Oakland, CA  – Sara Widener-Brightwell has been named Executive Vice-President and General Counsel of the California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) according to Gideon Baum, president of the Oakland-based research group.

A well-known industry veteran with almost 40 years of experience handling California workers’ compensation claims and legal issues, Ms. Widener-Brightwell has served as CWCI’s General Counsel since 2022. During that time she has been responsible for handling the Institute’s internal and external legal affairs; serving as staff liaison to the Legal Committee, which directs CWCI’s amicus activities; while also serving as Senior Vice-President of Claims, overseeing the activities of the Institute’s Claims and Medical Care Committees and helping to develop and present research and legal programs for Institute members and other workers’ compensation stakeholders.

In her new capacity, Ms. Widener-Brightwell will continue her work as General Counsel and remain the staff liaison to all three of the Institute’s standing committees while also assisting Mr. Baum in managing internal operations of the Institute.    

Ms. Widener-Brightwell’s promotion to Executive Vice-President and General Counsel took effect September 1. 

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