F&P Workers’ Comp Team Spotlight – Tony D. Villeral and James M. White
Tony D. Villeral joined Franklin & Prokopik as an associate attorney in April of 2016. He focuses his practice in both Maryland and D.C. workers’ compensation defense.
Tony is a 2005 graduate of Chapman University in Orange, California. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance Management. While attending college he also played soccer. During college, Tony began his career in the insurance industry and interned with Liberty Mutual as a claims adjuster. After graduating, he began working as a premium auditor for Liberty Mutual, a position which he held through 2007 when he was accepted into law school.
Tony attended law school at Howard University School of Law from 2007 through 2010. During his summers in law school, Tony worked for Travelers Insurance, focusing primarily on workers’ compensation defense for both Maryland and Virginia. After a brief period teaching middle school math and social studies in Baltimore City, Tony accepted an attorney position with Travelers.
Tony continued working for Travelers until January 2013, when he was hired by a large workers’ compensation defense firm located in Baltimore City. While employed with this firm, Tony’s practice was focused primarily in workers’ compensation defense in both Maryland and Washington D. C. Since joining Franklin & Prokopik in 2016, Tony has enjoyed notable defense successes resulting in his being nominated to the 2018-2019 Rising Stars section of the Super Lawyers.
When Tony is not working, you can find him playing soccer or exploring the culinary arts. He also enjoys all varieties of puzzles.
James M. White joined Franklin & Prokopik as a paralegal in February 2018. His work is focused in the area of workers’ compensation defense.
James is a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology. He graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of the Arts in Industrial Design. Upon graduating, James worked in the field of graphic design until the end of 2009 when he was recruited by a friend to work in a small law firm in Baltimore City. The firm’s practice was focused primarily in the representation of children that were in the custody of the Department of Social Services in Baltimore City. James found this work both challenging and rewarding. In 2013, James began working for a law firm whose practice was in the area of collections. The firm primarily represented large creditors and lenders. James was assigned to the Internal Auditor & Compliance Group and was tasked with ensuring that the firm was in compliance with a variety of regulations while pursuing their collection efforts. He continued working with this firm until 2015.
In 2015, James was hired as a paralegal with a small law firm in Harford County that focused primarily in the area of family law. While working for this firm, James was responsible for the preparation and management of case files in anticipation of litigation in the Circuit Court for Harford County.
With such a diverse background in both work history and education, James brings with him an approach to problem solving, creative thinking, and defense preparation that truly makes him an asset to our firm. While working for Franklin & Prokopik, James has familiarized himself in both Maryland and D.C. workers’ compensation defense.
James has several hobbies to fill his time while he is not at work. Hailing from a small town outside of Boston, Massachusetts, he is a huge fan of both the Patriots and the Red Sox. The Baltimore Ravens are his second favorite team. He also plays guitar is his down time, and is a part-time Uber driver, which allows him the opportunity to meet interesting people and learn the roads of Maryland.