Kirsten has practiced all aspects of workers’ compensation defense since 2012. She joined Cuneo, Black, Ward & Missler in 2013.
Primary Focus
Kirsten represents public entities, self-insured employers, insurance companies, and third-party administrators in all stages of workers’ compensation litigation. She has appeared at 14 different WCABs. Her geographic venue range stretches south to the Fresno WCAB and west to the San Jose and San Francisco WCABs.
Range of Experience
She handles a wide cross-section of workers’ compensation cases including catastrophic injuries, psychiatric injuries, 132a/retaliation cases, peace officer presumptions, and cases involving workers’ compensation fraud. She frequently works on a consultation basis at clients’ request and advises on particular aspects of workers’ compensation cases.
Public Entity Defense
All employers and insurers desire a quick and efficient resolution of their workers’ compensation disputes. However, Kirsten understands that public entities often have ancillary goals related to disability accommodation, compliance with employment law, retirement programs, etc. She enjoys coordinating with multiple divisions of a public entity to realize those goals.

Kristen Hale
khale@cbwmlaw.com
Cuneo Black Ward & Missler
700 University Avenue, Suite 110
Sacramento, CA 95825
Tel: (916) 363-8822
Fax: (916) 363-8821
Professional & Bar Association Membership:
• State Bar of California
• State Bar Workers’ Compensation Section
• Sacramento County Bar Association
• Sacramento County Bar Workers’ Compensation Section
Education:
• University of California, Davis, 2007, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History cum laude
• University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, Illinois, 2011, Juris Doctor cum laude
Past Experience:
• EEOC Legal & Alternative Dispute Resolution Intern, Milwaukee, WI
• Judicial Intern, Eleventh District Circuit Court in Paxton, IL
• Legal & Policy Analyst, California Department of Insurance