Legal Analyst Litigation Paralegal

Suzanne Smart

**+ Years Experienced Paralegal ***4 Barefoot Drive Frisco, TX 75036 469-***-****

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

Professional Summary

I have been working in the legal field for over 30 years, starting as a litigation paralegal and other various forms of litigation, including class actions, product liability, labor and employment, IP, etc. Through my time at law firms I stayed working in litigation, but also assisted in many other areas as needed. I later started working in house and at one point I was hired as Senior Contracts Manger/Director of Legal Affairs. I am now adding specialties such Labor & Employment and Immigration to my areas of knowledge. My background as a paralegal/legal analyst allows me to have a unique and effective perspective in adding structure, consistency, reliability, and best practices to and for a legal department as well as having the expertise in handling litigation and L&E matters.

Work Experience

Specialized Senior Legal Analyst

Penney OpCo LLC-Plano, TX

November 2021 to Present

I am currently the Senior Legal Analyst for the Labor and Employment department and immigration matters for JCPenney.

•Review, investigate and prepare our response to Charges (EEOC, state charges, government charges and requests, including drafting of position statements, government requests (mostly audits), and whatever other L&E work that comes my away.

•Work with outside counsel, especially in regards to immigration work.

•Work with various clients within JCPenney to assist with situational questions, concerns, interviews, etc.

Paralegal

BayMark Health Services, Inc.-Lewisville, TX August 2021 to December 2021

•Assist with the documentation for closing real estate deals.

•Collaborate on the Certificate's of Death, including collaborations with the doctor's that were used for Baymark.

•Control and manage both real estate and certificate of death databases.

•Assist with updates to policies and procedures.

Director, Legal Affairs

HITRUST Services Corp.-Frisco, TX

March 2016 to August 2021

•Direct and coordinate all legal matters and update key stakeholders re same. This includes company strategic initiatives, litigation, pre-litigation, trademarks, patents, partnership development, etc.

•Serve as Treasurer and Secretary for the company.

•Liaison between company and client counsel and company and outside counsel. Research and interview various outside counsel decisions. Assist outside counsel to save costs. Review invoices from outside counsel.

•Liaison with human resources and management re employee issues.

•Interview and determine the right contract management system for company needs. Integrate new contract management system into company processes and procedures. This includes templates, alternate clauses, etc. Perform as contract administrator and negotiator.

•Draft, negotiate and revise in-house and vendor agreements and contracts.

•Research media sources and internet for potential IP infringement; initiate contact and remediate.

•Hire contract assistant to assist with contractual functions. Educate, train and manage contract administrator.

•Prepare company policies including associate handbook.

•Investigate and make recommendations on international growth. Lead on company presence in Ireland.

Senior Legal Analyst

J.C. Penney Corporation, Inc-Frisco, TX February 2014 to March 2016

•Manage and assist in employment, IP and litigation matters.

•Manage large scale class actions, FSLA matters, security, OSHA matters and assist General Counsel on certain matters.

•Assist in the design and implementation of Legal Holds for employees.

Contract Assignments

Boy Scouts of America, Moneygram, Klemchuk & Kubasta, Slater & Matsil-Dallas, TX

March 2013 to February 2014

Worked as a paralegal in a variety of departments for various companies, including but not limited to various aspects of IP Litigation, compliance analysis regarding international money transfers, lead on large scale single plaintiff litigation cases. Assist in complying with court orders re discovery matters.

Paralegal/Office Manager

CDB, LLC-Dallas, TX

March 2012 to March 2013

•Lead paralegal and research assistant for commercial litigation, family law, employment law and IPlitigation.

•Intake for plaintiff class action matter.

Senior Paralegal

Sally Beauty Supply LLC-Denton, TX

October 2011 to March 2012

•Prepare company for and research potential tool to transition to internal eDiscovery tools for document retention, legal holds, bot on desktops, digital restoration of tapes and compliance with changing rules.

•Investigate IP infringement claims against company and deliver recommendations.

•Handle customer and employee disputes, including EEOC, threatened litigation and litigation.

Senior Paralegal

Rutan & Tucker, LLP-Costa Mesa, CA

October 1999 to September 2011

•Work with General Counsel on firm subpoenas and other firm matters.

•Serve on various committees including e-discovery and training or other paralegals and support staff.

Paralegal Administrator, Senior Paralegal, Case Manager

Callahan & Blaine-Santa Ana, CA

January 1998 to October 1999

•Lead paralegal on commercial, employment and personal injury litigation.

•Prepare procedural manuals for firm relating to document retention, code of conduct, and other firmrelated topics.

Paralegal, Senior Paralegal I, Senior Paralegal II

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker-Los Angeles, CA October 1987 to November 1997

• Lead paralegal for complex litigation matters which included products liability litigation, commercial litigation, class action litigation and more. Served as Liaison Counsel for asbestos litigation defense counsel.

Education

ABA Certified Paralegal, Graduated with Honors

National Center of Paralegal Training, Atlanta, GA

June 1987 to September 1987

BS in Justice Studies, Minor in Business

Arizona State University - Tempe, AZ

September 1983 to June 1987

Skills

•Information security

•Strategic Planning

•Legal Research (10+ years)

•Microsoft Office (10+ years)

•Cybersecurity (6 years)

•Administrative Experience

•Negotiation (10+ years)

•Litigation (10+ years)

•Microsoft Office (10+ years)

•Case Management (10+ years)

•Legal Drafting (10+ years)

•Human Resources

•Paralegal (10+ years)

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