Charlene Underwood
Associate
Glendale Office
500 North Brand Blvd., Suite 1650
Glendale, California 91203
Charlene Underwood is an associate in the Glendale Hub of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. Ms. Underwood brings more than three decades of diverse practice experience to the firm, with a career that began in public service and evolved into a distinguished practice in workers' compensation defense.
Ms. Underwood began her career as a Deputy District Attorney for the County of Los Angeles, where she served for ten years prosecuting complex felony cases, including environmental crimes, consumer fraud, sexual assault, domestic violence, narcotics offenses, and workers' compensation fraud. Her work in this role honed her litigation skills and deepened her understanding of fraud investigations involving individual workers, medical providers, and attorneys.
Transitioning to private practice in 1999, Ms. Underwood has since dedicated her career to defending employers, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, and public entities throughout California. She has developed extensive experience in handling California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA) cases statewide, representing liquidated carriers and delivering effective defense strategies tailored to each client's unique needs.
Ms. Underwood attended both college and law school in her hometown of New York City. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, in Economics, from New York University (NYU) in New York, New York, and went on to receive her Juris Doctor, from Brooklyn Law School, in Brooklyn, New York. After law school, Ms. Underwood decided to pursue a career in public service and moved to Los Angeles, California.
Licensed to practice law in California, Ms. Underwood remains active in her community through pro bono legal work and volunteer activities. Beyond the courtroom, she is an avid supporter of the arts and enjoys exploring architecture, literature, and live theatre.
