Goldberg Segalla’s national growth continues on the west coast with the addition of four attorneys based in the firm’s newest office — its 22nd — in Orange County, California. Partner Joshua J. Roberts will lead the office, along with partner Joshua A. Mauras, associates Pamela S. Aaron and Lisa M. Hardebeck, and litigation specialist Orlando B. Ruff. All five join Goldberg Segalla’s Workers’ Compensation Practice Group, and will serve a variety of employers and insurers headquartered or operating in California, including many sports franchises in the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and other major league organizations. The Orange County office is the Buffalo, NY-based firm’s second on the west coast, following the opening of its office in Los Angeles, led by partners John F. Stephens and Steven S. Vahidi, earlier this year.
Joshua J. Roberts serves as a key counselor to executives in numerous major league sports organizations and franchises. He regularly defends members of the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB in workers’ compensation and employment- and labor-related matters on trial and appeal, including cases involving the issue of jurisdiction over out-of-state employers facing claims filed in California. Josh’s clients rely on him to provide cost-effective defense and proactive resolution of workers’ compensation and other employment-related claims. He also advises hundreds of employers across various industries on defense strategy, employment policies and practices, legal and regulatory obligations, and risk management. An experienced appellate advocate, his record includes a winning decision in Tony Dorsett v. Denver Broncos, which barred a former professional athlete’s attempt to relitigate his settled workers’ compensation claim.
Joshua A. Mauras is a Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist with over a decade of experience counseling California employers, insurers, and third-party administrators in workers’ compensation matters and defending them in state and federal courts and before regulatory bodies in hearings, trials, and appeals. He has successfully defended claims involving death from cancer, heart injury, and other catastrophic injuries and ailments; leveraged statutory amendments to settle hundreds of claims for reduced value; and provided crucial employment and operational counsel to clients, including drafting Operating Agreements and Owners Membership Agreements for major professional sports leagues. Josh earned his bachelor’s in Business Administration at Chapman University and earned his J.D. at Chapman University School of Law, and gained experience in internships at the California Court of Appeal (4th District), the Riverside District Attorney’s Office, AMVETS Military Law Clinic, and the Claremont Institute Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence.
Pamela S. Aaron and Lisa M. Hardebeck counsel and defend employers, insurers, and third-party administrators in workers’ compensation matters throughout California, focusing a significant portion of their practice on handling workers’ compensation matters for major league sports organizations.
Pam earned her B.A. in Sociology, Psychology, and Spanish at the University of Toronto, and went on to earn her LL.B. at Cardiff University and her LL.M. at Loyola Law School.
Lisa earned her bachelor’s at the University of California San Diego, where she was captain of the UCSD women’s tennis team. She went on to earn her law degree at Chapman University School of Law.
Orlando B. Ruff advises and represents employers before the California Division of Workers’ Compensation, focusing a significant portion of his practice on handling cases for major-league sports franchises and their executives. Prior to beginning his legal career, Orlando played seven seasons in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, and Cleveland Browns. He was fortunate enough to be a member of some of the top defenses in the NFL while with the Chargers, where he was twice named Special Teams Player of the Year. Upon retirement, Orlando served as vice president of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) for the Los Angeles area. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Furman University and his J.D. at Pacific West College of Law, where he has served as an adjunct professor.
“I am overjoyed to be joining Goldberg Segalla, and look forward to continuing the growth of such a dynamic firm,” Josh Roberts said. “Our California team includes some of the brightest minds in the business, and we look forward to expanding the firm’s synergistic mindset as we continue to thrive in the Southern California area, and look to establish a prominent presence in the state’s legal community.”
“We’re proud that such exceptionally talented lawyers have chosen to join Goldberg Segalla, and even prouder to have them representing us in Southern California,” Managing Partner Richard J. Cohen added. “As client demand for our services and trusted counsel continues to drive our growth across the country, we’re careful to seek out not only the very best lawyers to meet our clients’ needs, but also the best people — individuals who share the values and commitments that unite all of our more nearly 400 attorneys, in every practice, and in every office. We couldn’t have asked for any better — better lawyers or better people — than Josh, Josh, Pam, Lisa, and Orlando. We look forward to all that we’ll accomplish together in Orange County and for clients nationally.”