Tonya Mertens
Cell: 501-***-****
E-mail: ad420d@r.postjobfree.com
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Morae Global exclusively for
Eli Lilly & Company – Indianapolis, IN
Patent Paralegal
August 2023 – April 2024
Intellectual property case management and paralegal support for a pharmaceutical company’s legal department. Handled patent and trademark prosecution, docket management, and process refinement. Docket development, maintenance and clearance with Anaqua. Prepared variety of patent applications, information disclosures, formalities, and responses to office actions with electronic filing at USPTO. Data validation and auditing incoming IP transfers, including research to complete partial transfers.
G. Fink Associates – Remote
Patent Administrator – Corporate Paralegal
October 2020 – July 2023
Remote paralegal support for various client firms with corporate, regulatory, and intellectual property prosecution of clients’ patent and trademark portfolios, including docket development with CPI and Anaqua (patent and trademark docketing software). Developed investor PowerPoint presentations to help clients attract capital investors for their intellectual properties and commercialize inventions. Drafted patent applications and responses to office actions to grant, with renewal and annuities management. Prepared and electronically filed required information disclosures in U.S. cases with corresponding international searches. Developed docketing and deadline management for foreign case maintenance, including preparing and archiving instructions with foreign agents. Tracked all accounting, invoicing, and monthly client account statements.
Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP – Little Rock, AR
Litigation Assistant
November 2019 – September 2020
Supported insurance defense litigation practices with Federal courts and State administrative agency filings, electronic docketing and calendaring, data processing and copy editing. Scheduled and managed daily electronic filings in State and Federal Courts, as well as various paper filings with Arkansas administrative agencies, with responsibility for all aspects of litigation recordkeeping. Audited and corrected partners’ monthly billing statements from time entries according to insurance carriers’ defense guidelines. First Billing Contact for customer service between insurance adjuster clients and internal accounting personnel, coordinating periodic audits and following up on payment and response deadlines.
Frye Law Firm, P.A. – North Little Rock, AR
Litigation Paralegal
December 2014 – November 2019
Supported a workers compensation insurance defense practice with law and motion drafting, legal research, electronic docketing and calendaring, IT support and training contact for clerical employees. Electronic filings in State and Federal Courts, as well as before the Arkansas Workers Compensation Commission. Conducted intake interviews with potential and new clients, including conflicts checks and fact pattern collection. Responsible for damages calculations to prepare demand brochures and settlement demands in civil tort actions. Responsible for propounding and responding to discovery and providing client support to collect responsive evidence. Customer service contact for insurance adjuster clients.
The Walton Family Trust
Property Manager
October 2014 – December 2014
Security and access control for timber and hunting properties in Southeast Arkansas during deer season. Gave tours, explaining the features of the property, and communicated and enforced all land-use and wildlife management policies of the landowner to seasonal tenants. Responsible for leasing and periodic evaluation and documentation of maintenance issues related to sanitation, roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and vegetation control. Regulatory oversight for cross-referencing wildlife tags to hunting licenses and ensuring compliance with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission regulations related to wildlife harvesting.