Her Story
About Felicia
Felicia L. Flahive serves as a WC Insurance Defense Attorney and Partner at Misa Stefen Koller Ward, LLP, where she specializes in workers’ compensation insurance defense and administrative law matters. In this role, she represents insurance companies and employers, managing approximately 75 cases at a time and providing comprehensive representation from the initial stages of a claim through resolution. Her clients include universities, medical facilities, staffing agencies, warehouse companies, and retail employers facing workplace injury claims. She handles cases from start to finish, including evaluating claims, taking depositions, negotiating settlements, and, when necessary, proceeding through trial.
Flahive has built an ambitious legal career through determination, preparation, and a willingness to challenge herself. After earning her bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton, she attended New England Law | Boston on a scholarship, gaining valuable experience through the New England Law Review, legal internships, and judicial experience before returning to California to begin her legal practice. She joined Misa Stefen Koller Ward, LLP in 2020 as a Senior Associate Attorney and advanced to Partner in May 2025. Her rapid progression was particularly notable because she became the firm’s youngest partner after approximately four years with the firm, reaching that milestone while having no more than nine years of professional experience.
Flahive attributes her success to the personal drive she developed early in life. Growing up and witnessing her family experience financial struggles motivated her to pursue a stable and successful career, while being the firstborn in her family instilled strong study habits, responsibility, and a commitment to achievement. Her lifelong involvement in sports also strengthened her competitive spirit, discipline, and resilience. As an ethnic woman working in a traditionally male-dominated area of the legal profession, she takes particular pride in challenging preconceived notions and demonstrating her capabilities through her work. Her combination of legal knowledge, competitive determination, and commitment to her clients continues to shape her approach to workers’ compensation defense and her growth as a leader in the industry.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Felicia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the resilience, work ethic, and determination I developed from an early age. Growing up, I witnessed my family work hard to create opportunities for me, and as the firstborn, I learned to be responsible, disciplined, and studious. Seeing my parents’ sacrifices motivated me to become independent and challenge myself to see how far hard work and perseverance could take me. Playing sports throughout my life also strengthened my competitive spirit and taught me the value of discipline, teamwork, and pushing through challenges. As an ethnic woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, I am especially motivated to challenge preconceived notions and let my accomplishments speak for themselves. Ultimately, my success comes from staying driven, embracing challenges, and consistently proving to myself that I can accomplish whatever I set out to achieve.
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