Goldman Magdalin Straatsma LLP

What Goldman Magdalin Straatsma LLP does

Goldman Magdalin Straatsma, LLP (GMS) is a privately held California Limited Liability Partnership founded in 1999 by Richard Goldman, Paul J. Magdalin, and B. Derek Straatsma. The firm specializes exclusively in workers' compensation defense representation, operating from eight offices across California (Burlingame, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Woodland Hills/headquarters, Brea, Sacramento, San Diego, and Palm Springs) that collectively cover every WCAB venue in the state. After 25+ years in operation, GMS has consolidated around a single practice area rather than diversifying into broader legal services.

The firm's service portfolio is anchored on four core lines: Workers' Compensation Defense, Subrogation Recovery, Lien Resolution, and Mediation Services, supplemented by Major Loss Claims Consulting, 132(a) discrimination defense, serious and willful misconduct defense, appellate practice, insurance coverage disputes, disability retirement, public entity defense, and sports litigation. The Lien Resolution Unit and Subrogation practice are run in-house alongside the defense practice, creating a unified case strategy that the firm markets as a differentiator versus single-discipline competitors. Content-marketing assets include the GMS Alerts newsletter, continuing-education webinars, a Covid Calculator, and downloadable reference charts (PD Benefits Chart, Safety Officer Presumptions Chart).

GMS generates revenue on a professional-services model through direct attorney engagement with insurance carriers, third-party administrators (TPAs), self-insured employers, and public entities (municipalities, school districts, and government agencies). Pricing is not publicly disclosed but is described as consultative fees determined by case complexity and length, consistent with standard hourly, flat-fee, or per-case legal arrangements. GTM motion is enterprise field sales via direct attorney relationships, professional referrals, and a "Refer a Case" intake channel, supported by webinars and newsletters as mid- and top-of-funnel engagement. The firm carries no disclosed technology platform, no AI tooling, and no funding events; it operates as a partnership-owned professional services firm with 30+ named attorneys and a Certified Specialist credential base across partners and a majority of associates.

Name

Goldman Magdalin Straatsma LLP

Legal name

Goldman Magdalin Straatsma, LLP

Website

https://gmslawllp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Goldman Magdalin Straatsma, LLP is a California-based workers' compensation defense law firm operating from eight offices statewide, representing insurance carriers, third-party administrators, self-insured employers, and public entities in WCAB proceedings, with integrated subrogation, lien resolution, mediation, and major loss consulting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workers' Compensation Defense Legal Services

NAICS

Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Injury & Insurance Defense (BPAHAAAM)

Keywords

• Workers compensation defense
• Subrogation recovery
• Lien resolution
• Mediation services
• Appellate practice

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodland Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Legal Defense Services: The firm generates revenue through legal defense services for workers' compensation claims, including representation of employers, insurance carriers, and self-insured entities in California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) proceedings.
2. Subrogation Recovery Services: Revenue from subrogation and credit rights cases, handling auto damage recovery, property damage recovery, and workers' compensation subrogation recovery for insurance companies and municipalities.
3. Lien Resolution Services: The Lien Resolution Unit provides settlement and litigation of medical and other liens, generating fees for lien analysis, negotiation, and defense services.
4. Mediation Services: Barbara Thompson leads the Mediation Services Group providing dispute resolution for workers' compensation settlement cases, with consultative fees determined by complexity and length of the case.
5. Major Loss Claims Consulting: Consultative fees for assistance with major loss cases, helping clients resolve cases so reserves can be closed and risk exposure eliminated.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Goldman Magdalin Straatsma, LLP provides legal defense representation in workers' compensation matters for employers, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, and public entities throughout California. The firm delivers Workers' Compensation Defense, Subrogation Recovery, Lien Resolution, Mediation Services, and Major Loss Claims Consulting through eight offices covering all WCAB venues.

Product overview

Goldman Magdalin Straatsma LLP is a workers' compensation defense law firm operating as a single-service legal practice rather than a platform architecture. The firm provides comprehensive legal services centered on workers' compensation defense for employers, insurance companies, self-insured entities, and public agencies throughout California. Core service offerings include Workers' Compensation Defense, Subrogation Services, Lien Resolution, and Mediation Services, supported by specialized capabilities in 132(a) Discrimination Defense, Serious and Willful Misconduct Defense, Appellate Practice, Insurance Coverage Disputes, and Disability Retirement. Additional supplementary offerings include Major Loss Claims Consulting, webinars for continuing education, reference charts (Safety Officer Presumptions Chart, PD Benefits Chart), the GMS Alerts Newsletter for case law and legislative updates, and a Covid Calculator tool.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workers' Compensation Defense Full-service workers' compensation defense legal representation for employers, insurance companies, third-party administrators, and public entities statewide in California, covering all aspects of claims from filing through settlement across all WCAB venues.
• Subrogation Services Recovery of workers' compensation benefits paid out through litigation against negligent third parties, including auto damage recovery, property damage recovery, and workers' compensation subrogation for insurance companies and municipalities.
• Lien Resolution Expert resolution of medical and other liens prior to and after case resolution, including detailed analysis of lien liability exposure, settlement strategy, negotiation, and litigation of unresolved lien claims for insurance carriers and self-insureds.
• Mediation Services Alternative dispute resolution services facilitated by Barbara Thompson, Esq., providing timely and cost-effective resolution of workers' compensation settlement disputes for all WCAB venues.
• Major Loss Claims Consulting Consultative services to help clients resolve major loss cases so reserves can be closed and risk exposure eliminated, with fees determined based on complexity and length of case.
• Appellate Practice Appellate representation in workers' compensation matters including statutory and discretionary writs and petitions for reconsideration.
• Public Entity Defense Specialized workers' compensation defense for public entities including municipalities, school districts, and government agencies, including disability retirement and municipal liability matters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lien Resolution Unit has significantly reduced clients' reserves through proven lien litigation results
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi: California workers' compensation defense firm with comparable service offerings and client segments (insurance carriers, self-insured employers, public entities), competing head-to-head for WCAB panel placements.
• Adelson, Testan, Brundo, Novell & Jimenez: California-based workers' compensation defense firm with comparable carrier-panel focus and statewide coverage, competing directly with GMS for insurance carrier defense work.
• Mullen & Filippi: California-based workers' compensation defense law firm with a similar statewide multi-office model, comparable carrier-panel client base, and similar emphasis on lien resolution and subrogation.
• Hanna Brophy: Long-standing California workers' compensation defense firm with multiple offices statewide, directly competing with GMS for carrier, employer, and TPA defense work across the same WCAB venues.
• Worthington & Caron: California workers' compensation defense and subrogation firm with a similar niche focus on carrier-side defense and lien recovery, overlapping in target client base.
• Bickford Blado & Botros: California workers' compensation defense firm offering similar defense, subrogation, and 132(a) representation to carriers and employers — a close head-to-head peer in the same California WCAB system.
• Cole, Fisher & Bosquez: Workers' compensation defense firm serving California employers, carriers, and TPAs — a direct competitor with overlapping practice areas including subrogation and serious-and-willful defense.
• Albert & Mackenzie: Workers' compensation defense firm serving California carriers and self-insureds — directly comparable in practice scope (defense, subrogation, lien resolution) and regional footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Marsh McLennan / Oliver Wyman (Legal & Claims): Global professional services firm with significant workers' compensation claims management and defense operations in California — a broader incumbent that competes for enterprise carrier and self-insured mandates.
• Sedgwick LLP: National legal services platform with a substantial California workers' compensation defense practice, competing for the same carrier panel work while offering broader multi-state claims services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Goldman Magdalin Straatsma LLP