Most people have no idea what workers’ compensation is until they are in the middle of it.  What does it cover?  How long does it last?  What other benefits does it provide?  The same was true for me when I first entered the industry as a claims processor for a national insurance company in 2013.  Now, after having worked my way up through the ranks and (most importantly) experiencing both sides of the law – previously representing employers/insurance companies and now injured individuals – I have a deep understanding of workers’ compensation claims and the stakes involved.

I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon to a family of immigrants.  My mother and father were from Hong Kong and came to America in the 1960s.  As a kid, I watched my mom juggle two jobs while my dad worked long hours in tech manufacturing.  When I became old enough to work during high school, I started out bussing tables at a Chinese restaurant.  In college, I held a work study position as a file clerk in the university’s student records office.  In the summertime, I worked a multitude of jobs from making sandwiches in a deli, to painting apartments, and working graveyard shifts at a local newspaper printing and distribution center.   All of these experiences have helped me develop a perspective and insight into the rigors of the labor most of my clients are required to perform on a daily basis.  As a result, I fully understand why what some may perceive as a negligible injury/condition can in fact be very disabling for people with strenuous jobs.

While in law school at The University of Oregon, I focused my education on business law with a concentration on corporate formation, mergers and acquisitions, and forensic accounting.  After school, I clerked for two years in a personal injury law firm.  There, I gained experience in civil litigation, mostly working on motor vehicle accidents and medical malpractice cases.  I was involved in civil pleadings practice, trial work, and appellate briefing for the Oregon Court of Appeals.  From there, I went on to process workers’ compensation claims for The Hartford Insurance Group.

After mastering claims processing, I became a claimants’ attorney with an emphasis on ensuring the appropriate administration of disability benefits to my clients.  I then had a short stint as a workers’ compensation defense attorney at a large law firm that represents many local claim administrators and insurance companies.  I soon realized, however, that my true passion was actually in vigorously representing injured workers who were involved in this complicated insurance system and I have now returned to serving individuals.  I am happiest when helping my clients navigate their claims to obtain the maximum benefits available under Oregon’s workers’ compensation laws.

Having been on both sides of the dispute, I have a unique ability to analyze a claim from multiple perspectives which allows me to determine the optimal strategy for my clients.  As a former adjuster and defense attorney, I understand what the employer’s/insurance company’s objectives and strategies are.  Then, drawing on my experience and knowledge, I do my best to forecast and explain each client’s options from the outset to create a legal strategy custom-tailored to meet their specific needs.

When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife and daughter.  I am also enthusiastic about the outdoors, basketball, and western sports.  I am an avid foodie who eats recreationally and never shies away from trying new things.

Joined Firm

2021

Admitted to Practice

Oregon State Bar: 2012

Education

• University of Oregon School of Law (J.D., 2010)
• University of Oregon (B.S., 2007)

Volunteer Activities

• Asian American Youth Leadership Conference, Planning Committee, 2010 – 2019
• AAYLC Ambassador Engagement Series, Instructor, 2013 – 2018
• Robert Gray Middle School SUN School, Film Project Instructor, 2015
• Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Youth Basketball Coach, 2013