Associates P-T

Julie Shim Park

Ms. Shim received her BA from the University of California Berkeley in 2003 and her JD from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2008. She practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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Thomas S. Park

Mr. Park received his BA from California State University Long Beach in 1999 and his JD from Whittier Law School in 2002. He practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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Ken Patel

Mr. Patel has received his Masters in Commerce from Gujarat State University in 1984, his LLB from Gujarat State University in 1985, and an advanced degree from the Institute of Costs and Management Accountants from Kolkata, India. He practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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Nicholas S. Pavlovich

Mr. Pavlovich received his BS degree from California State University Fresno in 1990 and his JD from San Joaquin College of Law in 1997. He attended classes at the University of Paris in 1996. Mr. Pavlovich practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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John A. Peak

Mr. Peak received his BS degree from the University of Nebraska in 1967 and his JD from the University of Colorado in 1969. He practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm. 

Mr. Peak is an accomplished novelist with published novels including:

SPARE CHANGE, St. Martin’s Press, 1994, BLOOD RELATIONS, St. Martin’s Press, 1996,
MORTAL JUDGMENTS, St. Martin’s Press, 2000 and M & M, St. Martin’s Press, 2002.

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Michelle D. Phillips

Ms. Phillips received her BS degree from the University of Phoenix, AZ in April 2004 and her JD from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in May 2009. She practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm. 

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James M. Ralph 

Mr. Ralph received his JD from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2007. Mr. Ralph served as a Technical Editor for the USF Maritime Law Journal and as an Article Editor for the USF Intellectual Property Law Bulletin. He also published surveys of appellate decisions in both journals.  Additionally, he served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Maria Elena James, United States District Court, Northern District of California. Mr. Ralph received his undergraduate degree in Politcal Science from Colgate University in 2004, where he was founder and Co-Editor in Chief of The Colgate Forum.  Mr. Ralph was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah and remains a proud Utah Jazz fan. 

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Jose H. Razo

Mr. Razo received his BA from Stanford University in 1973 and his JD from the University of San Diego in 1976. He practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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Rita R. Reyes-Schmitt

Ms. Reyes-Schmitt received her BA from UCLA in 1987 and her JD from Whittier College School of Law in 1990. She practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

Ms. Reyes-Schmitt is a California native, living in Los Angeles with her husband and two children. Ms. Reyes-Schmitt and her family are avid boaters and water skiers. She is an avid reader and plays golf in her spare time. Ms. Reyes-Schmitt is fluent in Spanish, not only speaking, but also reading and writing.

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G. Charles Robertson

Mr. Robertson received his BA from Colorado College in 1983 and his JD from The National Law Center-George Washington University in 1986. He practices Workers’ Compensation Defense and Disability (CERL of 1937) with the firm. He is licensed to practice in California, Colorado, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

In addition to litigating cases before administrative agencies, Mr. Robertson provides training and lectures on topics ranging from practice and procedures before the WCAB to understanding the relationships between the Labor Code and Government Code. 

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Charles Rush

Mr. Rush received his BA from Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington in 1968 and his JD from the American College of Law in 1976. He practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm and has been a Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation since 1995. 

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Stephanie Seaman

Ms. Seaman received her JD from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2007.  Ms. Seaman represents employers and carriers in matters arising under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act and its extensions, including the Defense Base Act.

Ms. Seaman served as a member of the University of San Francisco’s Law Review and worked as a Senior Literary Editor for the USF Maritime Law Journal. She was also Brief Specialist for the Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition in 2006 and 2007, where her team reached the quarterfinals both years. Ms. Seaman completed her undergraduate education in her home state of Colorado, where she majored in Economics with a Business Emphasis at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

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Karla J. Shannon

Ms. Shannon received her BS degree from the University of California at Davis in 1972, Her MA in 1975 from the California State University in Sacramento and her JD from the University of San Francisco in 1982. She practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

Before law school, Ms. Shannon's educational background was in the area of life sciences and medicine. During graduate school, she completed a one year internship in medical technology at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland. Thereafter, Ms. Shannon became a licensed medical technologist and worked for Kaiser Permanente in Oakland and San Rafael for five years. In the later part of her employment, she began studies at University of San Francisco Law School. Her focus at the time was to work in environmental law or a medically related area of law. While she worked for a short period of time in civil litigation (insurance defense), transitioning into workers’ compensation was a natural move for her background. Ms. Shannon has been continuously practicing in the area of workers’ compensation for 24 years. In her spare time, she enjoys activities associated with a Sacramento rock and mineral club, spending time with family and friends, and traveling.

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Laurence M. Sjauwfoekloy

Mr. Sjauwfoekloy received his BA from the University of California Berkeley in 1992 and his JD from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2001. He practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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Susan W. Smith

Ms. Smith received her LLB from Lincoln Law School in 1986. She practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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Pauline H. Suh

Ms. Suh received  her BA from UC Berkeley in 1997 and her JD from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2003. She practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

Ms. Suh worked at Netscape/AOL prior to attending law school. She was involved in East San Jose Community Law Center during law school. She also interned at the Supreme Court of South Korea in summer of 2002. 

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Angela A. Trueblood

Ms. Trueblood received her BA from California State University Northridge in 1996 and her JD from McGeorge School of Law in 1999. She practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

Ms. Trueblood has presented numerous seminars regarding issues including permanent disability rating, defending against penalties, case law updates and other issues. From 2007 to 2008, she acted as an official grader for the Workers’ Compensation specialist examinations. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and twin sons, and is a downhill ski enthusiast, scrapbooker, and enjoys designing hand-made cards.

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Jared B. Tsai

Mr. Tsai received his BA from UC Berkeley in 1995 and his JD from Santa Clara University Law School in 1999. He practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

Mr. Tsai, in addition to the practice of workers' compensation, enjoys  Lakers basketball and Texas Hold’em.

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