BELINDA KITTLES PERRY
*** ******** ******, *. *. Washington, D. C. 20002
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
The Kittles Perry Law Firm, District of Columbia,
Sole Practitioner (1996 - Present)
Established a civil and criminal litigation practice in the nation’s capital. Litigated over 2,000 cases and conducted over 150 trials, including jury trials. Developed and maintained a comprehensive network within local and federal agencies to assure successful results for both civil and criminal practice. Identified, hired, directed and consulted with experts, investigators, psychologists, and support staff for optimal case results. Encompassing civil practice includes real estate transactions, torts, contracts, police brutality, family law, labor and employment law, FOIA matters, conducted discovery in connection with antitrust investigations initiated by the Department of Justice, pharmaceutical antitrust litigation, multidistrict antitrust litigation involving foreign and American companies, class action gender discrimination litigation and appellate work. Criminal practice includes defense of adult and juvenile clients with major felonies, including drug and weapons possessions, violent crimes and misdemeanors and representation of their parents in connection with the District’s Compulsory School Attendance Act, for private clients, as well as appointments through the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the District of Columbia. Fostered relationships with multiple government agencies to assure the best outcome for clients including U.S. Attorney’s and Attorney General’s offices, Drug Enforcement Administration, D.C. and Federal Bureau of Prisons, Offender Rehabilitation Division of the D.C. Public Defender’s Service, D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services and D. C. Pretrial Services Agency. Advocated for client services with the Department of Behavioral Health, D.C. Addiction Prevention Rehabilitation Administration, Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, D. C. Department of Corrections and diversionary programs, such as Mental Health Court and Drug Court, within the court system.
Rivkin Radler Bayh Hart Dunn & Kramer, Uniondale, New York
Litigation Associate, (1991 – 1995)
Determined case strategy and presided over pre-trial discovery and depositions. Maintained court and client conferences, drafted memoranda of law, pleadings, motions, legal research and argued motions in federal and state courts, in connection with the management of numerous real estate cases. Practice areas included general commercial litigation involving real estate transactions with property regulated by the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA), contract law, bankruptcy, real estate investments, mortgage foreclosures, fraud, condemnation proceedings, defamation and construction law.
Olwine Connelly Chase O’Donnell & Wheyer, New York, New York,
Litigation Associate (1989 – 1991)
Integral member of major litigation defense team for big six accounting firms in negligence actions in connection with audits of failed savings and loan institutions involving major real estate transactions and investments. Additionally litigated cases involving accountant’s liability and lender liability and defense of target company in a hostile take over. Provided legal research, drafted briefs, motions, and memoranda of law, interrogatories, affidavits, pleadings, and document production and deposition preparation, in the areas of antitrust, attorney’s malpractice and securities fraud.
United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York,
Civil Forfeiture Unit, Law Clerk (1988-1989)
Conducted legal research, drafted complaints and memoranda of law, pleadings and default
Judgments in drug and money laundering cases. Assisted several Assistant United States Attorneys in trial preparation and held conferences with FBI, DEA, IRS, US Customs and other government officials.
Office of the District Attorney, Bronx County, New York
Intern, Homicide Bureau (1988)
Assisted Assistant District Attorney in Grand Jury presentations, conferences with victims and witnesses and motions and trial preparation. Conducted legal research and controlled inventory of evidence.
New York Life Insurance Company, Office of the General Counsel, New York, New York
Senior Legal Assistant (1981 – 1988)
Conducted legal research and drafted legal memoranda for Attorneys in the corporate, marketing and labor divisions; approved communications for regulatory compliance, company advertisements and training material. Conducted major investigations of defalcations involving independent contractors and employees.
Shapiro Mortman & Schwartz, New York, New York
Administrative Assistant (1980 – 1981)
Responsible for client intake and maintaining legal pleadings for boutique law firm with a specialty in commercial litigation and real estate investments and transactions.
Civil Forfeiture Unit, Law Clerk, (1988 – 1989)
Conducted legal research, drafted complaints, and memoranda of law, pleadings and default
ADMISSIONS
New York State, District of Columbia, United States District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York and District of Columbia.
EDUCATION
Fordham University School of Law, New York, New York
Juris Doctor
College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, New York
Bachelor of Arts
TRAINING
District of Columbia Judicial And Bar Conference,
Public Defender Service Forensic Annual Conference,
Criminal Defender Training Program,
Public Defender Service Criminal Practice Institute,
Institute For Mediation And Conflict Resolution (IMCR),
Court Services and Offender Supervisory Agency (CSOSA);
Domestic Violence Case Management Training.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
South Bronx Model Cities Program, Bronx, New York, Education and Housing Advocate
New York City Department of Social Services, Brooklyn, New York, Case Manager
New York City Addiction Services Agency, New York, New York, Counselor
Court Employment Services Agency of Vera Institute, New York, New York, Court Liaison
Addiction Recovery Treatment Center, New York, New York, Addiction Counselor,
Sydenham and Harlem Hospital Drug Treatment Program, New York, New York, Counselor
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Member of The Bar Association of the District of Columbia, The National Bar Association, New York State Bar Association and New York City Bar Association.
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITIY ACTIVITIES
Member, High Tea Society, mentoring at risk girls in the D. C. Public Schools,
Recording Secretary, Ward 6 (Washington, DC) Democrats,
Second Circuit Task Force On Gender, Racial And Ethnic Fairness In The Courts,
New York City Bar Association’s Pro Bono Haitian Refugee Project.