Attorneys
CAMILO A. BECERRA
CSB #123003
Mr. Camilo A. Becerra is the founder and manager of the Law Offices of Becerra & Associates. He obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School in 1983 and was admitted to the California State Bar in June 1986. He is currently admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in California. He is also a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Workers' Compensation Section.
Mr. Becerra's prior legal experience includes having been a member of the firm of Evans, Cumming & Malter in Woodland Hills and a partner in the firm of Sosa, Perez & Becerra. He started his own firm in 1994.
Mr. Becerra graduated in June of 1979 from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He was the Student Bar Association President in 1982-1983; a Father Vachon Scholarship Recipient; a Student Representative of Loyola Board of Governors; and also received a Dean's Citizenship Award. He was also awarded an externship with the Honorable Cruz Reynoso, former Justice of the California Supreme Court.
DONNA K. AWAKUNI
CSB #164935
Donna K. Awakuni joined the firm as an associate in December 2006. She has handled all aspects of workers' compensation litigation, with experience both as an applicant's attorney and also for the defense. Her prior fulltime and part-time associations include the defense law firms of Ronald R. Kollitz; Lynn P. Peterson, Inc.; Altman, Hambleton & Lunche; Douglas & Garey; Liebman & Reiner; Clopton, Penny & Brenner; and applicant attorney firm of Cantrell, Green, Pekich, Cruz & McCort.
Additionally, she was an attorney advisor for the Social Security Administration, Office of Hearings & Appeals, where she researched and drafted hearing decisions for Administrative Law Judges.
As an associate attorney, Ms. Awakuni represented major corporations including Disneyland, The Walt Disney Company, Disney Entertainment, ABC Television Group, Chevron, United Parcel Service (UPS), and Southern California Gas Company. She was involved in various aspects of complex litigation and also has experience in drafting appellate and amicus briefs.
Ms. Awakuni earned her Juris Doctorate in 1992 from the California Western School of Law, where she received American Jurisprudence Awards in Legal Research & Writing; and Trial Practice. She was admitted to the California State Bar in June 1993. Additionally, Ms. Awakuni earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature, and on the Dean's List, from San Francisco State University in 1981 and thereafter attended the Graduate School of Education at University of Southern California. She also obtained a Paralegal Specialist Certificate in Litigation, graduating with Honors, and on the Dean's List, at the University of West Los Angeles in 1987.
KAREN B. CARTER
CSB #123013
Karen B. Carter joined our firm in July 2010 and brings with her a considerable background of experience in all workers' compensation matters, having associated with the Law Offices of Lynn P. Peterson of Glendale, California, since 2000.
Ms. Carter also developed her legal expertise through associations with the law offices of Liebman & Reiner in Los Angeles; Teri L. Ganem in Anaheim, house counsel for PacifiCare; Coony & Bihr in Los Angeles, house counsel for Home Insurance; Fonda & Garrard, Century City; Tappin & Barling, South Pasadena, and Kegel, Tobin, Hamrick & Truce, Los Angeles. In addition, she provided contract attorney services for various of these firms and throughout her career has represented a variety of clients including major employers such as United Parcel Service (UPS), among others.
Ms. Carter pursued undergraduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley, and obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature in 1981. She obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of West Los Angeles in 1985, earning a Corpus Juris Secundum Award, and a place on the Dean's List. Ms. Carter was admitted to the California State Bar in June 1986.