10 Pacific Life legal leaders
Vice president and associate general counsel, assistant vice president and assistant general counsel, and managing assistant general counsel are among the roles held by these ten Pacific Life legal leaders. A reader can learn how legal leaders work at Pacific Life from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Anya Popov
LinkedInExperience: Vice President & Associate General Counsel · Pacific Life
Anya Popov has been Vice President & Associate General Counsel at Pacific Life since April 2024 and was Assistant Vice President & Assistant General Counsel there from 2011 to 2024. Anya Popov describes work as a transactional attorney, was Corporate Counsel at AAA Auto Club Enterprises from 2009 to 2011 and was a corporate associate at Gibson Dunn from 2005 to 2009.
Chris Dallas
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Associate General Counsel · Pacific Life
Chris Dallas has been Vice President, Associate General Counsel at Pacific Life since November 2021. Chris Dallas was Vice President, Investment Counsel at Pacific Life from 2016 to 2021 and AVP/Investment Counsel there from 2004 to 2016, and was an attorney at Gibson Dunn from 1996 to 2004.
Chris Phanco JD, LL.M
LinkedInExperience: VP and Associate General Counsel · Pacific Life
Chris Phanco JD, LL.M has been VP and Associate General Counsel at Pacific Life since April 2024, in the Office of General Counsel of Pacific Life Insurance Company in Newport Beach. Chris Phanco was AVP and Assistant General Counsel at Pacific Life from 2011 to 2024, Tax Counsel there from 2008 to 2011 and Advanced Designs Director at Pacific Life from 2007 to 2008.
Christopher Martinez
LinkedInExperience: Assistant Vice President & Assistant General Counsel · Pacific Life
Christopher Martinez has been Assistant Vice President & Assistant General Counsel at Pacific Life since August 2025. Christopher Martinez was Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary at Clean Energy from 2024 to 2025 and its Senior Corporate Counsel and Assistant Secretary from 2023 to 2024, and was an associate at Latham & Watkins from 2017 to 2023.
Devin Smith
LinkedInExperience: AVP & Assistant General Counsel · Pacific Life
Devin Smith has been AVP & Assistant General Counsel at Pacific Life since April 2024 and was Director of Compliance - Institutional Division at Pacific Life from 2022 to 2024. Devin Smith was Compliance Director - Group Insurance at Securian Financial from 2019 to 2022 and a corporate compliance manager there from 2016 to 2019.
Jen Tennant
LinkedInExperience: AVP & Assistant General Counsel · Pacific Life
Jen Tennant has been AVP & Assistant General Counsel at Pacific Life since September 2025 and was Senior Counsel there from 2024 to 2025. Jen Tennant describes in-house experience in employment law, compliance, litigation and transactional matters, and was Associate General Counsel at Alorica from 2023 to 2024.
Laura Hanson
LinkedInExperience: AVP & Assistant General Counsel · Pacific Life
Laura Hanson has been AVP & Assistant General Counsel at Pacific Life since August 2024 and was AVP & Actuary there from 2021 to 2024. Laura Hanson describes work as an attorney and actuary advising on insurance laws, actuarial standards and industry practices, and is a member of the Actuarial Standards Board of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Mark Karpe
LinkedInExperience: Assistant Vice President and Managing Assistant General Counsel, Law Department · Pacific Life
Mark Karpe has been Assistant Vice President and Managing Assistant General Counsel, Law Department at Pacific Life since April 2015. Mark Karpe was Counsel, Law Department at Pacific Life from 2013 to 2015 and Director, Corporate Compliance there from 2004 to 2013, and serves on the board of ACC Southern California (Association of Corporate Counsel).
Sarah Jarvis
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Associate General Counsel, Institutional Division and Workforce Benefits · Pacific Life
Sarah Jarvis has been Vice President, Associate General Counsel, Institutional Division and Workforce Benefits at Pacific Life since July 2022. Sarah Jarvis was Assistant Vice President and Managing Assistant General Counsel, Institutional Division in 2022, Assistant Vice President, Counsel from 2020 to 2022 and Assistant Vice President, Regulatory Compliance at Pacific Life from 2018 to 2020.
Tom Bilello
LinkedInExperience: Vice President & Associate General Counsel · Pacific Life
Tom Bilello has been Vice President & Associate General Counsel at Pacific Life since November 2021, based in Newport Beach, California. Tom Bilello also held the role of Vice President & Division Chief Compliance Officer at Pacific Life, listed from 1994 to January 2022, and was an adjunct professor at Western State College of Law in 1993 and 1994.
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose legal area is closest to your question, since investments, institutional products, tax, employment and corporate transactions call for different experience. Check the dates on each role to see how recent the experience is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What kinds of legal questions take most of your time in your current role, and how has that changed?
- 02How do you decide when a business question needs a formal legal review and when quick guidance is enough?
- 03What have you learned from your own work about giving legal advice that business partners can act on?
Reaching Pacific Life legal leaders
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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