William B. Collins, esq.

Inactive AL BAR license(no plans to activate)

Los Angeles, CA 90003

adzv1l@r.postjobfree.com

+1-323-***-****

My extensive experience as a trial attorney litigating damage claims on behalf of plaintiffs and resolving claims through formal mediation provides insight that can assist me as a legal assistant, paralegal, case manager or claims adjuster. I have relocated to California and have no desire to sit for the California BAR but given the passion I possess for representing and assisting others, I feel confident that I could provide exceptional performance as a claims adjuster, case manager or any type of legal position that does not require an active BAR license. During my tenure representing damaged plaintiffs, I developed the following skills:

• Drafting of legal pleadings(complaint, interrogatories, requests for production of documents, deposition notices, rule 45 expert disclosures, etc.)

• Mediation/settlement negotiations. I have negotiated approximately 900 cases successfully through formal mediations or informal settlement discussions with opposing counsel. I am comfortable managing client expectations based on settlement precedent as well as the specific facts of their case. I am capable of providing an accurate case evaluation upon receipt of the relevant facts surrounding the claim

• Strategic planning skills were developed in order to manage a case load of over 200 cases with only three attorneys.

• Legal research and writing was utilized to oppose dispositive motions filed by defendants. Briefs were often in excess of 30 pages with hundreds of exhibits. I became proficient with drafting oppositions with very little time.

• Class Action Administration/mass tort/MDL. I represented a significant block of claimants in the toxic drywall litigation wherein I participated with the revisions to all settlement documents as well as represented the first round of claimants in the first of its kind Pilot Program wherein I was responsible for supervising the repair work on over 300 homes. From it's inception, I was required to represent my clients interest at every stage. My exhaustive efforts took a generally lacking scope of repairs and developed a specific line of protocols for the many unforeseen conditions that are discovered when a structure is taken back to the studs and all drywall is removed. I worked with my clients, program contractors, defense counsel and defendants to revise the original exactimate scopes of work initially provided on 300 plus homes. Once agreed upon, I then supervised the actual work to confirm that all work was being performed as agreed upon in the settlement documents that my clients executed. This undertaking took over five years of my life just handling the remediation work on my client's homes.

• Client development/communications was critical and I excel in making sure my clients are fully informed and aware of their options based on reasonable evaluations and not pie in the sky hopes. I have learned that a client will always be satisfied with my representation if I am truly working for their best interest and I take the time to keep them informed of the process and communicate every development in a timely manner.

• Expert witness designation/hiring/communications. Every civil matter will require a causation expert and a cost expert at a minimum. I have always developed relationships with my experts that would insure their participation in the event an unforeseeable issue arose requiring opinions to be rendered Immediately as well as calendars cleared for deposition or trial testimony. These types of burdens can inconvenience the expert greatly and my relationship was often the deciding factor on whether they would undertake the additional time sensitive work. I worked diligently to insure my experts were not billing an unreasonable rate to my clients case and I looked for opportunities to shift their billing to the adverse parties in the case.

Authorized to work in the US for any employer

Work Experience

Managing Partner

COLLINS & HORSLEY, P.C. - Birmingham, AL

January 2005 to December 2018

• Performed all areas of practice in a small plaintiffs firm and worked extensively in mass torts and defective products.

• I have handled hundreds of cases involving construction deficiencies with a structure that resulted in damages requiring costly repairs.

• I worked closely with experts covering all areas of construction . In addition, I have worked with medical experts in personal injury cases. I have had to overcome Daubert challenges and other expert objections attempting to limit the disclosed opinions.

• I am 100% Comfortable performing any tasks that is required in a civil litigation firm. I may need a minute to refresh myself on the protocols but I am experienced and capable of success.

• Client communication skills are second nature and I am well trained with informing and negotiating client concerns and desires. I have experience disarming upset clients in many situations under varying levels of concern.

• Draft pleadings and needed motions.

• Draft briefs in opposition to dispositive motions.

• Draft discovery requests.

• Summarized depositions.

• Maintained calendar.

• Kept clients informed through correspondence and phone conferences addressing all concerns fully.

• Retained experts for evaluation of damages and cost of repairs.

• Certified as a mold remediator and trained in the use of moisture meters, air sampling and bulk sampling to identify the extent of mold contamination in a specific structure

• Used various market indicators to formulate an advertising plan to reach large numbers of potential clients for a specific defects.

• Worked closely with steering committee in MDL to establish a protocol for repair that was utilized throughout the country for remediation of toxic drywall homes.

• Represented plaintiffs in hundreds of mediations involving numerous defendants.

• Prepared clients for depositions and trial testimony.

• Maintained expertise in construction to best advise and advocate for clients.

• I am capable of learning any specific case management software and I am proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google drive, etc.

• My desire to work as an assistant in a civil practice or a claims adjuster cannot be overstated. My case experience as a civil attorney provides the background knowledge that is typically not possessed by a legal assistant or a claims adjuster. My experience dealing with clients as well as my understanding of the current law and relevant costs to take a case to trial allows me to evaluate the proper range for settlement as a claims adjuster by utilizing a cost benefit analysis. If given an opportunity, then I am confident my abilities and work ethic will speak for themselves rendering me as an asset to the company. Partner

EDGE & COLLINS, P.C. - Birmingham, AL

December 2001 to December 2004

• Primarily responsible for meeting with clients and responding to discovery requests.

• Handled most client depositions.

• Mediated cases regularly.

Education

Juris Doctor in Law

Cumberland School of Law - Birmingham, AL

September 1996 to May 1999

Bachelor Of Science in Business Management

University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa, AL

September 1992 to August 1996

Skills

• Arbitration/jury trials/depositions/msj hearings

• Marketing to develop clients for a specific claim.

• Mediated approx 1000 cases. (10+ years)

• Managing partner of a 15 person firm and had hands on experience with all positions

• Experience drafting pleadings, briefs, discovery, client correspondence, expert requests, etc

• Paralegal

• Legal research

• Proofreading

• Research

• Negotiation

• Customer relationship management

• Construction

• Risk management

• Construction inspection

Certifications and Licenses

AL BAR license

December 1999 to March 2018

currently inactive status.

Assessments

Sales skills — Proficient

August 2023

Influencing and negotiating with customers

Full results: Proficient

Spreadsheets with Microsoft Excel — Proficient

August 2023

Knowledge of various Microsoft Excel features, functions, and formulas Full results: Proficient

Legal skills — Proficient

August 2023

Supporting legal procedures, preparing documents, doing research, and collecting client information in a legal setting

Full results: Proficient

Case management & social work — Proficient

August 2023

Determining client needs, providing support resources, and collaborating with clients and multidisciplinary teams

Full results: Proficient

Written communication — Proficient

August 2023

Best practices for writing, including grammar, style, clarity, and brevity Full results: Proficient

Management & leadership skills: Impact & influence — Proficient August 2023

Choosing the most effective strategy to inspire and influence others to meet business objectives Full results: Proficient

Attention to detail — Proficient

August 2023

Identifying differences in materials, following instructions, and detecting details among distracting information

Full results: Proficient

Indeed Assessments provides skills tests that are not indicative of a license or certification, or continued development in any professional field.

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