Dawn L. Hassell
Managing Attorney

When it comes to personal injury cases, you need more than just a lawyer, you need a fighter, a strategist, and a champion. Dawn L. Hassell is one of San Francisco’s best-known personal injury lawyers, renowned for securing record-breaking settlements and courtroom victories. Whether you’re dealing with the aftermath of a car accident, pedestrian accident, or a catastrophic injury, Dawn is the unwavering advocate you need to maximize your chances of obtaining a successful outcome for your case.

Dawn combines legal ingenuity with genuine compassion for every client’s case at her law firm, The Hassell Law Group. Her results speak for themselves: a $12.5 million settlement for a head-on truck collision victim, a $4.67 million court judgment for a motorcyclist hit by a wrong-way driver, and countless other success stories. Dawn doesn’t just win cases—she changes lives.

With over 26 years of personal injury experience and accolades including a ten-year Super Lawyer designation, Dawn is an expert at ensuring her clients receive the justice and compensation they deserve. Every case she handles becomes a priority for her legal team.

Dawn built a reputation as a relentless advocate for injury victims by securing exceptional case results and holding negligent parties accountable. Dawn holds an undefeated record in trial and arbitration, demonstrating her ability to achieve maximum compensation for her clients.

Record-Breaking Case Results

Dawn has obtained multi-million-dollar settlements and judgments for her clients, including:

• $12.5 Million+ Confidential Settlement – For a woman seriously injured in a head-on collision caused by a commercial truck driver.
• $5 Million Settlement – For an elderly couple involved in a fatal head-on crash caused by a negligent driver. The wife was seriously injured in the accident, and the husband was killed.
• $4.9 Million Settlement – For a farmworker injured in a commercial truck accident.
• $4.67 Million Court Judgment – For a motorcyclist struck by a wrong-way driver.
• $4.6 Million Settlement – For a physician who suffered an impalement injury in a trip and fall accident.
• $4.5 Million Settlement – For a pedestrian in her 60s who suffered a brain injury after being hit in a crosswalk.
• $2.525 Million Settlement – For two pedestrians struck by a loose trailer pulled by an agricultural vehicle.
• $1.75 Million Settlement – For a man rear-ended by a commercial truck, requiring spinal surgery.
• $1.5 Million Settlement – For a rideshare driver who sustained a surgical collarbone fracture in a high-speed head-on collision.
• $1.5 Million Settlement – For a 78-year-old pedestrian hit in a crosswalk, suffering head and knee injuries.

Nationally Recognized Legal Excellence

Dawn’s legal skills and dedication have earned her some of the highest honors in the legal profession:

• Super Lawyer (2014-2025): Recognized among the top 5% of attorneys in personal injury law for 10 consecutive years.
• National Trial Lawyers Top 100: Reserved for the most elite trial lawyers in the country.
• Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum: Membership is limited to attorneys who have secured verdicts and settlements exceeding $2 million, an honor held by less than 1% of attorneys nationwide.
• Best Lawyers (2025): Inclusion based entirely on peer review, recognizing outstanding legal talent in the field of plaintiff’s personal injury law.
• Nation’s Top One Percent (2023-2025): Selected by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, which recognizes exceptional legal professionals who elevate the standards of the legal profession.
• Attorney and Practice Magazine Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney: An invitation-only distinction awarded to less than 1% of attorneys nationwide.

Top Verdict Rankings in California

Dawn has consistently secured some of the largest personal injury settlements in California, earning recognition from Top Verdict.com:

• Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in California (2024)
• Top 10 Wrongful Death Settlements in California (2024)
• Top 10 Animal Attack/Dog Bite Settlements in California (2023)
• Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlements in California (2022)
• Top 10 Truck Accident Settlements in California (2022)
• Top 10 Pedestrian Accident Settlements in California (2022)
• Top 10 Premises Liability Settlements in California (2020)
• Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in California (2022)
• Top 20  Motor Vehicle Accident Settlements in California (2022)
• Top 20 Pedestrian Accident Settlements in California (2020)
• Top 50 Personal Injury Settlements in California (2022, 2023)
• Top 50 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlements in California (2020, 2022, 2023)
• Top 50 Wrongful Death Settlements in California (2020)

Distinguished Leadership and Community Recognition

Dawn’s contributions extend beyond the courtroom. She served as a Distinguished Member of the Board of Directors for the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (2002-2012), advocating for legal excellence and the rights of injury victims.

Her firm has also been consistently recognized by Expertise.com as one of:

• The Best Personal Injury Attorneys in San Francisco 2025
• The Best Car Accident Attorneys in San Francisco 2025

Client Satisfaction and Professional Excellence

Dawn’s relentless pursuit of justice has earned her widespread praise from clients and peers alike:

• Hundreds of 5-star client reviews on Google and Yelp, reflecting her dedication to delivering outstanding results.
• Recognized by San Francisco Magazine for 11 consecutive years as one of the Top Women Attorneys in Northern California (2014-2024).

Education and Legal Background

Dawn was admitted to the California Bar in 1998. She earned her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, one of the top law schools in the country.

She completed her undergraduate studies at Binghamton University (SUNY), graduating Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and in the top 1% of her class.

A Relentless Fighter for Injury Victims

Dawn’s legal expertise, negotiation skills, and winning record have positioned her as one of the leading personal injury attorneys in Northern California.

 

Lisa A. Villasenor
Senior Attorney

(Of Counsel)

Lisa is a highly skilled litigator, negotiator, and top trial lawyer, with a long and successful background litigating personal injury and wrongful death cases through trial.

With an undefeated record in trial and arbitration for her clients, Lisa has a 100% win rate in 12 trials to verdict – including a wrongful death case, a toxic-mold case on behalf of a homeowner, and many auto accident cases. Lisa has been practicing law in California for over 30 years.

Lisa is a formidable adversary. Her recent case results include:

$12.5 Million Confidential Settlement – For a woman seriously injured in a head-on collision caused by a commercial truck driver.

$4.9 Million for a seriously injured motorist

$4.5 Million for a woman in her 60s who sustained a surgical brain injury after being struck by a vehicle while crossing in the crosswalk

$1.75 Million for a migrant farmworker in her 60’s struck and killed by an agricultural vehicle

$1.5 Million for a 73-year-old retired man who sustained a surgical femur fracture and post-surgical complications after tripping and falling on a box left in the entryway of a market

$1.5 Million for a pedestrian in his late 70’s who sustained head and knee injuries when he was struck by a car while in a crosswalk

$998,000 for a father and son injured by a negligent tow truck driver

Lisa joined The Hassell Law Group in 2014 as a Senior Attorney and has practiced law for the past 36 years.

In the last three years, several of of Lisa’s case results were ranked among the highest in California by the national lawsuit results ranking site Top Verdict:

• Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in California (2024)
• Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlements in California (2022)
• Top 10 Truck Accident Settlements in California (2022)
• Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in California (2022)
• Top 20 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlements in California (2022)
• Top 20 Pedestrian Accident Settlements in California (2020)
• Top 50 Truck Accident Settlements in California (2023)
• Top 50 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlements in California (2020)

Lisa has worked extensively on both sides of personal injury cases, as plaintiff’s counsel and also as defense counsel. Before joining our firm, she practiced personal injury, asbestos, and pharmaceutical litigation at some of the top law firms in San Francisco. She was a defense attorney at a top San Francisco law firm, Manning, Marder, et al., and was a partner at Prestholt, Kleeger, Fidone & Villasenor.

Her extensive litigation experience includes personal injury, truck accidents, premises liability, wrongful death, construction accidents, government-entity liability, toxic torts, and insurance bad faith. After the 1994 Northridge earthquake, Lisa worked extensively on bad-faith litigation against 20th Century Insurance Company.

Lisa is a highly distinguished member of the Queen’s Bench Bar Association, which promotes equality for women.

Lisa is committed to making our streets safer. Lisa has zealously represented many bicyclists, pedestrians, and dog bite/dog attack victims in her career.

Lisa received her Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) from Cal State University, Long Beach, and her law degree (J.D.) from Loyola Law School. During her school years, she worked in her father’s insurance brokerage gaining significant insight into insurance issues and the insurance industry.

Lisa is a highly distinguished member of The San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association.

In her spare time, Lisa loves to golf. She is an avid golfer and a member of many local women’s golf organizations.

 

Judy Graziano
Senior Attorney

(Of Counsel)

Judy is a highly skilled litigator and trial attorney with a long and extensive background handling catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases. She has an undefeated record on all personal injury cases she has tried in court.

Judy joined The Hassell Law Group in 2008 as Senior Counsel. She has practiced law in California for over 25 years and was admitted to the Bar in 1999.

Judy is involved in all aspects of litigating serious injury cases for The Hassell Law Group from inception to conclusion. She holds a near-perfect record of wins in law and motion practice on behalf of the firm’s clients.

Judy is a formidable opponent. She has obtained many multi-million-dollar case results for clients over the course of her career. Recent case results include:

$12.5 Million Confidential Settlement – For a woman seriously injured in a head-on collision caused by a commercial truck driver.

$5 Million for an injured woman in her 70’s and her husband who was killed in a head on collision caused by a negligent driver

$4.9 Million for a seriously injured motorist

$4.6 Million for a physician who sustained an impalement injury in a trip and fall accident

$1.75 Million for the family of a 71-year-old migrant farm worker hit and killed by a commercial vehicle

$1.5 Million for rideshare driver with a surgical collarbone injury who was hit in a near head on collision by a reckless driver driving twice the speed limit

$1 Million insurance policy limit settlement for a client who tripped and fell at a commercial property and required three surgeries

$925,000 settlement for the daughter of a woman in her mid-80’s in a wrongful death case

In the last few years a number of Judy’s case results were ranked as among the highest in California by lawsuit results ranking company Top Verdict. Judy’s results in these cases were ranked as:

• Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in California (2024)
• Top 10 Wrongful Death Settlements in California (2024)
• Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlements in California (2022)
• Top 10 Truck Accident Settlements in California (2022)
• Top 10 Premises Liability Settlements in California (2020)
• Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in California (2022)
• Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in California (2020)
• Top 20 Pedestrian Accident Settlements in California (2020)
• Top 50 Truck Accident Settlements in California (2023)
• Top 50 Wrongful Death Settlements in California (2020)

Over the course of her career, Judy has successfully represented plaintiffs with serious injuries in catastrophic accident cases at some of the most prominent personal injury law firms in the Bay Area with case values exceeding $1 million. Before joining The Hassell Law Group, she litigated high value cases at top personal injury firms The Veen Firm and The Law Offices of Joseph Carcione, Jr.

Experienced in the dual representation of clients in civil and workers compensation cases, Judy holds an undefeated record in the many cases she has tried before the Workers Compensation Appeals Board.

Judy is a distinguished member of The San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association.

Judy is a Phi Kappa Phi undergraduate from San Jose State University. The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society and standards for election are extremely high. Judy graduated from law school in 1999.

Judy is a California native. In her spare time, Judy enjoys dancing and seeing live music performances.

 

Jonathan Harriman
Senior Attorney

(Of Counsel)

Jonathan brings over 15 years of experience as a trial lawyer and litigator to our legal team. He is a zealous advocate and has handled a number of trials to verdict.  Jonathan is a highly experienced litigator with a deep commitment to his clients and a true warrior for justice.  He is a skilled adversary in all aspects of litigation, handling discovery, depositions, and motion practice for seriously injured clients. Jonathan has also worked on both sides of cases. As a former defense attorney, he uses his knowledge from being on the other side of cases to out-litigate his opponent and maximize his client’s compensation.

Jonathan has successfully represented clients in hundreds of mediations and negotiated substantial settlements on their behalf.  He has a reputation within the industry for being a thorough, assertive, and tough litigator, which he leverages to garner favorable results for his clients.  Some recent case results include a $1.5 million result for two teenagers involved in a rollover caused by an inexperienced driver and $750,000 for a bicyclist struck in a bicycle lane by a city employee.  Earlier in his career, he worked at a well-known Bay Area personal injury firm where he recovered over $7 million for his clients.

Jonathan has extensive experience handling traumatic brain injury cases arising from accidents. He has spent his entire career handling serious injury cases arising from car accidents, rideshare collisions, truck crashes, bicycle accidents, pedestrian injuries, construction site incidents, aviation accidents, and defective product claims. He also has experience running his own personal injury law firm. He has handled cases throughout California in both state and federal courts. For him, trial preparation includes getting to know his clients and their families to help them through the legal process and to present them to juries in the most compelling manner.

Jonathan received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University. He received his law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. He lives in Oakland with his wife and son. He is actively involved in volunteering and serves as a board member and volunteer attorney with the Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals (CCLP) and is a high school mentor with the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Law Academy. In his free time, he enjoys cycling in the Oakland Hills, Mount Diablo, and the Headlands. Jonathan firmly believes that bicycles are the future of urban transportation and commuting for urban citizens, that drivers need to be better educated, and that our cities must create safe spaces for bicycle commuters.

 

Sam Lasser
Senior Attorney

(Of Counsel)

Sam has been practicing law for more than 15 years. He was admitted to practice law in California in 2007.

Sam received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. He obtained his law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Sam has substantial trial experience. He has tried 11 cases to verdict with successful results in all of them. Sam’s extensive courtroom experience provides his clients with a battle-tested trial lawyer. Sam has obtained a number of 6 and 7 figure results for clients in personal injury cases during his career as a personal injury lawyer.

Sam is an experienced personal injury attorney with broad knowledge of the law. He has substantial experience working on both the plaintiff and defense side in cases. He has run his own personal injury firm, and brings extensive skill to our team. In the early part of his career, he practiced criminal law for a number of years in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since that time he has practiced personal injury law handling all types of personal injury cases including motor vehicle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, to slip/trip and fall accidents , and other injury cases caused by accidents.

Sam joined The Hassell Law Group as a Senior Attorney in January of 2023. He provides his clients with vigorous personal representation.

Sam speaks conversational Spanish.

In addition to practicing in the State Courts in California, Sam is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District and Eastern District of California.

 

Grecia Hendrickson

Associate Attorney

Grecia (“Gracie”) began her legal career in Texas in 2020 practicing personal injury law until she relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2024. She became licensed to practice law in California the same year. She joined our firm soon after.

Before joining The Hassell Law Group, Gracie ran her own personal injury and immigration law firm in Texas. There, she led and managed cases from intake to settlement and successfully resolved over 200 cases.

Gracie previously served as a Director and Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston Law Center where she taught and managed law students in clinical law practice. Gracie also clerked for the Honorable Judge Socrates Manoukian.

Gracie has substantial experience handling many types of personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents, trucking accidents, rideshare accidents, drunk driving accidents, burn injury accidents, and slip and fall accidents.

Gracie brings to our team a wealth of practical hands-on legal experience and fierce advocacy for her clients. Fluent in Spanish, Gracie is a strong advocate for the Latino community in the Bay Area, providing accessible legal counsel to those who need it most.

Gracie first became interested in personal injury as a practice area when her younger brother was seriously injured in a truck accident while she was in law school. Her younger brother was rear-ended on a Texas highway by an 18-wheeler and required neck surgery and extensive medical treatment. The personal experience of going through the difficulties that injured clients experience and seeing how crucial skilled and caring legal representation is drove her to become a personal injury attorney and zealously fight for her clients.

Early in her law career, Gracie was a subrogation law clerk at a renowned trial law firm in Houston, Texas. As a result, she has significant experience handling and negotiating medical liens in personal injury cases, a skill she uses to benefit her clients.

Gracie earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Houston Law Center. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology and a minor in Spanish from The University of Texas at Austin, where she graduated with honors.

• Member, California Bar Association
• Member, Santa Clara Bar Association
• Member, Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley.