DUNCAN - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Associate With DCLBV

Amrit Nahal is an associate with DCLBV. Her primary focus is workers' compensation defense. Ms. Nahal is a proud Central Valley native. She attended Central High School and obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Ms. Nahal obtained her Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. Knowing her heart was in the valley, Ms. Nahal spent her summers in Fresno interning at the District Attorney's Office and doing pro bono work at Central California Legal Services, where she worked in the housing department providing free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals, families, organizations, and communities. Prior to passing the bar exam, Ms. Nahal clerked at the District Attorney's Office in the County of Tulare, where she began her legal career as a prosecutor. There she gained exposure in general misdemeanors, felonies, and juvenile. Prior to her departure, Ms. Nahal was the assigned prosecutor for AG Rural Crimes division within the Special Crimes Unit. As counsel for the People of California, Ms. Nahal gained valuable experience in the court room and conducted several bench trials and preliminary hearings. Ms. Nahal enjoys attending country concerts and trying new restaurants with her husband.

Job Titles:

• Shareholder
• Shareholder With DCLBV

Brian Binkley is a shareholder with DCLBV. Mr. Binkley is a lifelong Valley resident and practices with the firm's workers' compensation and employment defense departments. He is a graduate of San Joaquin College of Law. His family are entrepreneurs and business owners, thus he has focused his practice on practical, but aggressive litigation strategies for employers at every stage of a business' development. Mr. Binkley is a graduate of California State University, Fresno and a Bulldog fan.

Job Titles:

• Shareholder
• Member of the State Bar of California
• Shareholder With DCLBV

Brian Duncan is a shareholder with DCLBV. Mr. Duncan is a lifelong resident of the valley and practices with the firm's workers' compensation department. Mr. Duncan has defended employers in a wide variety of employment and labor relations matters before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. He is experienced in the defense of claims for industrial injuries, counseling employers on employee disciplinary matters, litigation avoidance, employee handbook policies, arbitration agreements, leaves of absence, the California Family Rights Act, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Employment and Housing Act. Mr. Duncan has also represented employers on matters relating to business transactions and general litigation needs. Mr. Duncan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at California State University, Fresno and his Juris Doctor degree from San Joaquin College of Law. Brian Duncan is member of the State Bar of California, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California and the American Bar Association. He is also a member of the Fresno County Bar Association and remains active with its Agricultural Section. Mr. Duncan is rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale Hubbell, a rating bestowed on those attorneys who have earned an exemplary reputation in their legal community.

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Associate With DCLBV
• Member of the State Bar of California

Candace Talbot is an associate with DCLBV. Her primary focus is workers' compensation defense. Mrs. Talbot has defended a variety of workers' compensation claims in her legal career and is experienced in all stages and aspects of defending workers' compensation claims. Mrs. Talbot was born and raised in Fresno. She graduated from California State University, Fresno in 2010, Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Political Science. During her undergraduate studies she participated in Fresno State's Mock Trial Team. Mrs. Talbot later earned her Juris Doctor from San Joaquin College of Law, graduating in the top 10% of her class with high honors. Mrs. Talbot participated in the prestigious San Joaquin Agricultural Law Review and was published in the 22nd volume with a comment focusing on regulatory takings that may be associated with state eradication programs. She then went on to become the Notes and Comments Editor for the 23rd volume of the San Joaquin Agricultural Law Review. Candace is a member of the State Bar of California, Fresno County Bar Association, and Fresno County Women Lawyers.

Job Titles:

• Attorney
• Shareholder

Darren Van Doren is an attorney and shareholder with the firm. His practice focuses largely on workers' compensation defense and general civil litigation. Mr. Van Doren attended college at California State University, Fresno and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance. After college, Mr. Van Doren attended San Joaquin College of Law. During law school, he clerked for the insurance defense firm of MacMorris & Carbone, focusing on personal injury litigation defense. Mr. Van Doren has also litigated contract disputes from both plaintiff and defense perspectives. Mr. Van Doren is a member of the State Bar of California.

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Associate With DCLBV

Jessica McClung is an associate with DCLBV. Her primary focus is workers' compensation defense. She is also experienced in the practice of criminal law. Ms. McClung completed her Juris Doctor at San Joaquin College of Law, graduating with distinction and ranking third in her graduating class. She received the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in 6 law school courses: Business Organizations (fall and spring), Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Basic Individual Income Taxation, and Tribal Sovereign Immunity. Ms. McClung served as the Treasurer of the SJCL Student Bar Association during her final year in law school. During her first year of law school, Ms. McClung was named Student of the Year by her peers. Additionally, she volunteered for multiple community events, such as Senior Law Day, Law School 101, and Race Judicata. She is currently an active member of San Joaquin College of Law's Alumni Association, where she has volunteered for events supporting local organizations, such as the Marjaree Mason Center, which assists victims of domestic violence. Ms. McClung served as class representative for the SJCL Student Bar Association during her first two years of law school. She was also a member of Delta Theta Phi, an International Legal Fraternity, serving as Vice Dean of her school's chapter for two years and Social Chair for one year. Ms. McClung was a finalist for Best Brief in the George A. Hopper Moot Court Competition in her third year of law school. She received the Robert F. and Kathryn S. Price Scholarship, the Leon S. Peters Foundation Leadership Award, and the Delta Theta Phi scholarship for participation. During law school, Ms. McClung clerked for a prominent criminal law firm providing legal support and services on complex, high profile criminal cases in both the federal and state court systems. She wrote legal memorandums for a variety of criminal law issues, successfully challenged federal jury instructions, wrote motions and memorandums of points and authorities, and conducted research on a variety of procedural and substantive legal issues. Ms. McClung has practical experience working to help private businesses succeed. She worked for a local well-known, well-respected franchise associated with one of the largest fast-food hamburger companies in the world. She obtained invaluable "real-world" employer side experience with all aspects of workers' compensation, liability, and unemployment claims. She also developed the company's Injury and Illness Prevention Program and oversaw the OSHA compliance for eight restaurant locations. Ms. McClung was raised in the Central Valley. She graduated from Coalinga High School with a 4.14 GPA and Salutatorian distinction. She attended California State University, Fresno, earning a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Criminology. She achieved both President's list and Dean's list inclusion, and graduated with Magna Cum Laude distinction. Ms. McClung served as Vice President of Sigma Alpha Lambda Honor Society and was a life member of Golden Key International Honor Society while attending California State University, Fresno. Ms. McClung includes amongst her history of service to the community volunteering with Circles of Support and Accountability through Fresno Pacific University, Tree Fresno, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Ms. McClung enjoys traveling, training to someday be a contestant on Jeopardy, and spending time with her family, especially her three dogs.

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Associate With DCLBV

Karanveer Bains is an associate with DCLBV. His primary focus is workers' compensation defense. Karanveer is a Fresno native and has lived in the Central Valley for most of his life. He has received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy from the University of California, Merced. After graduating, Mr. Bains attended Southwestern Law School. During his time at Southwestern, he clerked for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office at the Long Beach branch. While clerking, Mr. Bains conducted over a dozen preliminary hearings while also managing files for the preliminary hearing department at the District Attorney's Office in Long Beach.

Job Titles:

• Shareholder
• Member of the State Bar of California
• Shareholder With DCLBV

Lisa Madden is a shareholder with DCLBV. Her primary focus is workers' compensation defense. Ms. Madden completed the paralegal program at Fresno City College and went on to complete a Bachelor of Art in Pre-Law Philosophy, at California State University Fresno. She attended San Joaquin College of Law and completed her Juris Doctor degree in 2009. Ms. Madden has practiced law since 2009 but has over 20 years of legal experience starting with a paralegal career at Parker, Kern, Nard and Wenzel. Ms. Madden has experience working with fraud investigation units and various district attorneys in the state to combat fraudulent workers' compensation claims. She is an aggressive litigator, participating in many trials with favorable outcomes. She has also participated in agency and employer presentations on key topics facing employers. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, her dogs and cats, wine tasting and hot yoga. Ms. Madden is a member of the State Bar of California and Fresno County Bar Association.

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Associate With DCLBV
• Member of the State Bar of California

Lucia Gonzales is an associate with DCLBV in its California office in Fresno. Her primary focus is workers' compensation defense. Lucia Gonzales graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 2008. After college, Ms. Gonzales then received her Juris Doctor from San Joaquin College of Law. While in law school, Ms. Gonzales served as a law clerk with the Fresno County District Attorney's Office, wherein she appeared on behalf of the People as a certified law student in various hearings such as criminal arraignments, motions hearings, probation of violation hearings, plea and sentencing hearings, as well as a Juvenile Delinquency bench trial. Ms. Gonzales also clerked for the Madera District Attorney's Office, where she served as a research and writing assistant for the Gang & Homicide Units. In 2014, Ms. Gonzales was admitted to the State Bar of California. Prior to joining DCLBV, Ms. Gonzales began her legal career practicing Juvenile Dependency, where she represented minor dependents of the Fresno County foster care system. As a minor's counsel, Ms. Gonzales gained valuable litigation experience where she represented the best interest of her clients in uncontested hearings, as well as in trial settings. Ms. Gonzales is a member of the State Bar of California. Ms. Gonzales enjoys long distance running and spending time with her family.

Job Titles:

• Shareholder
• Shareholder With DCLBV

Megan Lucchesi is a shareholder with DCLBV. Her practice focuses on workers' compensation. Ms. Lucchesi attended college at University of California, Davis. She graduated Cum Laude with degrees in both Economics and Political Science, as well as a minor in Managerial Economics. After college, Ms. Lucchesi attended UC Hastings College of the Law, wherein she was an editor for the Hastings Business Law Journal and a competitor for the Hastings Client Counseling Team. Ms. Lucchesi has clerked for the San Francisco District Attorney's Office wherein she conducted numerous preliminary hearings. She has also served as a research assistant. She was the President of the Fresno Industrial Claims Association (FICA). She is a member of the State Bar of California and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.

Job Titles:

• Shareholder
• Member of the State Bar of California
• Shareholder With DCLBV

Robert Cassio is a shareholder with DCLBV. He is a lifelong resident of the Central Valley and practices with the firm's workers' compensation department. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree at California State University, Fresno, Mr. Cassio received his Juris Doctor degree from San Joaquin College of Law. He has also studied in Barcelona, Spain through the University of San Diego Institute of International Corporations and Comparative Law. Mr. Cassio has handled all phases of workers' compensation cases from advising employers, trials and the appellate process. He also has experience with employment, civil and administrative cases. Mr. Cassio has also lectured throughout California on workers' compensation issues and employment issues. Robert is a member of the State Bar of California, Fresno County Bar Association, the American Bar Association and a member of the California Workers' Compensation Defense Attorneys' Association.

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Attorney

Sara Tarasevic is an attorney with DCLBV Fresno. She joined the firm in 2020. Her primary focus includes representing insurance carriers, third-party administrators, and self-insured employers in all areas of state workers' compensation law.

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Associate With DCLBV
• Member of the State Bar of California

Shon Wilson is an associate with DCLBV. His practice focuses on general civil litigation and workers' compensation. Mr. Wilson provided more than 10 years of service to DCLBV in other positions before becoming an associate in 2010. He has lived nearly all his life in the Fresno/Clovis area receiving his education from Bullard High School, then Fresno City College, before earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Fresno. After college, Mr. Wilson spent a few years gaining valuable experience in the insurance industry while working for a major provider of health, disability and life insurance. Then, after joining the DCLBV family, he attended night classes at San Joaquin College of Law, eventually earning his Juris Doctor degree while working full-time and raising a family. Though he is proud of this accomplishment, Mr. Wilson considers his amazing family as his greatest achievement. Mr. Wilson is a member of the State Bar of California as well as being admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. He is a lifetime member of Delta Theta Phi and a member of both the Fresno County Bar Association and California Young Lawyers Association. He has participated in numerous charitable activities and always enjoys donating any extra time and resources to helping his community.