Tagalog-Speaking Attorneys

Byron Smith

San Francisco, CA

Workers' compensation attorney Byron Smith is a 1993 graduate of San Francisco's New College of Law. He has represented injured workers since before he graduated from law school. He was involved in legal clinic work, including criminal defense, workers' compensation and housing matters. Before forming Smith & Baltaxe, LLP, Mr. Smith was managing partner of the Law Office of Anatole Zachs. He worked as an Associate Attorney for the Zachs firm, starting in 1993. In 2000, he became Partner of the Zachs firm. He later managed the office, which was located in San Francisco's Inner Sunset District on Irving Street. He has spent decades litigating cases before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. For more than 30 years, Byron Smith has stood up for injured workers across San Francisco. He has achieved additional certification as a Workers' Compensation Specialist.

Maeve Bennett

Killeen, TX

Maeve Bennett is an international attorney admitted to practice law in New York, Washington, Texas, and the Republic of the Philippines. She obtained her Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Washington, Seattle, and her law degree from San Beda University. She is fluent in English, Tagalog, and Ilocano. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Military Spouses JD Network, and American Immigration Lawyers Association.

CECILE STEWART

Las Vegas, NV

Cecile is a multifaceted paralegal with a diverse educational background and a passion for helping others. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Accounting. Her pursuit of knowledge led her to pursue Masterly Units in Applied Business Economics, growing her understanding of economic principles and their application in the business world. Additionally, she’s certified in Nursing Assistance and Paralegal Studies, showcasing her commitment to both healthcare and law. Cecile serves as a Notary Public in Nevada, ensuring legal documents are legitimate. Her linguistic prowess extends to fluency in English, Tagalog, Ilocano, Ibanag, and Spanish, enabling her to effectively communicate with a diverse range of clients. Beyond her professional endeavors, Cecile finds joy in exploring the great outdoors through hiking and traveling, immersing herself in different cultures and landscapes. During her leisure time, she enjoys watching movies across various genres. With her blend of expertise, linguistic abilities, and passion for exploration, Cecile continues to make meaningful contributions to the legal profession while embracing life’s adventures.

Cameron Farnsworth

Mesa, AZ

An East Valley native, Cameron has roots back to the infancy of Arizona. As a litigator with first chair jury trial experience, he has obtained successful outcomes for clients. His trial approach is simple: know the truth, speak the truth, and cross-examine with precision. Before law school, Cameron graduated from high school in Mesa and then served a two-year church mission in Iloilo, Philippines. Upon his return home, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Arizona State University. After ASU, He continued to excel at Oklahoma City University School of Law. There, he earned the CALI Award for top student of his class in Trial Practice, and the Ruth Ruhl Merit Scholarship. Since the beginning of his practice in 2020, Cameron primarily handles personal injury matters and has also defended hundreds of misdemeanor and felony matters. Cameron first considered practicing personal injury upon learning that a vehicle had driven through the wall of a restaurant and struck his family while he was about to walk into a final exam. He understands the need for skilled, empathetic and honest attorneys. Cameron has great joy in the hours he has served his clients working at large and small law firms. He brings his skills and experience home to East Valley Injury Law. When Cameron is not in the office, he enjoys running, swimming, and biking with his wife Alyssa and their three children.

Stacy McCorquodale

San Francisco, CA

Stacy McCorquodale became a member of the California Bar in 2002. She initially represented insurance companies in Workers Compensation Appeals Board cases throughout Northern California. She is now in charge of complex injury cases and has extensive experience in arbitrations, hearings, trials, and appeals within the Workers’ Compensation system. She joined Hanna Leung’s Professional Law Corporation to help injured workers.

Francis P. Papica

Palm Desert, CA

Since 1992, attorney Francis Papica has gone to bat for residents in the SO Cal area. Fluent in Tagalog as well as English, he’s proud to serve as a vital link between the Pinoy community and our California justice system.

Gil Gherardini

St. Louis, MO

Gil Gherardini has been practicing law since 1990, bringing unique expertise as a former defendant's attorney. He specializes in Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) railroad law and represents injured workers in compensation claims. He is known for his thorough case evaluation and ability to secure higher settlements for clients.

Florian D. Purganan

Kent, WA

Florian D. Purganan practices exclusively in immigration and citizenship law, covering all areas including status modifications, family applications, waivers, and deportation defense. He also handles work permits and non-immigrant visas. Fluent in Tagalog, he is active in the Filipino community and a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Hanna Leung

San Francisco, CA

Hanna Leung began practicing law in 1986 and has devoted the bulk of her career to helping injured workers. She has represented injured parties in workers’ compensation cases since 1995. She is the firm's founder and regularly participates in community efforts, including hosting a public affairs TV show and a radio program on legal issues for the Chinese community. Her firm serves a diverse clientele, with lawyers speaking Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, and Spanish.

Verdie Atienza

Fresno, CA

Verdie J. Atienza is a Senior Attorney with 10 years of solid experience with employment-based and family-based petitions. He is a dual qualified lawyer in the State of New York and in the Philippines and is qualified to practice immigration law in any state of the U.S. For employment-based petitions, he has worked mostly on E-1 Treaty Trader, E-2 Treaty Investor visa applications and L-1 intracompany petitions for executives, managers and specialized knowledge employees. He has also worked on employment-based petitions for multinational managers and executives to allow them to obtain permanent residency in the U.S. Verdie evaluates the credentials of prospective applicants and beneficiaries to determine best nonimmigrant or immigrant visa options for them. He closely works with company executives, managers and entrepreneurs to determine the best strategy to attain their goals. In his years of practice, he has dealt with numerous U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world and has gained significant knowledge of the guidelines and procedures that are unique for each embassy/conulate. Verdie has strong interest in various immigration issues as a first generation immigrant himself. He first gained experience when he personally handled his own adjustment of status application. Upon his admission to New York State Bar in 2014, he started giving pro-bono legal advice on immigration to members of the Filipino community in the US and handled immigration cases of family members. Prior to moving to the US, Verdie was a public defender in the Philippines and staunchly protected the constitutional rights of indigents. He effected the speedy release of long-term detainees by filing releases on recognizance motions and directed verdicts. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree (Major in Political Science) from Ateneo de Manila University and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of the City of Manila (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila). Verdie is fluent in English and Filipino (Tagalog).

Rowena M. Racca

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Rowena M. Racca concentrates her practice on No-Fault insurance cases, representing medical providers including physicians and diagnostic imaging facilities.

Herlyne Alba

Renton, WA

Herlyne Alba is our Case Manager. She was born in the Philippines and is fluent in English and Tagalog (she also has conversational skills in a few other languages!). She has lived in the United States since she was 12 years old. As the Case Manager at Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers she has extensive experience assisting clients throughout their cases. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors, photography, and singing.

Dan H. Pelin

San Francisco, CA

Dan H. Pelin grew up on the East coast and became a member of the California Bar in 2007. He previously represented workers’ compensation insurance companies, giving him an advantage in litigating on behalf of injured workers. He is familiar with the doctors and Judges within the system and enjoys advocating for workers' rights.

Analyn joined Campos Law Group in 2021 as a legal assistant and a member of the medical records department. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and has over eight years of experience in the fields of customer service, medicine, and law. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and uses these skills in her small food service business.

Mr. Bosserman is an associate in the firm’s litigation department. His practice is focused on general civil and commercial litigation, including contract, real property, and construction disputes. Mr. Bosserman also has experience in municipal law, administrative practice, and appellate work.

Elen is the office manager at Campos Law Group. She joined the firm in 2018 as a Litigation Department member and the Records Department lead. She continues her role as counsel on Philippine legal matters. In her free time, she and her husband frequent family-friendly activities with their three children and dog, Tofu. She also volunteers for advocacy groups for children with special needs.

Veronica works as a legal assistant at Campos Law Group. She was born and raised in the Philippines, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Public Administration. Before joining Campos Law Group, she worked as a customer service associate for a mortgage company and as a content moderator for TikTok. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and gardening.

Margarita “Marga” Tirona

Friendswood, TX

Marga Tirona holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Psychology. Her passion is helping others improve their quality of life. She has lived in Maui for 17 years and is committed to helping her community recover after the Maui Fires. She is fluent in English and Tagalog.

Buena Mangabat

Friendswood, TX

Buena Mangabat was born in the Philippines, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She has been living in Maui for the past 26 years and considers Central Maui her home. She is passionate about caring for and helping people, which is why she became a Client Relations Specialist to assist in rebuilding her community after the devastating Maui fires. She is fluent in English, Tagalog, and Ilocano.

Mae is an integral part of our virtual team, specializing in records retrieval. Originally from Manila, Philippines, she now resides in Canada with her family. Despite the geographical shift, Mae remains deeply connected to her roots and brings a global perspective to her work. Her academic journey reflects her dedication and determination. Graduating Cum Laude with a major in Management while balancing full-time work is a testament to her exceptional work ethic and resilience. Mae’s professional journey began at a remarkably young age, starting as a customer service representative for a U.S. financial company at just 18. Over the years, she has honed her skills and diversified her expertise, transitioning seamlessly into the world of technology. From technical support to quality assurance coaching for Fortune 500 electronic companies, Mae has consistently demonstrated versatility and excellence. Her decade-long tenure in the industry has been marked by collaboration with clients from diverse backgrounds worldwide. Mae’s commitment to continuous learning and mastery of her craft has propelled her career forward, leading to numerous opportunities for growth and advancement. In addition to her professional pursuits, Mae finds joy in various creative outlets. From digital art to interior design, her innate talent shines through. She also delights in culinary experimentation, constantly exploring new recipes to share with her loved ones. Driven by a profound curiosity for new experiences, Mae embraces spontaneity and adventure wholeheartedly. Whether it’s discovering new destinations or immersing herself in different cultures, she approaches each opportunity with enthusiasm and curiosity. Mae’s unwavering dedication, diverse skill set, and passion for exploration, make her a valuable asset to our team.

Meet Marie Stiphany Rafanan, originally from the Philippines, where her passion for Information Technology sparked. After earning her B.S. degree from ABE International Business College, she dove into the world of Business Process Outsourcing in 2007. Marie’s journey has been all about serving customers worldwide with top-notch service and tech support. From troubleshooting to quality evaluation, she’s done it all, picking up valuable skills like problem-solving, flexibility, and time management along the way. Off-duty, Marie’s a proud parent to her two-year-old, Ocean-named for the calming vibes of the sea. And let’s not forget her furry family: a Chihuahua, an American Bully, and a French Bulldog.