Senior Corporate Paralegal
Resume:
KELECHI AMASIKE
E-mail: **************@*****.*** - Phone: 310-***-****, 310-***-****
** *** *******, **** ******, New Jersey 07052
EXPERIENCE
January 2012 - Present Emmanuel & Associates Queens, New York Senior Corporate Paralegal/Law Office Manager/Administrator Reviewed well over 150 cases for depositions, trials, ADR and settlement conferences and wrote detailed memos/opinions which resulted in innumerable settlements, arbitral and jury awards for the client and the firm alike.
In charge of research, law, case law, statutes, facts and general document reviews. In charge of fact check of cases. Interviewed clients, reviewed cases, retained clients. Supervised and trained staff particularly paralegals and other clerical and management staff.
Reviewed/analyzed discovery documents in financial services class action litigation and litigated class action matters for class of clients. Carried out searches, reviewed documents and preparation of deposition binders in a very sensitive US Govt financial services investigation.
Performed complex legal assignments such as detailed and specialized legal research.
Research, analyze and summarize relevant legal precedents for applicability to cases and prepare digest of issues of law involved. Coordinated litigative case management and organize cases for presentation whether in court or other administrative hearings. Monitored and managed progress of pending cases and initiate action to ensure that legal pleadings, forms, reports, correspondences and other documents are prepared and submitted within established deadlines.
Followed through on monitoring projects/assignments to employees. Research, analyze and summarize relevant legal precedents for applicability to cases and prepare digest of issues of law involved. Prepared and directed other staff members on most effective and efficient methods of preparing, presenting and maintaining a myriad of administrative legal documents, discovery letters, exhibits lists, jury instructions, subpoenas and other legal processes generally. Conducted researches on case law, statutory laws and facts. Direct trial/deposition practice experience as a senior paralegal in charge of case management at all levels of state and federal courts and administrative hearings.
Hire paralegals mid level and junior and other clerical and admin staff etc and assign cases to them.
Fully involved as paralegal in the trial and/or settlement of cases generating in a gross income in excess of $1M.
These were personal injury, med-mal, labor/employment related, civil rights abuses, construction accidents, UIM and UCC etc. Interviewed interns and assign and monitor work/assignments. Analyzed legal decisions and/or opinions including administrative decisions/opinions. Management analyst for the firm, Managed and maintained the security of data and client files especially as regards corporate confidentiality.
Researched legal issues and legislative history. Collate, analyze and evaluate evidence in connection with hearings, appeals, litigation or advisory services.
Directed litigative case management and organized cases for in court/administrative hearings and monitor the progress of pending cases.
Initiated action to ensure that legal pleadings, forms, reports, correspondences and other documents are prepared and submitted within established deadlines.
Compiled, Analyzed, Reviewed and/or Evaluated, Indexed and Organized various discovery documents for purposes of depositions, trials, witness testimony and jury instructions.
Created/devised and handled complex contract negotiations strategies and deal making for corporate clients to the firm. EXPERIENCE
January 2010 -
January 2012
Infrastructure Consulting
Projects. ICP
Wuse, Abuja,
Nigeria
Execuitve Director/Manager Projects
Delivered projects against agreed scope, budget, schedule & customer expectations.
Supervised, directed & motivated teams of multi-discipline contractors & employees.
Monitored project risks and scope creep to identify potential problems and proactively identifying solutions to address them in advance.
Escalated promptly any issues that may impact operations. Produced stage plans, highlight reports, risk logs, requests for change etc.
Provided strategy and directed executions during the implementation stages.
Managed client expectations by ensuring the delivery of the highest quality service.
Took actions on clients feedback.
Monitored, coordinated, delegated, evaluated, administered staff & team performance.
EXPERIENCE
December 2009 -
December 2009
Strategic Legal (Quiin
Emmanuel et al)
New York, New
York
Contract Attorney
Reviewed and analyzed discovery documents in financial services litigation using Iconet.
Conducted online search and reviewed of documents for deposition preparation in securities litigation.
Searched and reviewed documents and prepared deposition binders in financial services litigation.
Prepared discovery privilege log and review discovery documents online in financial services litigation.
November 2009 -
November 2009
Strategic Legal (FTI
Consulting)
New York, New
York
Contract Attorney
Engaged in fact discovery phase-related work for client defendant in private antitrust and commercial litigations in federal and state courts.
Analyzed client pre-production electronic data for responsiveness and privilege in response to discovery requests, utilizing Attenex discovery tools.
Reviewed and analyzed party and nonparty productions. July 2009 -
October 2009
Denovo Legal (Shearman &
Sterling, LLP)
New York, New
York
Contract Attorney
Reviewed documents in large Second Request document production to DOJ.
Review pre-production electronic documents for responsiveness and privilege in response to discovery requests in product liability litigation.
Hatch/Waxman Patent litigation and discovery proceedings Involved in fact discovery phase-related work for client defendant in private antitrust and commercial litigations in federal and state courts. Analyze client pre-production electronic data for responsiveness and privilege in response to discovery requests, utilizing Fios and Doc- hunter discovery tools.
Review and analyze party and nonparty productions and collect same for economic and damages experts.
January 2009 -
June 2009
CAAS Legal Staffing (Constantine
Cannon, LLP)
New York, New
York
Contract Attorney
Engaged in fact discovery phase-related work for client defendant in private antitrust and commercial litigations in federal and state courts.
Analyzed client pre-production electronic data for responsiveness and privilege in response to discovery requests, utilizing Fios and Dochunter discovery tools. Reviewed and analyzed party and nonparty productions and collected same for economic and damages experts.
September 2008 -
December 2008
Denovo Legal (Shearman &
Sterling, LLP)
New York, New
York
Contract Attorney
Participated in creating discovery privilege log in DOJ Second Request document production.
Review documents online for relevance and privilege in securities litigation.
Online document review for responsiveness and privilege and participate in creating discovery privilege log in trademark infringement litigation.
Review documents online for responsiveness and privilege in Second Request document production to DOJ.
March 2008 -
September 2008
Lexolution, LLC (Kelly, Drye &
Warren, LLP)
New York, New
York
Contract Attorney
Wrote legal memos to analyze complex legal issues, develop and synthesize case specific strategies and issues.
Reviewed and analyzed discovery documents in financial services litigation.
Participated in online review of discovery documents in Securities litigation.
August 2007 -
January 2008
Special Counsel (Cravath, Swaine &
Moore, LLP)
New York, New
York
Contract Attorney
Reviewed documents for relevance and privilege in anti trust litigation under tight deadlines.
Factual research in preparation of Memoranda based on information derived therefrom in product liability litigation. Drafted Memoranda in response to DOJ challenged privileged documents.
Participated in creating discovery privilege log in a multinational bankruptcy case.
Reviewed discovery documents for relevance and privilege in commercial litigation.
February 2007
- July 2007
U.S. Legal Support Inc. (Shearman and
Sterling, LLP)
New York, New
York
Contract Attorney
Repo and Securities Lending, Exclusive Portfolio Trading, Treasury Basis Trading, Repo Collateral Swaps Trading, Municipal Reinvestment/Flex Repo Trading, Structured Financing, Over the Counter (OTC) Derivatives, Extended Trade Derivatives, ETD Documentation Derivatives DD, and complex ISDA Master Agreements, Harmonization regulation of complex structured securities Reviewed and analyzed discovery documents in financial services litigation.
Participate in online search and review of documents for deposition preparation in securities litigation.
Engage in search and review of documents and preparation of deposition binders in financial services litigation. Review documents in large Second Request document production to DOJ and participate in preparation of discovery privilege log. Review discovery documents online in financial services litigation. Participate in review of discovery documents online for responsiveness and privilege in high exposure product liability litigation.
November 1998 - July
2008
Anthony and Bernard,
PC
Bronx, New York, New
York
Managing Partner/Partner
As Partner in the firm was responsible for over 200 cases generating a cumulated gross annual income of over $5 million for the firm. In charge of research in re case law, statutes, facts and general document reviews.
In charge of fact check of cases.
Interviewed clients, reviewed cases, retained clients. Staff supervision and training particularly junior associates and paralegals. Reviewed/analyzed discovery documents in financial services class action litigation and litigated class action matters for class of clients.
Carried out searches, reviewed documents and preparation of deposition binders in a very sensitive US Govt financial services investigation.
Performed complex legal assignments such as detailed and specialized legal research.
Research, analyze and summarize relevant legal precedents for applicability to cases and prepare digest of issues of law involved. Provided litigative case management and organize cases for presentation whether in court or other administrative hearings. Monitor progress of pending cases and initiate action to ensure that legal pleadings, forms, reports, correspondences and other documents are prepared and submitted within established deadlines. Follow through on monitoring projects/assignments to employees. Research, analyze and summarize relevant legal precedents for applicability to cases and prepare digest of issues of law involved. Prepare and advise other staff members on the most effective and efficient methods of preparing, presenting and maintaining a myriad of administrative legal documents, discovery letters, exhibits lists, jury instructions, subpoenas and other legal processes generally. Conducted researches on case law, statutory laws and facts. Direct trial/deposition practice/experience at all levels of state and federal courts and administrative hearings.
Hire associates, paralegals etc and assign cases to them. Tried and/or settled over 200 cases generating in a gross income of approximately $5 million for the firm. Cases verging on personal injury, med-mal, labor/employment related, civil rights abuses, construction accidents, UIM and UCC etc. Interview prospective associates and interns and assign and monitor work/assignments. Analyze legal decisions and/or opinions including administrative decisions/opinions. Management analyst for the firm, Managed and maintained the security of data and client files especially as regards corporate confidentiality. Worked as in house counsel to 5 private equity corporations with annual budgets totaling $278million. Research legal issues and legislative history.
Collect, analyze and evaluate evidence in connection with hearings, appeals, litigation or advisory services.
Direct litigative case management and organize cases for in court/administrative hearings and monitor the progress of pending cases.
Initiate action to ensure that legal pleadings, forms, reports, correspondences and other documents are prepared and submitted within established deadlines.
Compile, Analyze, Review and/or Evaluate, Index and Organize various discovery documents for purposes of depositions, trials, witness testimony and jury instructions. Devised and handled complex contract negotiations and deal making for several multinationals in the US and also some corporations from Peru, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago that contracted with one of my clients in re provision of tele communication services in the various nations.
January 1997 - October
1998
Anthony &
Associates
Bronx, New York, New
York
Paralegal/ Legal Assistant/Admin Officer
Factual research in preparation of Memoranda based on information derived from and/or in product liability litigations. Responsible for creating discovery privilege log in multinational bankruptcy case.
Review discovery documents for relevance and privilege in commercial litigation. Review documents for relevance and privilege in anti trust litigation under tight deadlines.
Review and analyze documents online for relevance in multimillion dollar environmental, Superfund site construction litigation. Supervise firm's off-site litigation duplicating facility. Review, code, duplicate and QC'ed litigation documents. Prepare trial notebooks, bates stamp exhibits, collate and paginate briefs, depositions and witness notebooks.
Assist in maintaining repository of several multi-million dollar environmental, insurance and trademark litigation documents. September 1992 -
September 1995
Union Square PetroGas
Ltd
Lagos, Nigeria,
Lagos
Corporation Counsel/Company Secretary/Head of Adminitration Company Secretary to the Board and Management.
Managed contract processes including negotiations, open and sealed bidding contracts, mediating contract disputes.
Resolutions and collections for equipment sales and leases, commercial property acquisitions and leases Oversee staff recruitment, promotions and general management supervisions. Reorganized operations and facilitated seamless integration of over 100 employees from new acquisitions with holding company. Partnered with the CEO and Board of Directors to reorganize the corporation, reduce overhead expense and institute solid management infrastructure.
Implemented a multifaceted employee awareness program to help ensure that employees knew how to implement plans in the event of business disruptions Processed high volumes contracts in short time frames and meticulously reviewed each contract.
Directed and determined litigation and resolution strategy for cases involving the corporation, prepared reports advising the CEO, CFO, COO, the Managing Director and the Executive Director of the status of the company legal matters.
Liaised with the outside counsel that I retrained for the corporation on the company's strategy and negotiated their attorney fees again saving the corporation huge amounts of money.
Managed personnel/administrative matters from hire through employee evaluation, promotion, discipline and/or disengagement. Legal counsel to the corporation and as in house counsel saved the corporation a fortune from the otherwise hire of outside 80% of the times.
Planned, prepared and organized shareholders meetings (AGM). Secretary to the corporation's Audit committee
November 1988 - September
1992
Akintola & Associates,
PC.
Lagos, Nigeria,
Lagos
Senior/Junior Associates
Responsible for firm cases from original client intake all the way through trial. Maintain case calendar and the court appearances for all the firm's attorneys based on the high priority of the cases and deadlines.
Research, analyze and summarize relevant legal precedents for applicability to cases and prepare digest of issues of law involved. Prepare and maintain a variety of trial related documents such as discovery demands/letters, exhibit lists, jury instructions, trial subpoenas etc.
EDUCATION
September 1990 - September
1991
Obafemi Awolowo
University
Ile-Ife,
Osun
LL.M
September 1987 - November 1988 Nigerian Law School Lagos, Lagos Barrister at Law. (B.L.)
September 1983 - September
1987
Abia State
University
Uturu, Abia,
Nigeria
LL.B Hons
SKILLS
IT SKILLS.
Discovery Radar and Lotus Notes.
Internet, West law, Lexis-Nexis, Word Perfect, Microsoft Office, Power Point, Outlook, Excel, Word Publisher.
Ringtai; Amici; Concordance; Dochunter; Iconect/Encore and Relativity.
Professional Skills:
High achiever.
Highly motivated and relish setting self-goals and targets and assiduously working to effectively achieve all goals set or given as mandate.
Very successful at deal crafting, making, negotiations and mediations. Great team player because I have a personal philosophy that if everyone is on deck there is no task a given set of purposeful individuals cannot accomplish.
Consistently quick and thoughtful in decision making. As seasoned mediator/arbitrator relish hearing every ones ideas carefully and sifting through to make an informed opinion. Above all a great and thoughtful leader and manager. BAR ADMISSIONS:
State of New York 1998.
United States District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, 1998.
United States Supreme Court 2002.
Nigerian Bar, 1988.
LOST NYS BAR LICENCE 2010
VOLUNTEERING
October
2001 -
Present
New York City Victims of 9/11 WTC
Bombing 2001
New York City, New
York
Volunteer Attorney to Victims making claims.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE/AWARDS:
Attorney to victims of the World Trade Centre Bombing on Sept 11, 2001 for which I received a certificate of merit for my bro bono services to the citizens of New York. Volunteer Charter Member New York Civic Corps Program 2009.
National Legal Advisor /General Counsel Mbieri National Union USA.
REFERENCES
To be furnished upon request.
Contact this candidate