate in our Newport Beach office.  He joined the firm in 2023. Mr. Reynoso has 16 years’ experience dealing with all aspects of workers’ compensation claims.

After graduating from law school in 1998, Mr. Reynoso represented workers’ compensation applicants.  He represented both personal injury plaintiffs as well as workers compensation applicants for six years.  During his tenure at this firm, Mr. Reynoso obtained a $41,900,000 judgement on a personal injury case.  While Mr. Reynoso was vigorously representing a workers’ compensation applicant in a deposition, the defense attorney liked his style and offered him a job, which he accepted.

For the next 10 years, Mr. Reynoso defended workers’ compensation claims. He regularly attended seminars hosted by insurance companies, which trained him on how to find, among other things, workers’ compensation fraud.  

Mr. Reynoso worked directly with representatives from many insurance companies, such as Royal & Sun Alliance, Zenith Insurance, ACE/USA, RSKCo, Specialty Risk Services, Crum & Forster, and One Beacon Insurance Group.  I also worked directly with self-insured companies such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Sam’s Club, National Sports Grill, Cheesecake Factory, and YMCA defending their WC claims.  Thus, he is very confident in dealing all aspects of workers’ compensation claims.

In addition to all California state courts, Mr. Reynoso is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California; and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mr. Reynoso earned his law degree from Western State University, College of Law in 1998.

GEORGE JONES

EDUCATION 

GEORGE JONES received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Hawaii in 1980 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco in 1992, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the USF Maritime Law Journal.  George was admitted to the California Bar in 1992.  

BACKGROUND  

George Jones has been practicing maritime law for over 25 years in the Long Beach/Los Angeles area and has significant experience litigating a wide variety of maritime claims including Jones Act, USL&H/DBA, cargo, vessel liability and general insurance claims. 

Prior to joining Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown, George served as Vice-President of one of the nation’s premier maritime adjusting firms. Prior to that, George managed his own law firm, Jones Maritime Law, APC, which specialized in maritime personal injury litigation, including Jones Act, USL&H and DBA matters. George is licensed to practice law in all state and federal courts in California. He is a Proctor of Admiralty Member of the Maritime Law Association of the US. George is also A/V Preeminent rated by Martindale Hubbell, the highest independent, peer review rating awarded for excellence in both competency and ethics. 

FRANCIS FERNANDEZ

EDUCATION

Francis Fernandez obtained his Juris Doctor from Pacific Coast University, School of Law in Long Beach, CA. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2021.

BACKGROUND

Mr. Fernandez started working as a File Clerk in our Newport Beach office over a decade ago. He then served as the Firm’s Calendar Clerk and the Supervisor for the Newport Beach front office. Mr. Fernandez was eager to further his legal career and he began attending law school at night while working full time.

While attending law school, he transitioned from the Firm’s Calendar Clerk to a Hearing Representative. Over the last few years, Mr. Fernandez has been training attending/observing deposition/court appearances and analyzing legal cases under Attorney supervision. During this time, he gained extensive knowledge in defending cases aggressively, and bringing cases to a cost effective and expeditious resolution.

Mr. Fernandez is an Associate in our Newport Beach office.

MARIA XIMENA ZIMERI FERNANDEZ

EDUCATION

Maria Ximena Zimeri Fernandez went to Law School in Guatemala. She completed her undergraduate education in one of the best universities in Central America (“Universidad Francisco Marroquin”) she received her Juris Doctor Degree and graduated Cum Laude. She passed the bar in Guatemala and was admitted to practice law in 2018 as an Attorney and Notary Public.

After completing her undergraduate education, she completed her master’s degree and obtained an LLM in Pepperdine University in Commercial Law and International Arbitration. She passed the California Bar Examination in July 2019 and was admitted to the California Bar immediately following.

BACKGROUND

When Maria Ximena was in Law School, she worked as a paralegal for three years in a prominent law firm in Guatemala, and developed great organization, communication, research, and analytical skills. She worked in the area of civil litigation but participated in various cases involving arbitration, employment law, constitutional law, and commercial law.

Maria Ximena joined the Newport beach office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown in 2020.

RECOGNITIONS

  • Cum Laude, Universidad Francisco Marroquin
  • Half Straus Merit Scholarship for the LL.M Program in Pepperdine University
  • CALI Excellence Award For the Future Award in the study of Legal Research and Writing
  • Admitted to practice law in Guatemala and California

LANGUAGES

Maria Ximena is fluent in Spanish and in English.

SARAH CHANNELS

EDUCATION

SARAH CHANNELS obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego. She obtained her Juris Doctor from Pacific Coast University, School of Law in Long Beach and was the valedictorian of her class. Sarah was admitted to the State Bar of California the same year she graduated.

BACKGROUND

Sarah began her career in the workers’ compensation defense field in 1996. She comes from a workers’ compensation defense family. Her father was a workers’ compensation defense attorney for over 35 years and her mother is a nurse case manager. Sarah started as a file clerk in her father’s law firm and eventually worked her way up to paralegal. Once her father became a sole practitioner, Sarah continued in her paralegal duties, which included extensive legal research, and also maintained client relationships.

After her father’s passing, Sarah continued her career as a workers’ compensation defense paralegal. She began working at Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown, LLP with 16 years of experience. Her extensive knowledge of workers’ compensation, with an emphasis on the defense side, made Sarah an asset to our firm. She was eager to further her career and began attending law school at night while working full time.

While attending law school, Sarah transitioned from paralegal to hearing representative. She specialized in pro per settlements and focused on obtaining settlement approvals on an expedited basis. During this time, she gained further knowledge of the workers’ compensation laws of California.

Sarah’s vast experience in the workers’ compensation defense industry allows her to provide an aggressive defense of claims. She strives for early resolution of claims to avoid further litigation costs, yet carefully analyzes each claim to obtain the most favorable outcome for the client.

Sarah is an associate in our Newport Beach office.

KEVIN KOTTKE

EDUCATION

KEVIN J. KOTTKE obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology with a Minor in Political Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 2012. He received his Juris Doctorate from Pacific Coast University School of Law and was admitted to the California State Bar that same year.

BACKGROUND

Kevin Kottke started his legal career as a part-time file clerk with the law offices of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown, LLP, in 2009, while attending the University of Colorado, Boulder. He later transitioned to the lien department negotiating complex liens while resolving them in an expeditious and cost-efficient manner. After graduation from the University of Colorado, Boulder, he became a hearing representative with the firm, specializing in the area of in pro per settlements. Mr. Kottke continued to work full-time at the law offices of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown, LLP, while attending Pacific Coast University School of Law part-time. After graduating from law school, he was admitted to the California Bar that same year.

Kevin Kottke’s extensive experience from being with Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown, LLP, has enabled him to be successful in the outcome of intricate cases while addressing the needs of clients.

HENRIK KARAPETIAN

EDUCATION

HENRIK KARAPETIAN completed his undergraduate education at California State University, Northridge, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Business Law. Mr. Karapetian received his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School and was admitted to the State Bar of California shortly after. He is a member of the American and Los Angeles County Bar Associations.

BACKGROUND

After admitted to the Bar, Mr. Karapetian started his own litigation practice, specializing in all types of injury cases. He has represented clients in a variety of different claims and gained experience handling request for orders, emergency motions, depositions and trials.
In 2012, Mr. Karapetian was an associate at a large Workers Compensation Defense firm where he defended insurance companies and self-insured employers in all phases of litigation. He joined Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown in 2016 and has continued to zealously defend insurance companies. He is well versed in court appearances, having handled numerous status conferences, mandatory settlements conferences, priority conferences and expedited hearings. Through his extensive litigation experience, Mr. Karapetian has adapted an aggressive and effective litigation style that has helped him achieve favorable results for his clients. Mr. Karapetian works diligently to maintain strong relationships with his clients, placing their goals and needs as his primary focus.

We are pleased to have Mr. Karapetian as an attorney in our Burbank office.

PATRICK G. ROSE

EDUCATION

PATRICK G. ROSE graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from California State University, Fresno. He then obtained his Juris Doctor from Southwestern School of Law, where he received an award for academic achievement in the area of Constitutional Law. Mr. Rose was admitted to the State Bar of California immediately following graduation and is currently admitted to all U.S. District Courts. In addition to being a lifetime member of the Golden Key and Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Societies, he is also a member of the California Bar Association, American Bar Association, Los Angeles Bar Association and Sacramento Bar Association.

BACKGROUND

Mr. Rose began his legal career working as in-house counsel for Amwest Surety Insurance Company. He managed civil litigation cases from claim referral through trial and handled a wide variety of claims including defense and subrogation of automobile accidents, general negligence, premise liability and fraud investigations. Later on, Mr. Rose continued to practice civil litigation for a small firm in San Jose, CA, specializing in Insurance Defense, Governmental Liability, Construction Defect and Employment.

In 2001, M. Rose started practicing Workers’ Compensation law while employed with a mid-sized firm in Northern California. Although he managed some Personal Injury plaintiff casework, his caseload primarily consisted of Workers’ Compensation applicant claims.

Mr. Rose has practiced Workers’ Compensation Defense since 2002. Prior to joining Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown, he was a partner at a large firm in Northern California, specializing in Insurance Defense, Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury. He served as the Directing Partner for the firm’s Subrogation and Civil Litigation Department and managed a caseload consisting of general/civil insurance defense, US Federal Litigation and Appeals, Workers’ Compensation Defense, Subrogation and Appellate work. In addition to his large role at the firm, he also prepared and conducted numerous seminars, presentation and webinars for clients. Mr. Rose prides himself on providing clients with superior litigation while staying mindful of client costs and expenses.

Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown is pleased to have Mr. Rose as an attorney in our Sacramento Office.

MARICELA PICAZO

EDUCATION

MARICELA PICAZO obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. She received her Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University, School of Law in 2003 and was admitted to the California State Bar later that year. During her time at Santa Clara University, Ms. Picazo was a member of the Student Admissions committee where she reviewed and analyzed applications for Law School candidates.

BACKGROUND

Ms. Picazo began her legal career as a Legal Intern for the San Francisco Office of the District Attorney where she conducted legal research and writing for motion hearings and trials in addition to assisting with overall case preparation. She later on became a Certified Legal Intern for District Attorney’s Office in the Juvenile Division specializing in legal research, drafting legal memoranda of points and authorities and trial briefs, and case preparation. As a Certified Legal Intern she also assisted with the in motion calendar, which included the presentation of oral arguments.

While waiting for bar results, Ms. Picazo worked as a Law Clerk at a firm in San Francisco where she gained experience in discovery review and claim analysis. She also assisted attorneys with case research, preparation for depositions, hearings and trial and the negotiation of lien settlements.

Ms. Picazo has exclusively practiced Workers’ Compensation Law since she passed the California Bar in 2003. For the first 11 years of her career, Ms. Picazo worked in-house for a large insurance company where she handled complex files for their national accounts. She is well versed in all phases of litigation, appearing at court proceedings and negotiating settlement agreements.

Ms. Picazo has worked for Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown since 2015, where she has continued to aggressively handle files, always with an eye toward early resolution. Absent early resolution she creates plans of action to move the file quickly through the process of discovery, negotiations and trial if necessary.

Ms. Picazo is fluent in Spanish.

Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown is pleased to have Ms. Picazo as an Attorney in our San Francisco Office.

Sidebar