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Paralegal, Author, Illustrator, Self-Publisher

Location:
Sugar Land, TX
Posted:
July 28, 2014

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Resume:

CATHRYN C. DAVIS

**** ********** **, ***** ****, Texas 77479

281-***-**** (c)

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

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Thirty years of paralegal experience with Fortune 500 oil and gas corporations and prominent Houston law firms.

Demonstrated skills in litigation, oil and gas, toxic tort, debtor-creditor relations, environmental law, admiralty, and

international law. Responsible for comprehensive legal research and discovery. Consistent successful management of

legal projects with minimal attorney supervision. Excellent analytical, written, and organizational capabilities.

EDUCATION & SKILLS

Paralegal Certificate, 1981 - Southwestern Paralegal Institute, Houston, TX

B.S. Degree, 1975 - Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY - 3.6 GPA, High Distinction

Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges

Milestone Yearbook Staff - Sports Editor (junior year); Seniors & Associates Editor (senior year)

Senior Citation Award in Campus Publications; National Medalist Award (Yearbook Award)

Alpha Phi Gamma (National Journalism Honorary); Collegiate Pentacle (Senior Women's Honorary)

Computer Skills - Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, LEXIS, Pacer, Kazeon eDiscovery, Legal Hold Notification System

(custom-designed for Apache Corp.), Summation, SharePoint, PowerPoint, Photoshop, Illustrator, WordPerfect,

Lotus Notes, Abacus, Timeslips, Carpe Diem Time Tracking

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

APACHE CORPORATION, Houston, TX – Senior Paralegal and Legal Research Specialist March 2006 – Jan. 2013

Environmental Litigation – Coordinated discovery, prepared detailed well analyses, and worked with draftsmen to

create maps. Determined property interests, examined contracts, and prepared privilege logs. Frequent interface with

outside counsel, landmen, EH&S personnel, lease records analysts, records management, and upper management.

Domestic and International Litigation – Coordinated discovery for U.S. and Canadian litigation. Team member for

custom designing Apache’s Legal Hold Notification system. Performed extensive legal research and investigation for

executive management resulting in substantial cost savings. Created numerous PowerPoint presentations for review

by the Board of Directors and operational personnel. Reconciled U.S., Canada, Australia, and Argentina litigation

costs for the Vice President and Assistant General Counsel.

UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA / CHEVRON CORPORATION, Sugar Land, TX – Paralegal

(Acquisition of Unocal by Chevron in 2005) Aug. 2004 – Dec. 2005

Oil & Gas Litigation – Member of Transition Team for Chevron/Unocal merger. Coordinated discovery for domestic

litigation, primarily personal injury. Performed legal research, coordinated depositions, and managed discovery files.

Interfaced with outside counsel, engineers, accountants, Human Resources, and EH&S personnel to resolve issues

relating to discovery. Received two special recognition awards for outstanding performance.

VINSON & ELKINS, L.L.P., Houston, TX - Contract Paralegal May 2004 – Aug. 2004

Mass Tort (“Fen-Phen” Diet Drug) – Updated databases with plaintiff biographical information and opt-out status.

Reviewed medical records for diagnosis and echocardiograms.

ELLINGTON & ASSOCIATES, Houston, TX – Paralegal Sept. 2000 – May 2004

Toxic Tort (Silica Docket) – Coordinated discovery on 80+ silica cases for insurance defense lawyers. Summarized

medical reports and plaintiffs’ discovery responses. Monitored deadlines, court dates, depositions, mediations, and

trials. Interfaced with co-defense counsel and court staff. Drafted correspondence to client for communicating case

status, detail of plaintiff’s medical diagnoses, and negotiating points for mediation/settlement.

BAKER & BOTTS, L.L.P., Houston, TX – Contract Paralegal July 2000 – Sept. 2000

Toxic Tort (Asbestos Docket) – Reviewed discovery responses, medical records, and employment histories for

asbestos cases. Prepared attorney summaries with negotiating points.

Resume of Cathryn C. Davis – Page 2

THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE CO. OF AMERICA, Sugar Land, TX – Contract Paralegal Aug. 1999 – June 2000

Litigation - Coordinated discovery for Prudential's Health Care transition team for Aetna/Prudential sale. Maintained

multiple legal databases and electronic calendar of legal deadlines, court dates, and depositions.

AMERICAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, Houston, TX – Paralegal June 1992 – June 1997

Oil & Gas Litigation - Coordinated all company discovery. Monitored bankruptcies, liens, FERC proceedings, and tax

and royalty assessment by various state agencies. Prepared monthly litigation reports for management review,

performed legal research, maintained law library, and monitored processing of legal fees, managed all legal files.

Created database for legal file system. Initiated and maintained electronic calendar for legal deadlines, court dates,

depositions, etc. Interfaced with outside counsel, landmen, accountants, and operational personnel to resolve a

variety of matters relating to litigation discovery, claims, and potential litigation. Supervised contract paralegal.

CHEVRON U.S.A. INC., Houston, TX – Contract Paralegal Feb. 1992 – June 1992

Toxic Tort – Assisted with discovery on 200+ cases alleging exposure to asbestos, silica, butadiene, styrene, and

benzene. Prepared opening matter memos for dissemination to managing personnel.

EXXON COMPANY U.S.A., INC., Houston, TX – Contract Paralegal Dec. 1991 – Jan. 1992

Litigation - Assisted with discovery involving Exxon's "Discount for Cash" Program. Gathered and reviewed

documents for production, segregating those asserting attorney-client privilege.

AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD, Houston, TX – Contract Paralegal July 1991 – Dec. 1991

Gas/Regulatory – Disseminated 1,400+ data requests in United Gas Pipe Line Co. rate case RP91-126. Supervised

case clerks.

Litigation - Assisted with discovery in class action by former oil company employees. Reorganized case filing

system.

TENNECO OIL COMPANY / HOUSTON OIL & MINERALS CORPORATION, Houston, TX – Paralegal

(Acquisition of HO&M by Tenneco in 1981; Divestiture of Tenneco Oil Company in 1989) Aug. 1979 – June 1989

Oil & Gas Litigation - Performed extensive legal research. Drafted and filed pleadings, analyzed documents,

coordinated document productions, summarized depositions, located witnesses, and prepared exhibits for courtroom

presentation. Updated personal injury docket reports, prepared summaries, and monitored attorney fees. Drafted

legal opinions regarding audit of company and affiliate companies' litigation, thrift, and savings plans. Prepared

monthly litigation report for review by HO&M Board of Directors. Designed graphics for various legal presentations.

Approved law library invoices. Budgeted for legal publications. Supervised summer students.

Bankruptcy, Garnishment - Monitored bankruptcies where company was a creditor, filed proofs of claim, and

monitored bar dates. Coordinated employee garnishments and tax levies with Payroll Department, computing

disposable earnings, and communicating with employees.

Corporate - Maintained corporate data summary sheets and profile on officers, directors, stock detail, and

incorporation. Filed Articles of Incorporation and monitored foreign state business qualifications and good standing

status. Temporarily managed corporate secretary's records, responded to shareholder inquiries regarding stock

transfers, lost certificates and redemption, and verified annual shareholders' meeting expenses.

Environmental - Summarized pertinent hazardous waste regulations and notices appearing in the Federal Register.

Drafted hazardous waste alerts for dissemination to EH&S coordinators.

Admiralty - Prepared and filed Certificates of Documentation for Argosy fleet (20 vessels) with U.S. Coast Guard and

monitored annual renewals and status changes.

International - Obtained protocolization of documents for foreign subsidiaries at local consulates of Colombia,

Ecuador, the Philippines, and Great Britain. Drafted powers of attorneys, consent resolutions, and certificates of

secretary.

Acquisition/Merger – Assembled, drafted, and edited legal property descriptions for the conveyance of oil and gas

leases related to the Tenneco/HO&M merger. Interfaced with acquisition team, legal counsel, landmen, and transfer

agents. Organized meetings, monitored recordings, and dispensed outside counsel fees.

Governmental Relations - Monitored pertinent bills before the House, Senate, and Subcommittees and drafted letters

urging support or opposition.



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