Meet The Partners
Law School: Pepperdine University
California Bar: 2002
California Bar: 2002
Brent Daub has seen the legal practice change dramatically over the years but he still sees opportunities for improvement. With over fifteen years of in-the-trenches litigation and business experience, Brent’s view is radically different. His creativity, leadership and vision provide a distinct perspective to see solutions where others see complexity.
As a founding partner of Gilson Daub, Brent helped create an innovative law firm culture that asks, “How can we make it better? How can we provide the absolute best customer service and results for our clients?”
The strategy to reduce attorney caseloads to increase quality and also provide bonuses for cases closed rather than hours billed, is a key to Gilson Daub’s spectacular growth. “Aligning the goals of our clients and our attorneys provides Gilson Daub the continued opportunity to work with the best employers, insurance companies, and administrators in the country. Taking the success we have accomplished in California to our other states of Nevada, Arizona, Kansas and Missouri has provided an exciting opportunity to serve our clients.”
Brent has also obtained a Masters’ Degree in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine School of Law and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University. He is married and has four children.
FRE Team
Law School: Western State University College of Law
California Bar: 2003
In over 13 years as a workers’ compensation defense attorney, Ms. Cervantes has made it a mission to not only provide the highest quality legal defense, but build relationships with her clients to create a mutual feeling of trust. When she became a certified specialist in workers’ compensation, she did so as a way to prove to her clients she is willing to go the extra mile in the defense of their claims. Prior to joining Gilson Daub Ms. Cervantes worked at more traditional defense firms. She is now excited to embrace a new way of thinking to defend claims and use advanced technology to close claims quickly and efficiently which will save her clients money. In her time outside of work, Ms. Cervantes and her husband enjoy watching their two sons play sports, traveling with their extended family, dinners out with friends and watching their Los Angeles Dodgers play.
LA Team
Law School: Western State University College of Law
California Bar: 2013
Jesse Salazar is an attorney who specializes in the defense of workers' compensation claims. Gilson Daub allows Mr. Salazar to use unparalleled technology and transparency to aggressively represent third party administrators, insurance companies, self-insured entities, and employers in all aspects of workers' compensation defense. Mr. Salazar also enjoys traveling, cooking, spending time with his family, playing sports, and taking his dog for walks.
FRE Team
Law School: Thomas Jefferson School of Law
California Bar: 2013
Ms. Maldonado has experience representing applicants giving her a profound understanding of the best approach and strategy to defend Workers’ Compensation claims. She strives to use the Gilson Daub developed technology to provide the most efficient and successful representation for her clients.
During her free time she enjoys traveling to new places, singing, and running.
SJ Team
Law School: Southwestern Law School
California Bar: 2012
Nicholas Rosen has practiced exclusively in workers’ compensation defense since 2013; prior to that, he was a criminal defense attorney. Mr. Rosen enjoys helping clients through the use of cutting-edge technology and consistent communication. When not at work, Nicholas enjoys going to Oakland A’s games, volunteering in his wife's second-grade classroom, and tending to his two rambunctious dachshunds, Molly and Winnie.
VEGAS Team
Law School: University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
Nevada and Arizona Bar: 2014
Matt began practicing law in Nevada in 2014 and represents clients in all stages of workers' compensation litigation. He takes pride in working closely with clients to achieve the best results in each case. Matt also represents clients in subrogation actions and has successfully recovered full lien amounts against third parties. Prior to practicing in Nevada, Matt worked at a plaintiff's firm in Arizona. Matt enjoys spending time with his family and coaching his sons' little league baseball teams. When he's not at the office or on the baseball field, you can find him hiking at Red Rock Canyon or camping on Mt. Charleston.
Meet The Attorneys
OC Team
Law School: Western State University College of Law
California Bar: 2008
Ruel has experience defending private insurance carriers, self-insured employers as well as legally uninsured government agencies within the Workers’ Compensation arena. He is committed to the effective and efficient defense of claims from inception, through discovery, to a cost-conscious settlement or a productive Trial in defense of his client’s interests. In his fee time, he enjoys spending time with family, traveling and most recently, trying to master Go.
IE Team
Law School: California Western School of Law
California Bar: 2001
A Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorney, Reed has served and advocated for employers, insurance carriers, claims administrators, and homeowners since 2003. Armed with a staunch belief in commerce and free enterprise, Reed understands the importance of expeditious and effective handling of the diverse needs of businesses and risk management. Licensed by U.S. Soccer, Reed coaches local youth athletes, and also has an interest in politics, classical music, theology, and L.A. Dodger Baseball.
SAC Team
Law School: Golden Gate University School of Law
California Bar: 2011
Mr. Hodgson joined Gilson Daub at their Sacramento office in December 2019.
His work focuses on defending insurance carriers and third party administrators in their workers’ compensation claims. As a medical-billing and lien specialist, Mr. Hodgson also focuses his practice on educating carriers through CEUs on lien claims, and closing strategies for claims professionals. As a consequence of his practice, Mr. Hodgson has closed cases in all northern California venues—from Redding to Fresno. After admission to the California Bar, Mr. Hodgson was schooled at the law office of Jerry Sterns—one of the premiere aviation civil litigators in the country. Mr. Hodgson was awarded great latitude to participate in complex litigation matters, extensive pre-trial discovery, mediations, depositions, and negotiation of settlements because of his aptitude for investigation and negotiation.
OAK Team
Law School: John F. Kennedy University, College of Law
California Bar: 2002
Lori Ibsen joined Gilson Daub as an Attorney in the Oakland office in 2018. She began practicing in the field of Workers’ Compensation as in-house counsel for a Fortune 500 company and has worked as an Attorney for prominent workers’ compensation defense firms in the Bay Area. Prior to her legal career, she gained vast insurance experience adjusting property and casualty claims. During that time, she earned her CPCU designation from the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and her Juris Doctor degree from John F. Kennedy University, School of Law. She was admitted to practice law in California in 2002 and is certified with the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a Legal Specialist in Worker’s Compensation Law. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, dancing, sports, and watching her daughter play softball.
OC Team
Law School: Western State University College of Law
California Bar: 2021
Thea Jaucian is an Associate at the Gilson Daub Orange County office. Ms. Jaucian earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism & Mass Media Studies from San Diego State University in 2017. She received her Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2020. While in law school, Thea was a team oralist for the school's Moot Court Honor Society and also served as President of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association.
Thea works hard to give her poodle son Teddy a better life.
SAC Team
Law School: Chapman University School of Law
California Bar: 2004
Erik Jensen graduated with High Honors from California State University, Fullerton in 1997. He subsequently accepted a full scholarship from Chapman University School of Law in Orange where he became member of the school’s Law Review and Mock Trial Team. He was the recipient of numerous awards for academic excellence throughout his law school career including a prestigious post-graduate fellowship from the American Board of Trial Attorneys during which he received personal instruction from some of the most accomplished litigators in Orange County.
Since 2004, he has dedicated his professional practice to the defense of employers within the workers’ compensation system. He has represented a wide variety of Fortune 500 companies, public agencies, and professional sports teams. He has experience in criminal law, subrogation suits, asbestos litigation, medical malpractice and alternative dispute resolution. He has also served as an instructor for Sedgwick Claims Management’s adjuster training program.
Erik relocated to Shasta County in 2016 where he has been privileged to represent numerous rural counties, lumber mills and other local businesses. He currently resides in the Redding area on nine acres of land populated with wild geese, turkeys, ducks, deer and mature oak trees. When he is not practicing law he enjoys spending time with his family, working on his homestead and pursuing self-sufficient living.
OC Team
Law School: Western State University
California Bar: 2007
Mr. Jensen began his legal career working at a general litigation firm and gained experience in civil and criminal matters. He has spent the last several years defending workers compensation cases and pursuing subrogation against third parties. He focuses on maximizing recovery for his clients in the most efficient way. He enjoys going to the beach, traveling with his family, and watching his sons play sports.
LB Team
Law School: Southwestern University School of Law
California Bar: 2010
Esther has experience representing third party administrators, insurance carriers, self-insured employers, and professional employer organizations in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation. She is committed to cost-effective defense of claims from inception through resolution in order to limit exposure and achieve litigation cost savings for the client. In her free time, Esther enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and exploring the great outdoors.
SFV Team
Law School: Chapman University School of Law
California Bar: 2011
Nicholas Kontogiannis has been practicing Workers’ Compensation defense since 2012. He takes a proactive and aggressive approach to claim handling, while balancing efficiency and cost containment measures. Mr. Kontogiannis believes that communication is an indispensable aspect of effective file handling, and prides himself on keeping an open and proactive line of communication with his clients. In his spare time, he enjoys backpacking, photography, traveling, and spending time with his wife.
SJ Team
Law School: Whittier Law School
California Bar: 2000
Washington Bar: 2010
Shannon Lang has been a practicing attorney for several years, and has experience with Workers’ Compensation Courts throughout the state of California. Shannon is also a licensed attorney in the State of Washington. Throughout her career, she has developed the practice of actively engaging in communication and listening to her clients, in order to provide strategic counsel on how best to resolve a case. Shannon enjoys collaborating with clients about creative ways to successfully resolve cases. Shannon is thankful to be a part of Gilson Daub, and is committed to the firm’s strong values of vision, culture and leadership. When not working Shannon enjoys spending time with her two nephews, and family.
SFBA Team
Law School: University of California Hastings College of Law
California Bar: 2010
James Lee has been practicing worker's compensation defense law since graduating from University of California Hastings, College of the Law in May 2010 and then passing the Bar in November of the same year. James enjoys aggressively defending positions for insureds, carriers and third party administrator in the often hostile terrain of the Worker's Compensation Appeals Boards in Northern California. When he is not working, James enjoys watching sports.
SFV Team
Law School: Loyola Law School
California Bar: 2015
Since beginning his career as an attorney, Mr. Mardian has worked exclusively in the realm of worker’s compensation. He is known for achieving fast results and early settlements for his clients, while aggressively litigating cases that require it. Mr. Mardian values communication with his clients and prompt responsiveness. In his spare time, Mr. Mardian is an avid skateboarder, painter, and musician.
OAK Team
Law School: University of San Francisco School of Law
California Bar: 2010
Mollie Miller (Mollie Kathleen Nokes) has practiced Workers Compensation Defense throughout Northern California since 2010. She has successfully represented clients at every stage of litigation, including trials, expedited hearings, and expert depositions. Ms. Miller’s past experience includes representation of employers in Labor Code Section 132a discrimination and serious and willful cases. She is committed to bringing her cases to a quick, competent, and satisfactory resolution. Away from the office, Ms. Miller enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with family, including her two Australian Shepherds.
KC/MO Team
Law School: University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law
Missouri Bar: 2015
Missouri Bar: 2016
As a worker’s compensation defense attorney, Weston Mills, has represented both self-insured employers and a variety of insurance companies in helping them reach their litigation goals. Weston understands the importance of obtaining both effective and efficient results and always strives to provides his clients with outstanding customer service. Prior to joining Gilson Daub, Weston also assisted employers with employment discrimination related matters. In his spare time, Weston enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter and watching football.
IE Team
Law School: Pepperdine University School of Law
California Bar: 2012
Lauren has represented employers, third party administrators, and insurance carriers in all aspects of Workers' Compensation litigation since 2013. Lauren has made a commitment to superior knowledge of the law and continued education in order to better serve her clients. Lauren joined Gilson Daub with a desire to utilize innovative case handling strategies and cutting edge technology to reduce the life and cost of claims for her clients. Her dedication to serving clients well has also led Lauren to becoming a certified specialist in workers' compensation. When she is not in the office, Lauren spends most of her time laughing with her family, friends, and fur babies.
SAC Team
Law School: Lincoln Law School
California Bar: 2001
Craig Morrison has been practicing Workers’ Compensation law in California for twenty years and is certified as a Worker’s Compensation Specialist by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. He specializes in tangled and complex litigation and has conducted over a thousand depositions and more than one hundred trials in Northern California.
Mr. Morrison also enjoys skiing and spending time with his wife and children.
San Diego Team
Law School: University of San Diego School of Law
California Bar: 2011
JoAnna has over a decade of Workers' Compensation defense experience. In that time, she passed the California Certified Specialist Exam and became licensed in Hawaii. She has worked on claims with insurance companies, public entities, self-insured employers, hospitals, and professional sports teams. After a childhood filled with playing defense on her ice hockey team, she has taken what she learned and now aggressively litigates claims for her clients. Outside of the office, JoAnna enjoys sampling international desserts and spending time with her rescue dogs.
PHX Team
UT Team
Law School: Thomas Jefferson School of Law
AZ/UT Bar: 2017
Spencer began practicing law in Nevada in 2016 working in a wide variety of matters including estate and business planning, contract disputes, real estate transactions and general liability and workers’ compensation defense. In 2018, Spencer began representing clients in Arizona and Utah. He now represents clients in all stages of workers’ compensation litigation.
Spencer attended Brigham Young University for his undergraduate studies, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in International Studies, and a double minor in Business Management and Korean. While attending BYU, Spencer was a member of the NCAA volleyball and football teams. He continued his studies at Thomas Jefferson School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor. Away from the office, Spencer enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and three children.
WLA Team
Law School: Whittier Law School
California Bar: 2012
Steven A. Plesa began his career as a Lien Hearing Representative while attending Whittier Law School. After graduating law school in 2011 and passing the CA State Bar exam in 2012 he continued his career as a Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorney.
Mr. Plesa has experience in handling all phases of workers’ compensation defense claims from beginning to end. This includes case management, lien resolution, preparation of pleadings, investigation, discovery, cross examinations, depositions and trials.
During his spare time Mr. Plesa and his wife enjoy boxing, hiking and spending time with family and friends.
VEGAS Team
Law School: William S. Boyd School of Law
Nevada Bar: 2019
Jenna is an associate attorney for the Gilson Daub Las Vegas office. Jenna earned her Bachelor of Business from the University of Oklahoma. Jenna received her Juris Doctor from William S. Boyd School of Law. While in law school, Jenna completed a summer clerkship with the Honorable Denise Gentile of the Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Division. In her spare time, Jenna enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling and cooking.
SAC Team
Law School: Vermont Law School
California Bar: 2017
Ashley Romeo-Boles has been practicing Worker’s Compensation defense since 2020. Prior to that, she was on applicant’s side for approximately two years. Ashley has enjoyed the transition to the defense side and takes great pride in providing quality work product to her clients.
Prior to transitioning to Worker’s Compensation law, she gained experience as a general practice attorney in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Ashley enjoys spending her free time with her husband and critters outside - whether working in the garden, hanging out at the river, or hiking.
SFBA Team
Law School: California Western School of Law, ABA/AALS
California Bar: 2012
Rochelle Ratkovich was admitted to the California State Bar in 2012 and has extensive experience managing the legal defense of workers’ compensation claims from inception to final resolution, including all aspects of discovery and litigation. Rochelle always strives to provide the highest quality of work for her clients and aims to tackle complex issues in a creative and cost-effective manner. In 2020, she became a licensed attorney in the state of Nevada. When not working, Rochelle loves traveling with her husband and spending time with their two dogs, Barnaby and Kirby.
VEGAS Team
Law School: Roger Wiliams University School of Law
California Bar: 2016
Jennifer is an associate attorney for the Gilson Daub Las Vegas office. Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Arts from Pepperdine University where she majored in Political Science and International Studies. Jennifer received her Juris Doctor from Roger William University School of Law. While in law school, Jennifer completed a summer clerkship with the Honorable John J. McConnell, Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. Prior to joining Gilson Daub, Jennifer practiced insurance defense where she gained experience in complex litigation matters.
OC Team
Law School: Chapman University School of Law
California Bar: 2013
Ms. Sahli has devoted her legal career to workers’ compensation defense. She looks forward to being part of the future of legal and improving the workers’ compensation system in California. In her free time Ms. Sahli enjoys spending time with her family, listening to country music, and dancing like no one is watching.
LA Team
Law School: Western State College of Law
California Bar: 2013
Christine Ruvalcaba is a workers’ compensation attorney with successful trial experience. Ms. Ruvalcaba strives to defeat fraudulent claims and bring expeditious resolutions for clients. Ms. Ruvalcaba enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, entertaining friends at home, traveling, and could eat sushi every day of the week.
FRE Team
Law School: San Joaquin College of Law
California Bar: 2013
Trevor Simonson has been working in the field of Workers' Compensation defense since 2012 when he started as a hearing representative primarily resolving liens. After being admitted to the California State Bar in 2014, he began handling all facets of workers' compensation claims and developing relationships with clients built on trust and open communication. His style of case handling is ideally suited for the Gilson Daub philosophy of moving cases to resolution as efficiently as possible.
In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf whenever time allows.
SJ Team
Law School: California Western SOL
California Bar: 2021
Cristal Tejeda has over 6 years of experience in Workers’ Compensation. She initiated her legal career immediately after graduating from Santa Clara University (2014) by working for an Applicant Attorney firm as a Paralegal. After working for three years as a Paralegal she left the bay area to attend law school in San Diego. In just 2.5 years, Cristal graduated from California Western SOL and sat for the February 2021 Bar Examination. Cristal continued to work in the field of Workers’ Compensation both during law school and as a post bar law clerk. First as an Applicant Attorney and now as a Defense Attorney, Cristal provides high quality work by tackling complex issues in a case, rating complicated med-legal reports, and finding creative solutions to resolve cases in a cost-effective manner.
When not working, Cristal enjoys spending time with her family, weightlifting at the gym and traveling.
OC Team
Law School: Boston University School of Law
California Bar: 2014
Edward Tsui is an aggressive litigator who has won multiple “take nothings” at trial. He values strong communication with clients and the expeditious resolution of cases. During law school, he competed in moot court and negotiation competitions. Before he was a lawyer, Ed was also a professional musician and a published fashion photographer. Now, he enjoys watching baseball, going to concerts, and romantic dinners with his beautiful wife.
HI Team
Law School: University of San Francisco School of Law
California Bar: 2012
Hawaii Bar: 2013
Derek Turbin was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He attended high school at Punahou, graduating in 2002. Derek is licensed in both California and Hawaii. After practicing litigation and workers compensation for 6 years in California, Derek Turbin returned home to Hawaii to work as a staff attorney at the state legislature for the 2019 legislative session. After the 2019 legislative session, Derek returned to workers compensation to lead our Hawaii office in representing local Hawaii employers for their work comp needs.
