Ms. Widener-Brightwell joined the Institute staff as General Counsel in January 2022 and assumed the additional role of Executive Vice-President in September 2025. Sara received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University and her law degree from San Joaquin College of Law. She brings both a claims and a legal background to the Institute. Before joining CWCI she had almost 35 years of experience in the California workers’ compensation system as a claims adjuster, defense attorney, and California claims training and compliance manager where she served as Sentry’s primary legal resource for California workers’ compensation issues. She also served on CWCI’s Legal and Claims Committees for several years. As CWCI General Counsel and EVP, Sara’s responsibilities include managing the Institute’s internal and external legal affairs; serving as staff liaison to the Legal, Claims and Medical Care Committees; analyzing regulatory and legal issues affecting California workers’ compensation; and helping to develop and present Institute research and legal and claims programs.