People.
MVPF Law’s experienced legal team approaches the law with integrity, emotional intelligence, and the goal of resolving cases expeditiously.


Name
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Michael McLean graduated from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, where he was a Member of the John J. Traynor Honor Society. Michael has been admitted to the California State Bar, the United States District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of California, and the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Michael’s practice is focused on representing individuals, employers, and corporations in civil litigation matters throughout California.
He devotes a significant portion of his practice to representing clients who are self-insured or have high self-insured retention limits. He understands the impact that litigation has on their ‘bottom line’ and their need for an aggressive, proactive and realistic advocate.
Michael is committed to providing his clients an immediate evaluation of their cases for early resolution, and to guiding his clients to their best business decision, rather than endless and costly litigation. These clients include national transportation companies, multinational corporations in the oil, pharmaceutical and medical device industries, as well as local employers here in Orange County. He also serves his clients in cases involving violations of wage and hour laws, state and federal anti-discrimination statutes, including complaints filed under the Fair Employment Housing Act (FEHA), and sexual harassment lawsuits.
Michael McLean has prevailed in appellate matters heard before the State of California Courts of Appeal and the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has tried cases to jury verdict, and also has achieved binding arbitration awards in favor of his clients.
SPECIALTIES
- Wrongful death cases
- Cases involving catastrophic personal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
Davil Vasquez has over 25 years of litigation experience before both the State and Federal courts of California, before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, and before the California Court of Appeal.
His practice focuses on representing employers, businesses and their insurers in a wide range of legal matters, including the defense of civil liability tort actions, employee discrimination (Labor Code 132a) and misconduct (Serious & Willful) claims, and business disputes.
Davil has successfully represented multi-million-dollar telecommunications, aircraft and trucking companies, and family-owned markets and motels.
He is certified to provide client training, and routinely provides educational seminars to insurance carriers, third-party claims administrators and employers regarding industrial subrogation, third-party credit and third-party settlement strategies for global resolution of industrial and civil third-party claims.
Davil Vasquez is licensed to practice law before all of California’s State Courts, and before the Northern, Southern, Central and Eastern Districts of the United States District (Federal) Courts for the State of California.
He is a member of the American Bar Association and the California Bar Association. Over the years Davil Vasquez has been a member of the California Trial Lawyers Association, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, and the Robert A. Banyard Inns of Court.
Davil is one of the founding partners and a shareholder with Adelson McLean.
FEATURED IN AND ARTICLE PUBLICATIONS
- Business Insurance | September 2022 | Liability for COVID still playing out in courts
Kevin Place is a Trial Attorney at Adelson McLean where he handles a complex defense practice. Kevin has in excess of 25 jury trials, and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
Throughout his career, Kevin has practiced exclusively as a defense attorney, specializing in wrongful death, vehicle accidents, construction accidents, premises liability, toxic torts, habitability claims, unfair business practices, and products liability. Kevin’s first six years of practice were spent as a trial attorney with Nationwide Insurance Company’s Trial Division. He was also a managing attorney for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company’s staff counsel.
Kevin’s singular focus during his law career has been to provide the best defense to the individual and business clients he represents. In 2017, Kevin obtained a defense verdict on behalf of his client staffing agency in a toxic tort case. Plaintiff sought $23 million in damages, claiming he was born with birth defects after mother was exposed to pesticides while pregnant. The Daily Journal selected this case as a top ten defense verdict of the year.
Kevin’s jury trial experience also includes obtaining a defense verdict in a products liability case where plaintiff sought $36 million in damages for causing complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a defense verdict on behalf of an Orange County engineering firm in a wrongful termination case, a defense verdict on behalf of a stucco manufacturer in an asbestos exposure case, and defense verdicts on behalf of Denny’s and Smart & Final in premises liability cases.
Before practicing law, Kevin played one year of football at the U.S. Air Force Academy before returning to Southern California to work at the Orange County Probation Department and Disneyland.
Michael Fabrega’s practice is predicated upon efficiency, precision, and attention to detail. His principles are longstanding and have yielded ascertainable success.
Before passing the California State Bar, he graduated from Whittier Law School as Class Salutatorian (Class Rank: 2 of 170). While in law school, he earned nine (9) CALI Awards, a distinguished award given to the top student in a class.
Michael was also a published member of the Whittier Law Review, preparing an article critiquing California’s “duty” rules in the context of sports-based negligence. His passion for legal writing allowed him to act as lead editor for his last firm’s civil law and motion practice.
Some of Michael’s accomplishments include obtaining summary judgment in an eight-figure products liability action, complete dismissal of a federal wrongful death action pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), and multiple dismissals of seven-figure punitive damages claims asserted pursuant to Civil Code section 3294. His emphasis is on formulating a concise and well-articulated action plan at the inception of a lawsuit, resulting in practical litigation that preserve’s a client’s bottom-line. He is qualified to handle all aspects of tort-based litigation, including claims predicates upon vehicular negligence, products liability, and premises liability. He also enjoys working with his clients to resolve their wage and hour, discrimination, sexual harassment, and Fair Employment Housing Act (FEHA) claims.
His practice encompasses all phases of litigation, from commencement through jury verdict. He has been admitted to the California State Bar and the United States District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of California.
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.
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 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 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.
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 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 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.
Jennifer Nimmo graduated from California State University, San Bernardino, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, emphasis in Paralegal Studies, while also concurrently earning a Paralegal Certificate. While studying to be a Paralegal, she interned at the Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino.
Jennifer has 14 years of experience, working in various areas of law throughout the years, primarily focused on civil litigation.

Jasmin Whitfield
Accounts Receivable Assistant
P: (949) 656-4601
E: JWhitfield@AdelsonMcLean.com
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