Insurance Professional Experience

Summary of Qualifications

Dynamic, results-driven attorney with an extensive legal background providing measurable value to clients. A strategic and analytical problem solver providing legal advice and counsel on legal matters, while keeping in mind underlying financial ramifications.

Professional Experience

The Smith Willis Firm, Ltd. Co. Georgia

Business Law Estate Planning Probate

Managing Attorney August 2014-Present

Advise businesses on entity selection and formation.

Provide guidance for corporations, limited liability companies and limited partnerships on governance and compliance.

Draft, review and negotiate various commercial agreements including, buy-sell agreements, property leases, employment agreements, supply agreements, vendor agreements, severance agreements, releases, non-disclosure agreements, non-compete agreements, equipment leases, and settlement agreements.

Prepare Operating Agreements and Bylaws.

Create strategic plans to help manage risk, including risk transfer through insurance.

Advise clients on various employment issues, including discrimination, harassment, internet and e-mail security, hiring, termination, and retaliation.

Assist clients in developing company policies and procedures.

Draft employee handbooks.

Advise clients in connection with all types of commercial insurance policies, review existing policies, assess gaps in insurance coverage, advise on where additional coverage may be needed, submit claims to insurance companies, negotiate with insurance companies to pay claims and when necessary, file suit to litigate insurance coverage disputes.

Counsel companies on day-to-day legal issues.

Handle various estate planning issues for taxable and nontaxable estates, including wills, powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives, living trusts, irrevocable trusts, marital trusts, dynasty trusts, special needs trusts, family trusts and trusts for minors.

Advise trustees, trust and estate beneficiaries, personal representatives, and creditors in trust administration and probate administration.

ACE Group Alpharetta, GA

Senior Claims Specialist April 2014-August 2014

Evaluated, managed, and monitored multi-million dollar litigation brought against companies, board members, and senior management of middle market and large corporations on a variety of matters including, issues arising out of mergers and acquisitions, mismanagement or misappropriation of assets, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of loyalty, breach of care, failure to disclose conflicts, shareholder disputes, disputes with suppliers, employment disputes, intellectual property disputes, unfair competition, tortious interference, misappropriation of business opportunity, misrepresentation, negligence, and violations of federal regulations.

Managed and direct individual and class action lawsuits brought against employers acting as fiduciaries under ERISA, including litigation based on the structure and administration of group health plans, employee stock ownership plans, retirement plans, disability benefits, and life insurance benefits.

Supervised and controlled the defense of litigation brought by various government agencies against companies in whistleblower actions.

Investigated into companies’ structures, assets, background facts of claims, and extent of third-party damages.

Developed strategic plan for risk management of multi-million dollar exposure on complex litigation by, developing defense plans, utilizing arbitration and mediation and negotiating settlement agreements for speedy resolution and to reduce costs.

Investigated insurance coverage for matters across a variety of industries, including debt collections, healthcare, consumer products, real estate, construction, financial services, technology, public utilities, and government contractors.

Evaluated insurance policies to make decisions on complex coverage issues, liability, and damages to determine the extent of exposure, set reserves and to communicate coverage position to the appropriate parties.

Selected and oversaw outside counsel and evaluated performance.

Prepared reports and presented case analysis to upper management.

Reviewed and managed litigation budgets and audit legal invoices.

Tressler, LLP Chicago, IL

Of Counsel September 2011-April 2014

Associate August 2004-September 2011

Law clerk September 2002- May 2004

Evaluated and analyzed litigation involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition, fraud and deceptive practices, copyright infringement, tortious interference with contract, interference with business expectations, breach of confidentiality, trade secret misappropriation, unfair trade practices, unfair competition, misrepresentation as well as product liability and qui tam actions.

Drafted, reviewed and negotiated various commercial agreements.

Evaluated insurance coverage under various commercial insurance policies including, directors and officers liability, employment practices liability professional liability/errors and omissions liability, commercial general liability, builder’s risk, auto, and first-party property.

Prepared coverage opinions which incorporate an in-depth analysis of claims occurring all across the country, various insurance policy provisions, applicable state and federal laws and regulations, evaluation of business considerations and recommendations for handling risks.

Conducted investigations related to discrimination and harassment and prepared subsequent reports and position statements.

Represented companies in responding to investigations by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Advised clients on various employment issues, including discrimination, harassment, internet and e-mail security, hiring, termination, and retaliation.

Represented clients in cases before the Illinois Human Rights Commission.

Handle various estate planning issues, including wills, powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives and trusts.

Successfully conducted settlement negotiations on multi-million dollar claims, averaging an 80% reduction in potential exposure for clients.

Effectively performed litigation activities from onset through appeal, including devising arguments, preparing pleadings, motions and briefs, conducting client interviews, preparing and responding to written discovery, taking depositions and arguing legal positions in state and federal court, which resulted in an 85% success rate.

Prepared status reports to clients outlining the progression of litigation and detailing strategies for future handling.

Supervised other attorneys on litigation activities, including identifying and retaining local counsel, developing litigation strategies and guidelines, developing contract negotiation strategies, reviewing and approving filings, controlling costs, making discovery decisions and negotiating legal fee reductions.

Exhibited excellent communication and analytical skills in interactions with clients, judges, other attorneys, supervisors, and support staff.

Honorable Judge William Hibbler in the Federal District Court Chicago, IL

Federal Judicial Externship January 2003-May 2003

Researched case law referenced in motions submitted to the court by the parties to verify relevancy and accuracy. Conducted independent research to identify modifications or reversals in the law, determined validity of the parties’ arguments and drafted court opinions based on all relevant materials and arguments.

Education

Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL

Juris Doctor May 2004

Temple University School of Law Rome, Italy

Study abroad program June 2002-July 2002

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana, IL

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology December 2000

Bar Admissions, Accolades, and Associations

Admitted to Georgia State Bar, Illinois State Bar and before the United States District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois

Three consecutive years named as a "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers®

Named as one of the top women attorneys in Illinois in the “Super Lawyers Spotlights The Top Women Attorneys in Illinois” section of the October 2013 issue of Chicago Magazine.

Best of Gwinnett 2016

Member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Georgia, Georgia Association for Women Lawyers, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, and Atlanta Bar Association

Community Involvement

Rotary Club of Gwinnett County, Public Image chair

Rainbow Village, Personnel Committee chair

Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services, Treasurer

Leadership Gwinnett

Georgia Association for Women Lawyers Leadership Academy

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