STRAUSSNER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner
- Certified Workers' Compensation Specialist
Aaron did his undergraduate education at Eastern Washington University. He received his Juris doctorate from the Ventura College of Law and has devoted his career to the representation of Safety members and their families.
Aaron is a certified Workers' Compensation specialist and served as the president of the Los Angeles Valley Applicants Attorney Association and serves on the board of Governors for the California Applicant's Attorneys Association. He has drafted several pieces of legislation and has testified in front of the state Assembly and Senate on multiple occasions.
Additionally, Aaron has argued multiple cases in Superior Court, Federal Court and the California Court of Appeals.
Mr. Roehrick obtained his BA in political science from the University of Missouri. Mr. Roehrick went on to attend Southwestern University School of Law, where he obtained his JD and was admitted to the California Bar in 2009. Prior to joining Straussner Sherman Lonne Treger Helquist, Mr. Roehrick worked at a top tier defense firm where he gained powerful insights into practicing workers' compensation law.
Ben Helquist joined Straussner Sherman in 2012 and was named Partner in 2015. Throughout his career, Ben's litigation and appeals work has resulted in numerous "noteworthy" decisions published by the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, many of which have resulted in favorable legal determinations that have benefitted both Straussner Sherman's clients, and the safety community at large. Ben's complex litigation, deposition, and appellate work led to his certification as a Workers' Compensation Specialist by the California State Bar in 2018.
Demetrius Martin joined Straussner Sherman after practicing on the defense side of the Workers' Compensation system for 15 years. His experience on the defense side enables him to analyze issues from both perspectives and to utilize unique strategies and tactics to obtain the best results in his representation of injured workers. Prior to joining Straussner Sherman, Mr. Martin represented injured civilians for three years. Presently his focus is on representing first responders who have been injured on duty.
Mr. Martin is knowledgeable in all phases of Workers' Compensation litigation, from conducting physician cross-examinations, drafting discovery motions and aggressive penalty petitions, representing injured workers at depositions, in court and at trial, and handling discrimination issues that arise due to industrial injuries.
Mr. Martin received a bachelor's degree in Legal Studies at the University of California at Berkeley. He earned his Juris Doctor from Whittier Law School where he was also employed as a teaching assistant in multiple areas of the law. He has also served as an intern for the Los Angeles City Attorney. Mr. Martin is admitted to practice law in the State of California and the Central District of California.
Ella Crestani joined the Straussner Sherman Lonné Treger Helquist team in March of 2021. Her career at Straussner Sherman Lonné Treger Helquist has enabled her to flourish in all areas of the workers' compensation system for our clients, and she has successfully prevailed on behalf of our clients for various complex legal issues at all different stages of the system. She proudly represents injured workers in all aspects of the system, with a particular focus on firefighters and law enforcement personnel.
Growing up in New Zealand, she brings a unique and different perspective to our firm. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2014 from Victoria University of Wellington. In 2015, she returned to Victoria University to obtain her post-graduate Honors degree in criminology, which she successfully completed within the same year. Her Honors thesis led her to an internship at Loyola Law School in Downtown Los Angeles in 2016, before she attended California Western School of Law. Ella graduated with a J.D. from California Western School of Law in 2020 and was admitted to the State Bar of California in February of 2021. She has enjoyed living in California ever since, and is accustomed to politely correcting others when they confuse her as an Australian.
Isay graduated magna cum laude in History and International Relations from the University of California, San Diego in 2009. As an undergraduate, Isay earned Provost Honors every quarter. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, he was accepted on scholarship to Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles. Isay graduated law school in the top 20th percentile of his class. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in December of 2013 along with the U.S. District Court in the Central District of California and the Ninth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. In 2021, he was certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California as a Certified Legal Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law.
Presently, Isay focuses his practice on workers' compensation, with a particular focus on law enforcement and fire fighters. He sits on the Board of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Fire Foundation.
Jean-Paul joined Straussner Sherman in 2009. He represents injured workers in all aspects of the workers' compensation system with a particular focus on representing safety officers and those involved in catastrophic injuries. He has extensive experience in negotiating, navigating and litigating workers' compensation matters.
In 2004, Jean-Paul graduated from the University of California, Irvine earning a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Criminology, Law and Society and Psychology and Social Behavior. He continued his education at Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles where he earned his Juris Doctorate and was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2008. In 2015, he was certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California as a Certified Legal Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law.
In addition to his current position as the Vice President of the Mission Community Police Council, Jean-Paul is the former president of the Los Angeles Valley Applicant Attorney Association and sat on the Board of Directors for the California Applicant Attorney Association.
Joshua Roberts joined Straussner Sherman after practicing on the defense side of the Workers' Compensation system for about 5 years. His experience on the other side enables him to analyze cases from both angles, bringing a unique perspective to his representation of injured workers.
Mr. Roberts is knowledgeable in all phases of Workers' Compensation litigation, from conducting physician cross-examinations, drafting complaints and discovery motions, representing injured workers at depositions, in court and in trial and arbitrations.
Mr. Roberts' knowledge base is also enhanced by the experience he gained as a judicial extern for a Justice at the California Court of Appeal. In that position he performed extensive legal research and drafted bench memoranda on a variety of appellate matters, including murder, breach of contract, fraud, and anti-SLAPP litigation. He also externed at the federal appellate level for the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel.
Mr. Roberts received a bachelor's degree in Communication from the University of Southern California. He earned his Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School where he was a staff member of the Journal of International Law and served as a professor's research assistant. He also served as an extern for the Los Angeles City Attorney.
Mr. Roberts is admitted to practice law in the State of California and in the Central District of California. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Julie graduated from UCLA with Honors in 1986, and obtained her Juris Doctorate Degree in June of 1989 from Southwestern University School of Law. Julie started her career representing professional basketball players in contract negotiations with the NBA and since has represented safety members and their families for 30 years in workers' compensation, personal injury, disability retirement and employment issues. Julie has drafted workers' compensation legislation on behalf of police unions and testified before the California State Senate and Assembly. She is a Certified Specialist and has served as the President of the LA Valley Applicants' Attorneys Association. She sits on the governing board of the Star and Shield Foundation, is an advisor for the California Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation and is Counsel for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network and the Law Enforcement Cancer Support Foundation. She has been selected to Southern California Super Lawyers since 2009 and has been recognized in Los Angeles magazine's Top Women Attorneys in Southern California.
Julie loves to spend time with her family and is extremely proud of her children.
Laura earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science at the University of California, Irvine. She was academically acknowledged on the Dean's List and Honor Roll and maintained an active role in the Women's Law Society. In 2012, Laura graduated Cum Laude from Thomas M. Cooley Law School with her Juris Doctorate and her Master of Laws (LL.M) in Corporate Law and Finance. She was admitted to the State Bar of California in June 2014.
Presently, Laura focuses her practice on workers' compensation, with a particular emphasis on safety personnel. She sits on the board of directors for the Mid-Valley Community Police Council and the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Fire Foundation.
Marc Sisson joined Straussner Sherman Lonné Treger Helquist in 2022. He is adept at handling complex legal issues in all stages of the workers' compensation system, and leads clients through the web of litigation, including depositions, trials, and the appeals process. Marc represents injured workers with a focus on firefighters and law enforcement personnel.
Before joining the firm, Marc earned his J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law, where he graduated with distinction honors and concentrations in general litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Leadership positions with the Nebraska Law Review and Moot Court enhanced the skills that are now utilized to advocate successfully for his clients. While in law school, Marc was a law clerk for the Nebraska Attorney General's Office and the Lancaster County Attorney's Office, and an extern for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Before law school, Marc graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree in political science.
Mike attended the University of Washington in Seattle earning a Bachelor's Degree in History in 1991. He later attended the Seattle University School of Law where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1995. After being admitted to the Washington State Bar later in 1995, Mike began his law career as a public defender and later practiced complex civil litigation in Seattle before deciding to relocate to Southern California. In 2010, Mike was admitted to the State Bar of California along with the United States District Court for the Central District of California and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He immediately joined Straussner Sherman as an associate and, in 2015, Mike was named a Partner.
Mike has successfully litigated hundreds of legal matters both in California and Washington State courts. He currently concentrates his practice handling Disability Retirement matters for Police Officers and Firefighters injured in the line of duty. Mike also sits on the Council of Members of the Fire Family Foundation, a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial support and other resources to firefighters and their families in need.
Straussner Sherman Lonné Treger Helquist prides itself not only for its professional and legal services, but also for the time and financial support its attorneys give to a wide range of non-profit organizations. Our partners serve as board members of numerous non-profit organizations dedicated to the support of safety officers throughout the state and nation. We also frequently volunteer and contribute to a wide-variety of departmental and union-based events to give back to our clients and their coworkers.