People.

Tristan Curnow

Attorney at Law

P: (949) 656-4601
E: TCurnow@AdelsonMcLean.com

Tristan Curnow is an Attorney at Law, whose practice focuses on civil defense, civil subrogation, and worker’s compensation matters.

Before passing the California State Bar, he earned his J.D. from Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law. While in law school, he competed on the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Negotiation competition teams. Tristan also worked as a research assistant to Professor Frank J. Doti, focusing on contract law.

Prior to law school Tristan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management with a concentration in Entrepreneurship from Point Loma Nazarene University. He is a member of the Delta Mu Delta International Honors Society.

Born and raised in Southern California, Tristan enjoys surfing, snowboarding, and lifeguarding. Using his background in EMS, Tristan applies his critical response skills and attention to detail to the advocacy of his clients throughout representation to achieve quality care of his client’s needs.

Christine D. Luong-Pham

Senior Counsel

P: (949) 656-4601
E: cluongPham@AdelsonMcLean.com

Christine Luong-Pham has experience in civil litigation, including catastrophic personal injury defense, product liability, toxic tort, and civil qui tam. She has extensive experience handling all aspects of litigation claims, from initial case evaluation, discovery, law and motion, settlement negotiations, and trial preparation.

Ms. Luong-Pham has achieved numerous outstanding results for clients, including dismissal of a civil rights matter.  She also filed a motion for summary judgment that ultimately led to the dismissal of her client, as well as a motion for summary adjudication resulting in plaintiff agreeing to dismiss a negligent entrustment cause of action.  She has also successfully settled numerous cases.

Ms. Luong-Pham obtained her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.  She obtained her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

In her free time, Ms. Luong-Pham enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and traveling.

Laura Free

Associate Attorney

P: (949) 656-4601
E: lfree@mvpflaw.com

Laura Free is an Associate Attorney for MVPF Law. Driven by service and results, her practice focuses on high-exposure general liability litigation, with an emphasis on catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, and commercial disputes.

Laura spent several years as a senior associate at a prominent Los Angeles law firm working with many of Southern California’s top trial attorneys and served as staff legal counsel for an international insurance company. Her experience includes obtaining several state court summary judgments and a federal class action summary judgment in favor of her clients, serving as second chair in a high-exposure premises liability trial which resulted in a complete defense verdict, and obtaining numerous advantageous settlements.

She earned her J.D. from Southwestern Law School, and her B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego. While in law school, Laura served as Chair of the Board of Governors for the Moot Court Honors Program, and as a Student Staff Attorney in Southwestern’s Appellate Litigation Clinic, where she briefed and argued a pro bono immigration case before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Kristin A. Mathis

Partner

P: (949) 656-4601
E: kmathis@mvpflaw.com

Kristin Mathis is a Partner for MVPF Law and her practice focuses on general liability litigation. She specializes in premises liability, retail and hospitality related claims, government entity liability, school district liability, and all matters related to transportation.

Kristin graduated with honors from Loyola Law School with concentrations in Entertainment Law and Criminal Justice. During law school, she volunteered for the Project for the Innocent and assisted in obtaining the exonerations of two innocent men. Kristin graduated manga cum laude from California State University, Northridge where she received her B.A. in Political Science, minored in Spanish, and was the Captain of the Division I nationally ranked Varsity water polo team. She is admitted to practice in the state courts of California and the Central District of the United States District Court. Kristin is a member of the academic honor society Phi Beta Kappa.

In her free time, Kristin enjoys Pilates, running, and spending time with her two daughters and husband.

Nathaniel Patterson

Trial Attorney

P: (949) 656-4601
E: npatterson@adelsonmclean.com

Nathaniel Patterson graduated from the Western State College of Law and has been admitted to the California State Bar and in June 2023 passed the Nevada State Bar. He has experience handling all aspects of civil litigation matters for individuals, as wells as corporations, from inception all the way through trial, including catastrophic injuries and wrongful death matters. Nate’s experience also includes corporate collection matters, business litigation, and corporate formation for small businesses.

Nathaniel dedicates himself to seeking the best course of action to achieve his client’s needs in a cost effective manner. His concern for his client’s needs provides him the passion to seek the best results for each of his clients.

His competitive spirit stems from his years of playing collegiate football, and he utilizes this competitiveness to obtain best results on behalf of his clients. His organization, responsiveness, attention to detail help him create an individualized theme for each case.

Federico A. Stea

Trial Attorney

P: (949) 656-4601
E: FStea@AdelsonMcLean.com

Federico A. Stea is a versatile litigator, whose practice focuses on products liability, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and construction defect matters.  Federico has a stellar track record in prevailing on motions and resolving complex legal issues on behalf of his clients.

Born and raised in Milan, Federico earned his J.D. from Italy’s prestigious University of Pavia, graduating with honors.  During his studies in Italy, Federico specialized in international commercial law, and represented University of Pavia at the XXI Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, arguing before international arbitration panels in New York, Milan, and Vienna.

Federico continued his legal studies at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, where he earned a Master of Laws (LL.M), with a specialization in civil litigation and trial advocacy. While at Loyola, Federico further developed his exceptional advocacy skills under the mentorship of Los Angeles County Superior Court’s Presiding Judge, Hon. Daniel J. Buckley.  Federico also worked as a research assistant to Professor Hiro Aragaki, focusing on federal and international arbitration law, and served as a board member for the Business Law Society and the Student Advisory Board.

Elizabeth Sutlian-Mardikian

Trial Attorney

P: (949) 656-4601
E: esutlianmardikian@adelsonmclean.com

Elizabeth is an experienced attorney who has devoted her career exclusively to litigation. She has represented a broad spectrum clients, ranging from individuals, small business owners, large corporations, public entities, and non-profit organizations. Elizabeth has litigated cases in many areas of law, including personal injury, products liability, premises liability, contract disputes, employment law, professional negligence, and insurance arbitration. Over the course of her almost decade-long career, she has become a skilled writer, successfully bringing and defending dozens of motions. Elizabeth has also honed her skills as an advocate, with first chair trial and appellate experience.

Elizabeth’s clients appreciate her thorough analysis of all potential legal and factual issues at all stages of a case, helping them make the best decisions to bring about a favorable result as expediently as possible. Elizabeth also understands the importance of maintaining the delicate balance between an aggressive defense strategy and cost-effective litigation in representing her clients’ interests.