DEBRA NICHOLES MATTHES

**** ******** **., ***. ****

Houston, Texas 77007

713-***-****

acckcz@r.postjobfree.com

**** *.*. – English - Creative Writing - Cum Laude, University of Houston

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

Golden Key International Honor Society

Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society

Alumni of the University of Houston Honors College

1/13-3/13 DONOVAN & WATKINS

Contract paralegal – extensive document review for large oil & gas company.

10/09-5/12 COATS, ROSE, YALE, RYMAN & LEE

Contract position as a Paralegal in the Construction Law Section – Research database material to create multiple

binders for trial preparation; draft pleadings, correspondence and memoranda; cite checking; calendaring;

document review; prepare discovery responses; summarize depositions; prepare expert report binders; prepare

deposition transcripts, deposition summaries and deposition exhibits binders; edit page/line designations;

manage two paralegals; extensive trial preparation experience.

4/08-3/09 ABB INC.

Contract paralegal to In-House Counsel – Implement and maintain extensive filing system; create and maintain

litigation log; maintain task list; assist attorney with expenses; compose correspondence; typing, faxing,

emailing and other administrative duties.

10/04-3/08 GALLOWAY, JOHNSON, TOMPKINS, BURR & SMITH

Paralegal (Insurance Defense) Draft pleadings, correspondence and memoranda; arrange depositions; prepare

discovery responses, including substantial document production; review files; extensive trial preparation;

summarize medical and business records and depositions; order records; contact with expert witnesses.

4/03-5/04

& 6/98-6/99 ESSMYER & TRITICO

Paralegal/Legal Secretary (General Civil Litigation, Criminal Defense, Appellate) Draft pleadings,

correspondence and memoranda; extensive client contact; arrange depositions and mediations; prepare discovery

responses, including substantial document production; review files and maintain tickler system and trial docket;

legal research.

7/02-3/03 Contract paralegal for various clients.

12/00-6/02 COKINOS, BOSIEN & YOUNG

Legal Secretary/Legal Assistant (Insurance Defense/Construction Law Litigation) Transcription of pleadings,

correspondence, memoranda and drafted judgments, settlement documents, discovery, discovery responses,

petitions, answers, motions and correspondence for two attorneys and one paralegal; administrative duties

included opening files and maintaining filing systems; extensive client and court contact; made travel

arrangements and other executive duties; maintained extensive tickler system and trial docket; assisted attorney in

management of monthly luncheons for the Houston Bar Association Construction Law Section.

6/99-7/00 CHAMBERLAIN, HRDLICKA, WHITE, WILLIAMS & MARTIN

Legal Secretary (Insurance Defense) Transcription of pleadings, correspondence, memoranda, and monthly

billing time entries for multiple attorneys, law clerk and paralegal; administrative duties including opening files

and maintaining filing systems; answered telephone for one attorney; made travel arrangements and other

executive duties; maintained tickler system and trial docket.

3/88-6/98 MANDELL & WRIGHT, P.C.

Paralegal (Plaintiff firm, Civil Litigation, Toxic Tort (Asbestos Docket, Breast Implant Litigation, Prozac

Litigation), Securities Fraud, Family Law, Legal Malpractice) Drafted pleadings, composed correspondence and

memoranda; arranged, attended, videotaped and summarized depositions; extensive trial preparation, including

arranging and coordinating graphic displays, research regarding expert witnesses, compilation of trial exhibits,

preparing trial notebooks, etc.; attended trials and hearings with attorneys; extensive client contact; responsible for

major document productions (in excess of 750,000 documents for 700 plaintiffs), including indexing, Bates

stamping, overseeing photocopying and preparing comprehensive review reports; supervised secretaries, junior

legal assistants, file clerks and summer law clerks; reviewed files and maintained tickler system; participated in

defense strategy; research at courthouses, libraries, etc.

4/87-3/88 HIRSCH, GLOVER, ROBINSON & SHEINESS

Legal Secretary/Legal Assistant (Insurance Defense firm, Medical Malpractice) Transcribed legal documents and

related correspondence; composed correspondence; drafted legal documents; performed all duties relating to

insurance defense, including scheduling depositions and independent medical examinations; maintained tickler

system and calendars for two attorneys; maintained files, scheduling hearings.

11/85-2/87 ITR PETROLEUM, INC.

Executive Administrative Assistant - Transcribed documents and related correspondence for the president/chief

operating officer of the company. (Previously worked for the Vice President of Finance, Secretary, Treasurer and

accounting department.) Administered company vehicles, including insurance coverage, title transfer, registration,

sale and replacement; administered office lease files, all company insurance, American Express card enrollment,

surety bonds, etc.; administered personnel files, employee insurance enrollment and monthly audit, vacation/sick

records, salary surveys, offer letters, salary increase memos, policy and procedure manual and petty cash;

administered automated payroll for approximately 80 employees in four states, related reports to accounting

department, 401(K) salary deferral plan and reconciled payroll account; transcribed documents relating to

corporation records, minute books and stock transfers; assistant secretary of the corporation and performed related

duties; prepared board packages, provided assistance to visiting executives and board of directors; special projects,

sorted and distributed company mail and prepared company monthly newsletter; maintained library of outside

annual reports, quarterly reports, 10-K's, 10-Q's and newsletters; assisted chief operating officer in daily

monitoring of crude oil future options trading.

9/83-5/85 KNIPPA & KRAL

Legal Secretary/Bookkeeper (Commercial Litigation) Transcribed all legal documents and related

correspondence; prepared various client billing statements and maintained trust accounts; maintained all office

accounting, bookkeeping and payroll records, including accounts payable and accounts receivable; prepared

federal and state corporate tax returns; assisted in management of office personnel, including interviewing and

hiring legal secretaries; ordered all office supplies and performed all administrative duties. Assisted attorney in

management of U.S. Navy Officers Alumni monthly luncheons.

12/80–8/83 SIDNEY FARR, ATTORNEY AT LAW

Legal Secretary/Bookkeeper (Civil Litigation, Real Estate, Bankruptcy, and Family) Transcribed all legal

documents and related correspondence; drafted legal documents; filed legal documents at state and federal

courthouses; researched courthouse files; maintained law library; prepared client billing statements and

maintained trust accounts; maintained office accounting, bookkeeping and payroll records, including accounts

payable and accounts receivable; prepared federal and state corporate tax returns; assisted in interviewing and

hiring legal secretaries; kept all office machinery in good repair; ordered all office supplies; performed all

administrative duties.

3/77-9/80 FRED A. COLLINS, ATTORNEY AT LAW

Legal Secretary/Bookkeeper (Civil Litigation, Corporate, Bankruptcy, Real Estate and Family) Transcribed

legal documents and related correspondence; maintained law library; performed receptionist duties; maintained

office filing; assisted with client billing statements and kept time records current; ordered all office supplies;

filed legal documents at state and federal courthouses and researched courthouse files; maintain office

accounting, bookkeeping and payroll records.

SKILLS:

Quickbooks

ProDocs

SharePoint

Word

Outlook

Relativity (data management software)

iManage

Lotus Notes

Outlook Express

Storm Viewer (data management software)

Word Perfect

On Time Calendar System

Orion

Pro Docs

Group Wise

Paradox (data management software)

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