Who We Are

Lara Mac Connell, M.A., PCLS

Casualty Claims Consultant
Director of Operations/Owner
email Lara

Lara’s over 30 years of experience as a claims professional includes positions as a casualty regional adjuster for Sedgwick/Vericlaim, operations manager high risk litigated claims for Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, communications manager and senior adjuster III for Mutual of Enumclaw, and team manager for State Farm Insurance Company. Prior to joining Sedgwick/Vericlaim, she owned and operated Risk Reduction Specialists, an organization that reviewed individual and corporate risk and created strategies and plans to reduce risk.

Lara earned her Master’s degree in Forensic Linguistics as a result of her work and research in the language of the insurance contract and how it influences politics and the courts. Lara also held an EMT-B license and completed paramedics coursework.

Lara’s expertise includes:

  • High exposure and complicated casualty claims
  • Tort claims administration for public entities
  • Third-party auto and general liability claims
  • Litigated claims management
  • Risk consulting
  • Independent claims audit services
  • Mediation attendance
  • Trial monitoring 
Michael Farrell, CPCU, AIC
Michael Farrell

Casualty Claims Consultant
Director of Claims/Owner
email Mike

Mike’s long and rewarding career in the claims profession includes positions as a regional claims manager for Sedgwick/Vericlaim, a claims unit manager for AIG, a unit manager and supervisor for Transamerica, and a senior litigation specialist for CIGNA Companies. He founded Farrell and Associates Insurance Claims Services. Over a period of 21 years, Mike built the business into one of the most successful adjusting and third-party claims administration companies in the Pacific Northwest. He has been retained to review and audit claims programs for carriers and self-insured companies throughout the country.

Mike graduated from University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. He also earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Claims, Associate in Reinsurance, and Program in General Insurance designations through the Insurance Institute of America.

Mike’s expertise includes:

  • Tort claims administration for public entities
  • High exposure and complicated casualty losses
  • Litigated claims management
  • Medical malpractice claims
  • Construction defect claims
  • Independent claims audit services
  • Mediation attendance
  • Trial monitoring 
Cynthia Conover, SCLA
Cynthia Conover at Pacific West Claims

Senior Claims Consultant
email Cynthia

Cynthia has over 30 years of expertise in the claims profession. Trained as a multi-line adjuster, her area of expertise is investigating, evaluating and negotiating bodily injury claims, with a special focus on transportation and livery claims. Her ability to establish and maintain rapport with claimants and attorneys has significantly reduced the amount paid on claims that directly benefit her TPA clients. She has accumulated a network of professional experts and skills to mitigate damages. This may include the use of forensic radiologist, downloading event data recorders (EDR), pulling scene surveillance cameras, or securing courthouse records. Her knowledge and experience is used each time a claim needs to be evaluated and negotiated.  Cynthia is the past president of the Oregon Casualty Adjusters Association and is a Senior Claims Law Associate.

Cynthia’s expertise includes:

  • Tort claims administration for public entities
  • High exposure and complicated casualty losses
  • Litigated claims management
  • Medical malpractice claims
  • Independent claims audit services
  • Mediation attendance
  • Trial monitoring 
Jim Prestwood

Executive General Adjuster—Multiline
Central Oregon Territory
email Jim

Jim has had a long and successful career in the claims profession.  Prior to joining Pacific West, Jim worked as a multi-line field adjuster for Sedgwick/Vericlaim, for Farrell & Associates Insurance Claims Services, and for Farmers Insurance Group. 

Jim has experience and expertise handling a variety of first and third-party commercial and personal lines property losses.  His experience is truly multi-line and includes an extensive variety of high exposure and complicated exposures. Jim is proficient in preparing estimates utilizing Xactimate software, and his exceptional interpersonal skills allows him to successfully reach agreed cost of repairs with contractors and communicate important issues with policyholders. He is especially effective on sticky or complicated losses requiring a special personal touch. Based in Bend, Jim is available to cover losses throughout Central and Eastern Oregon. 

Jim is a proud graduate of the University of Oregon, a former president of the Oregon Casualty Adjusters Association and has been a licensed contractor. We feel very fortunate to have someone with Jim’s exceptional skills as part of our team. 

Jim’s expertise includes:

  • Xactimate estimate expertise
  • First party property losses
  • Third party property losses
  • Construction defect claims
  • Commercial and residential exposures
Blaine Roberts

Property General Adjuster
email Blaine

Pacific West Claims is pleased to introduce Blaine Roberts as our general property adjuster in the Portland area. Blaine has over 20 years in the claims profession, including over 14 years with a major commercial insurance carrier. Prior to becoming part of our team, Blaine held positions with American Family Mutual Insurance, Fred Meyer Risk Pool, Plover and Associates Independent Adjusters, Eagle Claims Services, and American Claim Services.

Blaine has experience and expertise handling a variety of first and third-party commercial and personal lines property losses. His experience is truly multi-line and includes an extensive variety of high exposure and complicated exposures. Blaine is proficient in preparing estimates utilizing Xactimate software, and his exceptional interpersonal skills allow him to successfully reach agreed cost of repairs with contractors and communicate important issues with policyholders. Blaine generally covers a territory within a 2-hour radius of the Portland metropolitan area, including the Oregon coast. He may be available to assist in the event of a catastrophe throughout the country. 

Blaine is a graduate of Portland State University with a Bachelors’ degree in Business Management and Accounting. He currently has the following industry certifications: IICRC certified in Water Restoration (WRT), Trauma & Crime Scene Restoration (TCST), Applied Microbial Remediation (AMRT) and Fire & Smoke Restoration (FSRT). Blaine is currently working towards his Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation through the IIA.

Blaine’s expertise includes:

  • Xactimate estimate expertise
  • First party property losses
  • Third party property losses
  • Construction defect claims
  • Commercial and residential exposures
Kim Wilson
Kim Wilson

Senior Claims Representative
email Kim

Kim has nearly 20 years of insurance experience working for major insurers including Allstate, State Farm and Progressive. She specializes in investigating, evaluating, and negotiating liability and bodily injury claim settlements and is passionate about investigations.

As a Special Investigation Unit claim specialist, Kim worked closely with legal counsel with Examinations Under Oath and depositions to ensure all needed information was gathered to fairly address claims presented. Her strength is handling automobile accident claims involving injuries. She enjoys finding out more about injured claimants and when appropriate, uses online background searches, interviews, scene investigations and witness canvasses. 

Kim served on the International Association of Special Investigators Board of Directors for the Oregon Chapter where she partnered with a wide range of individuals including medical providers, subject matter experts, attorneys, claimants, law enforcement and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.  Kim also assisted in the planning and executing the Oregon IASIU annual conferences serving insurance and investigation professionals from across the state. 

Kim graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in Business Administration.