High School San Francisco

Leslie C. Mehta

**** ******* ****** #*** *******, CA 94520 Phone: 816-***-****

******.********@*****.***

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld, San Francisco, CA (2010 – 2013)

Associate

Worked on Brown v. Plata, Case No. 09-1233 convincing the U.S. Supreme Court to order the

release of over 100,000 prisoners because their confinement constituted cruel and unusual

punishment. Handled class action matters. Drafted and argued dispositive and pre-trial

motions, including successful motions for summary judgment in federal court. Negotiated

settlements in wrongful death cases. Drafted mediation briefs. Took and defended dozens of

party depositions. Managed civil rights cases including all client contact using the California

Voting Rights Act to change voting methods in Compton, California for Latinos; police

brutality, prisoners’ rights, including mental health and physical disability matters;

discrimination; harassment; and wrongful death cases with the ACLU of Hawaii as co-

counsel.

Shook, Hardy & Bacon, San Francisco, CA (2008 – 2010)

Associate

Managed class action litigation. Drafted dispositive and pre-trial motions, including motions in

limine to exclude scientific expert witness testimony as sole associate on team . Conducted

interviews of fact witnesses. Developed and implemented legal and business strategies to

maximize potential successful litigation outcome for clients.

Husch Blackwell Sanders, Kansas City, MO (2005 – 2008)

Associate

Lead associate on complex civil litigation matters including products liability, medical malpractice,

election law, and breach of contract. Successfully second-chaired voter election case up to and

including the Missouri Court of Appeals, conducted case and trial strategy, and argued and drafted

all motions convinced the Missouri Court of Appeals to order a recount, leading to client winning

the election to replace the State Treasurer. Drafted and argued dispositive motions, managed

discovery process, and had sole client contact. Negotiated settlements and participated in

mediations. Led diversity committee by interviewing diverse candidates, mentoring incoming

attorneys, and holding monthly meetings about diversity issues.

JUDICIAL AND SUMMER CLERKSHIPS

Chesterfield Circuit Court, Chesterfield, VA (2002 – 2003)

Law Clerk to the Hon. Cleo E. Powell

Drafted memoranda, letter opinions, and judicial orders in various cases, including

negligence, breach of contract, and product liability cases.

King & Spalding, Atlanta, GA (Summer 2001)

Summer Associate

Drafted legal memoranda regarding tort and breach of contract cases.

CIVIC ACTIVITIES

Capture the Dream, Oakland, CA (2010 – Present)

Board of Advisor/Chair of Board of Governance/Legal Advisor/Corporate Secretary

Attend board meetings and provide insight to help achieve the organization’s mission of

providing low-income youth, battered women, and other groups with financial support,

resources, and other opportunities. Provide legal guidance to the organization to further its

mission.

Obama for America North Carolina, Roanoke Rapids, NC (October 2012)

Volunteer Voter Protection Attorney

Assisted voters at voting locations with newly implemented voter identification laws and

protected them against disenfranchisement by explaining North Carolina election laws and

regulations.

Volunteer Legal Services/Housing Negotiation Project, San Francisco, CA (2008 – 2009)

Volunteer Attorney

Negotiated settlements for indigent tenants in landlord-tenant disputes.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Hertford County High School, Ahoskie, NC (2003 – 2004)

Teacher

Instructed eleventh and twelfth grade high school students in American and British

Literature and implemented new teaching methods for the entire English Department.

CIVIC DISTINCTIONS

1. Named one of the Top 100 Associates of Color in the United States by Stakeholder 100 (2007)

2. Top Flight Award for Performance on Election Case by Husch Blackwell Sanders (2007)

3. Graduate of Kansas City Inn of Court (2007)

4. Participant in Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge (2008)

5. Member, Black Women Lawyers Association of Northern California (2012 – Present)

PRESENTATIONS

6. “Protecting Your Client’s Privacy,” MCLE (November 27, 2012), San Francisco Trial

Lawyers Association

7. “E-Discovery: Tips All Litigators Should Know for the 21 st Century,” CLE (May 2006),

Jackson County Bar Association

EDUCATION

J.D., Howard University School of Law, Washington, D.C. (2002)

Class Rank: 26/137 (Top 20%)

Howard Law Review (Graded On)

Top Merit Scholarship for Academic Performance

B.A., English Literature, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (1999)

Dean’s Honor List (1998 – 1999)

BAR ADMISSIONS

California, Kansas, Missouri, and Maryland

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