Bio

Lissa Laffey

When catastrophic injury or wrongful death changes a family’s life forever, the outcome often depends on experience, strategy, and understanding how insurance companies evaluate and defend claims. Lissa brings a distinct advantage to every case: years of experience representing major insurance carriers, now focused exclusively on advocating for injured individuals and grieving families.

Before joining the plaintiff’s bar, Lissa served as in-house counsel for Farmers Insurance and State Farm Insurance and practiced at one of Southern California’s largest insurance defense firms. She defended insurers and corporate defendants in high-exposure civil litigation involving serious personal injury and wrongful death claims. Through that work, she gained direct insight into claim valuation, litigation strategy, risk assessment, and the internal decision-making processes that drive insurance defense.

Today, Lissa applies that knowledge on behalf of plaintiffs. Her background allows her to anticipate defense tactics, evaluate case value with precision, and position cases for maximum recovery. She understands how carriers assess exposure and how to build cases that withstand aggressive defense strategies.

Originally from Rhode Island, Lissa brings a disciplined, results-driven approach to her practice. She is committed to representing individuals facing powerful insurance companies and corporate defendants, ensuring that injury victims receive the full and fair compensation the law provides.

Her commitment to advocacy extends beyond the courtroom. Lissa has supported dog rescue organizations, volunteered with legal veterans’ clinics and free legal aid programs, and served as a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles.

Outside of her legal practice, she is a true-crime enthusiast and dedicated Pilates practitioner, maintaining the balance necessary to sustain high-level litigation work.

Bio

Rhianna Lee

Rhianna is one of the newest associates at Trial Lawyers for Justice, bringing a strong background in education, research, and advocacy to her legal practice. After graduating from UC Berkeley, she spent seven years working as an educator in underserved high schools in her hometown, developing a deep understanding of the systemic challenges faced by vulnerable communities.

She later served for six years as a research coordinator at the USC Interaction Lab, where she focused on how emerging technologies, including robotics, can support children with developmental and mental health challenges. This work sharpened her analytical skills and reinforced her commitment to evidence-based approaches to complex human problems.

As the youngest sister of Courtney Rowley, Rhianna was inspired to pursue a legal career after witnessing Courtney’s record-breaking toxic exposure verdicts against major corporations, including Monsanto. Seeing the impact of holding powerful entities accountable shaped her decision to become a plaintiff-side attorney.

Rhianna earned her Juris Doctor through an accelerated two-year program at Southwestern Law School on a merit scholarship and successfully passed the California Bar Exam. She is driven by a commitment to justice, public health, and meaningful accountability.

Outside of work, Rhianna enjoys visiting animal sanctuaries, watching horror films, and spending time with her large family, including her thirteen nieces and nephews.

Bio

Ansley O’Brien

Ansley O’Brien pursued her legal education at the esteemed University of Iowa School of Law, where she excelled academically and graduated with distinction in 2022. During her time at the university, Ansley’s exceptional abilities as a legal scholar earned her membership in the prestigious law journal, where she contributed to cutting-edge legal research and scholarship. An advocate for those in need, Ansley actively engaged in public service through her participation as a Federal Criminal Defense Clinic member during her law school tenure. As part of this program, she honed her courtroom skills while assisting those facing criminal charges, ensuring they received a fair and just defense.

Ansley has wasted no time as a first-year Trial Lawyers for Justice Associate. During this time, she played a crucial role in multiple high-profile trials, including the recent landmark case against Chevron, which resulted in a $63 million verdict. During her free time, Ansley enjoys traveling, music, and spending time with family and friends.

Bio

Regina Powers

Regina Powers is a civil rights attorney and client-centered advocate who fights for people harmed by abuses of power and systemic neglect inside jails and prisons. Regina brings a relentless commitment to holding government agencies accountable for the suffering inflicted on people in custody and for families whose loved ones are killed or seriously harmed behind bars.

Before joining Trial Lawyers for Justice, she clerked for a federal judge in Kentucky and litigated civil rights and police misconduct cases at Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP in New York. There, she helped secure the largest civil rights verdict in the Northern District of New York for the family of a man whom corrections officers beat to death in prison. She also contributed to the largest pre-verdict settlement with New York City for a man who suffered a hypoxic brain injury in jail, won certification of a class action challenging racially biased marijuana policing, and prevailed in a federal appeal establishing constitutional liability for jail suicides during drug withdrawal.

Regina’s dedication to advocating for incarcerated people and their families began while she was a student at Harvard Law School, where she represented clients in parole proceedings through the Prison Legal Assistance Project, helping secure the release of individuals serving life sentences. She graduated summa cum laude from Kentucky Wesleyan College.