Senior Corporate Legal Secretary

Global Transactions Oil and Gas Energy Transactional Real Estate

An established professional with a Bachelor’s Degree and over 21 years of specialized administrative, secretarial and paralegal expertise within the legal and real estate industry. Results driven leader with broad experience in dealing with multiple levels of management in varied industries. Extensive knowledge of legal terminology, broad legal practices and legal proceedings. Outstanding organizational skills enable competent management of multiple complex assignments. Discreet and resourceful team worker who thrives in a fast-paced working environment.

State of Texas Notary Public

Import/Export Compliance

Document Management

Research & Analysis

Transcription

Electronic File Management

Invoice Processing

Project Management

Records Management

Time Management

Accounts Payable/Receivable

Business Development

Workflow Management

Event Coordination and Planning

Areas of Expertise

Intermediate knowledge of state and federal government laws, legal codes and court procedures

Basic knowledge of Westlaw and Lexis/Nexus

Maintain and protect client and firm confidentiality of sensitive information

Broad-based administrative knowledge of energy, oil and gas and real estate industry

Intermediate capabilities in interpreting contract terms and conditions and processing invoices for payment

Sound decision making capabilities, enhanced analytical skills, business acuity, and desire to maintain ongoing professional development

Broad experience handling large volumes of residential loan closings and notarizations

Relevant Experience

KING & SPALDING HOUSTON, TX 2011-2016

Legal Secretary

Provide secretarial support to four attorneys (1 partner, 1 counsel and 2 associates) and other attorneys and staff as needed at international law firm that represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, within the Global Transactions Group and Corporate Group.

Schedule and organize onsite and offsite meetings, conferences, speaking engagements, client proposals and events. Working with Marketing and/or other office personnel, coordinate food and beverage services, reserve rooms and prepare materials.

Interface and establish ongoing positive business relationships with clients in person, by phone and/or email. Observe confidentiality of lawyer-client relationship.

Prepare closing binders for corporate transactions and assisted with post-closing matters.

Create, format, edit, proofread and manage Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations.

Assist lawyers with Marketing and Business Development functions to include: access marketing materials (lawyers’ biographies, brochures, practices at a glance), Print, collate and bind materials for use in meetings, pitches and proposals.

Process and close time for lawyers adhering to weekly and monthly deadlines. Coordinate correction of time entry errors, when needed. If requested, track lawyers’ billable hours, create reports and maintain records.

Maintain client, administrative and personal filing for lawyers following established procedures. Prepare files using Legal Key procedures and maintain appropriate records for on and off site storage.

Coordinate domestic and foreign travel including hotel, flights, car rentals; prepare travel itineraries

TOTAL PETROCHEMICALS USA, INC. HOUSTON, TX 2009-2011

Legal Secretary

Provide secretarial support to Assistant General Counsel, Senior Attorney and Import/Export Compliance Administrator to ensure that the Legal Department and Import/Export Compliance group operates efficiently in major oil and gas corporation.

Duties include activities such as phone support, mail distribution, invoice processing, ordering office supplies, and assisting department staff as needed. Coordinate both national and international travel arrangements.

Responsible for substantive legal work under the supervision of an attorney with the ultimate goal of minimizing risks and protecting the company.

Prepare PowerPoint presentations necessary for internal and external presentations.

Assist the Import/Export Compliance Group with global trade compliance activities and initiatives.

Provide a professional and effective interface with all levels of employees and clients.

Assist with preparation of training materials and organize the logistics for Import/Export Compliance training events.

Processing of outside counsel and vendor related invoices.

Member of internal team that will select an e-discovery tool (software/hardware) that will allow manageable early case assessment, litigation hold, identification, searches, collection, and preservation of data within the company’s network.

KING & SPALDING HOUSTON, TX 2006-2008

Legal Secretary

Provide legal support to four attorneys (1 counsel and 3 associates) and other attorneys and staff as needed at an international law firm that represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, within the Global Transactions Group focusing on domestic and international oil, gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and alternative energy projects.

Perform multiple administrative tasks and projects as needed, including but not limited to, word-processing assignments, attorney time entry, coordinating third party project assignments internally, prepare internal and external reports as needed.

Revise and properly format large complex contracts and documents.

Coordinate travel arrangements; prepare itineraries; prepare, compile and maintain travel vouchers and records.

Prepare attorney travel budgets for approval by Practice Group Leader.

Enter daily time records using DTE software for assigned attorneys, close time as needed, and maintain time sheet files.

Work with Billing Analysts, handle billing responsibilities and inquiries as needed.

Prepare new Client/Matter files and submit conflict checks according to Firm policy.

Process and track expenses on a timely basis.

Maintain client files using Legal Key software. Responsible for organizing, indexing and preparing all closed files for off-site storage following Firm procedure.

Assist with attorneys’ business development efforts. Coordinate with marketing personnel for the preparation of marketing materials and pitches. Help coordinate client development activities as requested.

COKINOS, BOSIEN & YOUNG HOUSTON, TX 2003-2006

Legal Secretary

Provide legal support to four attorneys (1 equity partner and 3 associates) and other attorneys and staff as needed at international law firm that represents a broad array of clients within the Construction Group focusing on focuses on arbitration and mediation of construction, employment and commercial disputes, construction contract negotiations and drafting as well as commercial real estate transactions.

Drafted and proofread time-sensitive construction contracts, answers, subpoenas, complaints, discovery, and motions for various matters and filing same with Court.

Assisted attorneys in the preparation of trials, depositions, mediations and arbitration hearings by organizing legal documents.

Responsible for file organization, docket control, research, initial document drafting, discovery, trial preparation and organization and trial and post-trial activities.

Transcribed, drafted and prepared various pleadings, motions, electronic filings and correspondences.

Review and prepare files for mediation and/or arbitration, providing support and party documentation for the arbitration packet. Monitor files throughout arbitration process.

Education

Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas

Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences

Degree Conferred: December 2002

Major Studies: Arts and Humanities

Minor studies: Legal Studies

Texas Institute for Specialty Certification, Houston, Texas

Texas Civil Litigation, 2004

Professional Training

State of Texas Notary Public since 1995

Texas Institute for Specialty Certification – Texas Civil Litigation, 2004

National Notary Association, Certified Notary Signing Agent for the State of Texas, 2007

Basics of Petroleum Refining for Nontechnical Personnel, 2009

Lexis Nexis - Paralegal Certificate of Mastery, 2010

SAP Purchase to Pay Process Update Training, 2010

Technical Skills

ADVANCED MICROSOFT OFFICE: WORD, EXCEL, OUTLOOK, POWERPOINT, VISIO

ADOBE ACROBAT READER, PDF SCANNING, ADVANCED PROOFREADING AND FORMATTING LARGE DOCUMENTS DATABASE ADMINISTRATION, EXTENSIVE INTERNET AND LIBRARY RESEARCH, REDLINING

Carpe Diem (Time Entry Management System)

Corprasoft Legal Desktop (Records Management System)

DeskSite (Document Portal System)

Documentum (Document Portal System)

DTE Axiom (Time Entry Management System)

iManage (Document Management System)

LegalKey (Records Management System)

LexisNexis (Internet Research)

PACER (Electronic Case Information)

ProDoc (Legal Forms Software)

SAP (Enterprise Resource Planning)

SumTotal Expense (Expense Reimbursement Software)

Workshare (Document Comparison

Accomplishments

Chosen by senior attorney to participate in meetings with client and offer feedback for their file management system.

Coordinated special projects related to the administrative roles, including participation of E- Discovery team.

Promoted from floater secretary to an assigned desk

Promoted from file clerk to Legal Secretary within 3 months

Paralegal responsibilities at Rod J. Paasch Law Office and Provost & Umphrey in Asbestos Litigation Group (1995-1997)

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