About Us
Dealing with a brain injury, and the inevitable physical injuries that go with it, is one of the toughest things a person will have to face. At Brain Injury Law of Seattle, we are absolutely committed to helping every one of our clients get the best medical and legal help they need to get back to where they were before the injury. Sometimes brain injuries can last a long time, so we make it our job to get you in to see the leading brain injury experts in the Seattle area to ensure the best treatment for your injury.
We pride ourselves on being national leaders and innovators not just in the brain injury field, but national leaders and innovators in brain injury law as well. We will keep looking for every kind of help you need to fully recover. But if a full recovery is not possible, we will make sure that you have the best experts on board to fully map out all the future needs for your brain injury and physical injuries so you'll know your future is secure. We always put your health needs first and above the economic value of your case, and we strive to understand every aspect of your case so nothing is overlooked. Our experienced Seattle brain injury lawyers know that by helping you and putting your needs first, the ideal outcome for your case always follows.
Get to know our
Award Winning Attorneys
Scott Blair
Brain Injury and Trial Attorney
Cody Branstetter
Brain Injury and Trial Attorney
Richard Fisher
Brain Injury and Trial Attorney
Lisa Okimoto
Paralegal
Antonia Duskin
Administrative Coordinator
SCOTT BLAIR
Brain Injury Attorney and Trial Attorney
Scott Blair is the founder of Brain Injury Law of Seattle. Brain injury work is his passion. For the last 25 years, Scott has proudly helped folks with brain injuries get the specialized treatment they need to get their lives back together. Scott understands that the effects of brain injuries are often complex and subtle, and can have a variety of profound effects on a person if they are not recognized and dealt with in a timely fashion. Scott is the first lawyer in the country to recognize the importance and prevalence of pituitary injuries in brain injury cases, and to passionately start educating and alerting the rest of the legal profession on the importance of such injuries. He has also led the charge on helping brain injury victims get the help they need for pituitary and hypothalamic injuries, which are present in nearly half of all brain injury cases causing hormonal imbalances and sleep disturbance. Because of his pioneering work in this area, Scott has been asked by many lawyer organizations, brain injury foundations, and even the Veterans Administration to help train brain injury workers, medical staff, social workers, lawyers and others on how to screen for and spot pituitary injuries. Because of his passion for helping TBI victims and training other attorneys on handling TBI cases, he has been asked by the Washington State Association of Justice to Chair its annual Traumatic Brain Injury Seminar both times it has presented this seminar in the last three years. He has also been asked by several other State Trial lawyer organizations to teach other lawyers throughout the US on how to spot pituitary injuries and help TBI victims get the help they need. He has been recognized by the medical profession as well for his passion in helping TBI victims.
In addition to his passion for representing TBI victims, Scott is also an accomplished trial lawyer who has tried more than 75 jury trials over the course of his 34 year career. As a graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College in Wyoming, he has a passion for trying cases. His passion has been recognized by other attorneys, and has often been asked to train other Washington lawyers in the art of trying cases or assist them in trying TBI and injury cases. His willingness to try cases often makes the other side’s insurance carrier recognize that offering a full and fair settlement is preferable to a large verdict against their insureds.
With Scott helping you, you will always have a sympathetic ear, a passionate and knowledgeable advocate at your side, and a willingness to help you get the medical help you need to get your life back.
CODY BRANSTETTER
Brain Injury Attorney and Trial Attorney
Cody hails from a rural farming and logging community in Southwest Missouri. After obtaining his undergraduate degree at Missouri State University, Cody decided to join the legal profession. This decision was driven, in large part, by Cody’s experiences witnessing average citizens struggling to navigate the complexities of the legal system and being taken advantage of by large and sophisticated corporate interests, like insurance companies.
Determined to put himself in a position to help level the playing field, Cody attended Baylor Law on a full academic scholarship and graduated in 2020. During his time in law school, Cody served on the editorial board for the Baylor Law Review and pursued multiple externships. Cody’s externships included a quarter clerking for a United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas as well as assisting the editor of the Texas Practice Guide: Alternative Dispute Resolution 2019-20 edition.
After graduating from law school, Cody moved to the Pacific Northwest and started his legal career helping people resolve property disputes, and disability and injury claims. He joined the team at Brain Injury Law of Seattle in early 2024, where he looks forward to getting to know his clients and present their stories in a compelling and thoughtful way, leading with compassion. When he is not at work, Cody enjoys camping, hiking, cycling, and kayaking around the Pacific Northwest, or simply relaxing with a good book.
RICHARD FISHER
Brain Injury Attorney and Trial Attorney
Richard joins the team at Brain Injury Law of Seattle, bringing his experience as a former felony prosecutor and Navy submarine veteran, along with his courtroom zeal and compassionate, supportive nature. He is committed to helping clients navigate the often-complex legal challenges that arise, especially when dealing with the added strain of an injury.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Richard served as a sailor in the United States Navy Submarine Force. During his five years aboard the USS Jimmy Carter, one of the most classified assignments in the military, he gained invaluable experience. Originally raised in Indiana, Richard later moved to Michigan to assist his family in starting a small business before finally being stationed in Washington after joining the Navy in 2009.
As a prosecutor he handled thousands of cases and was known as a fierce and determined trial attorney. His work focused primarily on serious traffic crime and complex white-collar fraud. As an advocate for victims and the community, he tried dozens of cases in court from DUIs to Vehicular Homicides. He was recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for his exceptional advocacy in prosecuting impaired drivers. It is in the courtroom, fighting for those injured at the hands of another, where Richard is truly in his element.
He initially went to law school with the intention of being a prosecutor and never thought he would be anything else. Yet, in case after case, he was confronted with the hard reality of the criminal justice system’s limited ability to help victims after a criminal case is closed. Medical bills, uncertainty, emotional trauma, and dealing with a permanent injury all continue to exist long after the gavel falls. Now, as an attorney with Brain Injury Law of Seattle, he advocates for those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries to provide support and hope. With Richard by your side, you can be confident that your voice will be heard and your case will not be overlooked by the court or any corporation.
BLAKE BLAIR
Discovery and Technology Manager
SHERRY CLEM
Paralegal/Case Manager
Sherry began working for Scott Blair in 1997 and for over 20 years, has been a passionate advocate helping those who have been injured. As an experienced paralegal and prior licensed private investigator, her strong expertise helps clients navigate the challenges of dealing with excessive medical bills, complicated healthcare issues and various other issues that may arise when one gets seriously injured.
Due to her integrity and detailed nature, she is well respected by defense attorneys, insurance adjusters and the like. She begins by setting the tone, first, being a great listener who puts her clients at ease, knowing they can show vulnerability and confide in her following a serious injury. Having experienced a back injury herself, she can empathize with those who experience chronic pain knowing how it can affect your daily life.
Taking great pride in her ability to resolve cases in the most cost-effective way that benefits the clients and not the bottom line, is why clients appreciate having Sherry on their team. With her extensive and detailed settlement brochures that protect the rights of clients under their policies, insurance companies are more apt to settle than risk litigation and are ultimately held accountable.
Outside of work, Sherry can be found in the stands, cheering on her boys in football, basketball and baseball. She is also very involved in the Snoqualmie Community and volunteers her time to the Mount Si Football program that helps feed over a hundred football players weekly, during football season and is instrumental in raising funds for the high school football team. As a former collegiate athlete, she understands the value of being a strong team member and what it takes to be a leader in the personal injury industry. She has a husband, Wade and two teenage sons, Trevor and Tyler.
GAYLINE VERNON
LITIGATION PARALEGAL
With over 30 years of experience as a litigation paralegal and legal assistant, Gayline Vernon has a thorough understanding of the process involved in clients' brain and bodily injury cases since starting with Scott Blair in 1994.
Gayline has helped prepare scores of cases for trial, mediation, arbitration, and she knows how important it is that your story be told as honestly and directly as possible to a judge, jury, mediator or arbitrator. She enjoys helping clients get through the many challenges that they face in a lawsuit or brain injury claim.
Gayline is well respected by the court clerks, medical professionals and defendant's paralegals she deals with on a daily basis when scheduling matters regarding a client's case. She is known for her pleasant way of relating to people. She is very familiar with helping brain injury victims get through the claims process and legal system with the least amount of hassle.
Outside of work, Gayline enjoys spending time with her husband and children.
EMILY GUERRA
PARALEGAL
TERESITA CHEVEZ
PARALEGAL
In 2021, Teresita Chevez became a member of Brain Injury Law of Seattle. She has seven years of expertise in the legal profession with matters spanning from immigration and personal injury law. What motivates her is her keen eye for detail and desire to go above and beyond. Teresita helps the pre-litigation team with ordering and gathering of medical records as well as with all the case development work that needs to be done before trial. She moved to the Pacific Northwest from her hometown of Miami, Florida, and is happy and excited to be living here with her partner.
LISA OKIMOTO
PARALEGAL
If you or a loved one is dealing with the challenges of a traumatic brain injury, Lisa understands how overwhelming and life-altering it can be. With 19 years of experience as a paralegal, she’s dedicated to supporting individuals like you through this difficult journey.
Her career began at her father’s Edmonds law firm, where she gained invaluable insight into personal injury law and the human aspects of legal cases. Over the years, she worked at several Seattle-area firms, handling complex cases and building strong relationships based on trust, clear communication, and empathy.
In addition to her legal experience, she spent eight years in the tech industry in the greater Bellevue/Seattle area, focusing on developing user-friendly solutions and managing projects for clients at all levels, from entry-level employees to CEOs located locally, nationally and internationally. This experience sharpened her ability to make complex processes easier to understand and manage, which is essential for anyone facing the confusion and frustration that can come with a traumatic brain injury.
Building on that foundation, when she returned to the workforce after raising her family, she founded Paladin Paralegal, a virtual paralegal service company, where she dedicated a decade to helping people with personal injury claims including those related to car accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and more. Combining her paralegal and IT skills, she provided clear, efficient and compassionate support to those who are injured. Lisa understands that dealing with injuries can be overwhelming and her approach is designed to ease that burden. She worked closely with both clients and attorneys to simplify and organize the details of each case, creating logistical roadmaps of the injuries, treatment, and recovery of those who have been injured to help develop strategies that effectively support each client’s unique needs.
Through this experience, she’s seen firsthand how traumatic brain injuries can affect every aspect of a person’s life. For example, Lisa worked with a client, a young happy, outgoing and high-achieving teenager, who experienced a complete personality shift after her injury. She became withdrawn, struggled with basic tasks, and found light and sound painful. Her ability to focus, read, and follow conversations was severely impacted.
ANTONIA DUSKIN
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
Growing up in a family full of attorneys, Antonia grew up in the legal field. She is a creative communicator dedicated to client’s specific needs and personalities. Previously being in the restaurant industry and beauty industry, she has a well-rounded appreciation for all people. After being in customer service for almost two decades, she has decided to follow in her many family members’ footsteps and use her skills in the law field. Moving to the PNW in 2015 to be closer to her in-laws, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking & crafting in her time away from the firm.
JANAE CEPEDA-JOHNSON
ASSISTANT FIRM ADMINISTRATOR
Janae Cepeda-Johnson joined Brain Injury Law of Seattle in 2024 and serves as the Assistant Firm Administrator. Having navigated the trenches of health care for over a decade, Janae is equipped to handle a variety of firm and client needs. Beginning bedside as a phlebotomist, she quickly moved up under the mentorship of some of the region’s leading anatomic and clinical pathologists and finished in Neuroscience as a clinical research coordinator where she worked on groundbreaking trials.
She possesses excellent leadership and organizational skills and will ensure the effectiveness of the company's staff and practices. In her role, Janae will oversee day-to-day firm operations related to human resources, project management and marketing.
On a more personal note, Janae’s passion is people. Growing up, she witnessed firsthand the incongruities within the system and how the simplest act of kindness and reeducation has the power to shape a life. She focused her attention on helping correct the injustices patients can experience within healthcare and advocated for those lacking a voice. She is looking forward to taking her unique experience into the legal field.
What our clients are saying:
Yelena Shevelenko
First, I want to emphasize high professionalism and specialized expertise of everybody in Brain Injury Law of Seattle. From the very first meeting we established mutual trust, and I felt relief. Scott and his team not only made it easy to deal with insurance claims and settlement, but they also helped my family to deal with consequences of the accident. Scott supported me through this ordeal, and I am very grateful. Looking back, I can say that they did everything to protect my interests and achieved results that continue to help me.
Jackie R.
I am very grateful to Scott Blair of Brain Injury Law for agreeing to join my lawyer to help represent me in my injury case. Before I was introduced to Scott Blair, my lawyer told me he was the best Brain Injury Trial Lawyer and he would represent me like no other lawyer could. He was absolutely right! I was so impressed with Scott when we met. I felt he was very professional but not stuffy and friendly but not arrogant. I could feel he was a very caring and real person. I found him easy to talk to. That was when I knew I was lucky to have him join our team.
Dan Westley
I cannot thank the Brain Injury Law team enough. With back-to-back brain injuries, and an uncertain future, Sherry, Scott, and Adam were able to help with pairing the proper medical resources to treat the debilitating symptoms I was suffering from. They also went above and beyond interfacing with both insurance interests (resulting from two independent accidents), managing the ongoing letters and phone calls, allowing me more time to focus on accelerated treatment and healing. TBIs are a scary thing, topped by complicated insurance stressors, and I’m forever grateful for the support and assistance from the Brain Injury Law team.
Charlie Nolan
I'm very thankful I went with Brain injury law for my concussion. Ever since the first day I called them they've gone out of their way to make me feel like they have my back. They were the only ones willing to come meet me when I wasn't able to drive because of my injury, they made time for me when no other law group did. The other parties insurance tried to low ball me for settlement and brain injury law fought them and we went to arbitration where they were able to argue in my favor, leaving me with a substantially greater settlement than the initial offer.
Contact Brain Injury Law
Call or email us for a free consultation, and find out how we can help you get your life back following a brain injury. We are here to help, answer questions, and educate you about what you have to look forward to. We have the medical and legal knowledge to tell you what you are facing and how you can be helped. We pledge to always tell you like it is so you can make informed decisions about your brain injury and how best to help yourself. This is what we do.
