Attorney - Complex Litigation

SHIRLEY J. SPIRA

*** **** **** ****** **** | New York, NY 10028 | 916-***-**** | ******@*****.***

SENIOR ATTORNEY – COMPLEX LITIGATION

Serve as a valued business and legal professional in connection with the management of complex commercial litigation matters. Lead transportation cases, including advising on case strategies. During tenure with the Port Authority of NY & NJ successfully defended numerous cases involving The Port Authority and its related entities. Demonstrate ongoing knowledge of a variety of general business legal matters. Draft and negotiate contracts, and conduct legal research as part of managing legal issues. Fluent in Russian and French.

Additional Competencies Include the Following:

Litigation Strategy Development ~ e-Discovery ~ Legal Research & Analysis

Risk Management ~ Civil Litigation ~ Complex Problem Resolution ~ Client Management

Transportation Law ~ Staff Training & Leadership ~ Product Liability Insurance

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

LAW OFFICES OF TODD M. MCCAULEY, LLC, New York, NY 2010-2012

Attorney

Provided strategic legal counsel to major insurance companies on claims responses nationwide. Audited claims handling firms, including third-party providers, and managed 2 associates in e-discovery and motion practice for this boutique litigation firm defending insurance coverage actions in New York’s 5 boroughs and New Jersey. Developed and implemented defense strategies for complex construction litigation; briefed and argued appeals to successful conclusions.

Key Contributions:

• Impelled opponents to assume defense of numerous law suits and reimburse the firm’s clients for defense costs by altering defense strategy.

• Won defense verdicts in premises liability and broker liability cases, e.g., Aberman v. Retail Property Trust, defense verdict in a serious slip and fall on snow in Nassau County.

• Coordinated multi-firm strategy in appeal of a large, complex commercial court construction insurance verdict, including compiling 23-volume joint record on appeal.

Developed and implemented strategy for analyzing massive electronic production in defense of summary judgment motions.

• Audited third-party claims management firms, including evaluating claims handling, fraud detection and electronic document control systems for workers’ compensation and commercial general liability claims.

• Briefed and argued appeals in appellate division.

TAXI AND LIMOUSINE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, New York, NY 2009-2010

Administrative Law Judge

Conducted hearings on fines and licensing, and decided appeals of licensing decisions for the agency responsible for licensing and regulating New York City's medallion (yellow) taxicabs, for-hire vehicles (community-based liveries and black cars), commuter vans, paratransit vehicles (ambulettes) and certain luxury limousines. Heard hundreds of licensees’ arguments daily. Assessed fines and adjudicated passenger complaints, as well as appeals of license suspensions and revocations.

BIVONA & COHEN, P.C., New York, NY 2007-2008

Attorney

Developed a system for analyzing electronically produced pleadings and discovery in the 9/11 World Trade Center litigation for this major insurance defense firm specializing in defending American International Group (AIG) carriers in complex product liability litigation. Wrote insurance opinions in connection with cases in many state and federal U.S. jurisdictions. Appeared on behalf of the firm in the defense of large, complex product liability-related insurance cases.

Shirley Spira – Page Two

916-***-**** | ******@*****.***

PORT AUTHORITY OF NY AND NJ LAW DEPARTMENT, New York, NY 1985-2007

Attorney, Office of the New Jersey Solicitor (2001-2007); Office of Senior Litigation Counsel (1987-2001); Leases and Operating Agreements Division (1985-1987)

Assumed increased levels of responsibility via promotion during tenure. Litigated complex cases in New Jersey state and federal courts. Managed large multi-faceted databases, wrote and argued motions, briefed appeals, and negotiated leases and operating agreements for the bi-state transportation agency that operates LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty Airports, Newark seaport, the bridges and tunnels between New Jersey and New York, and numerous other facilities.

Additional Responsibility:

• Led litigation, including first and third party insurance coverage landlord/tenant, property damage, premises liability, and workers compensation litigation.

Achieved success in numerous cases involving the Port Authority. Representative examples include the following:

Revell v. Port Authority: Collaborated with the New Jersey solicitor to successfully defend and brief appeals to the U.S. District Court of New Jersey in this lawsuit by an “accidental traveler” who was arrested for possession of a firearm at Newark Airport. Co-authored the winning brief on appeal to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Dylnicky v. Port Authority: Second-seated the defense at trial in Essex County of this action by electricians disciplined by the Port Authority for labor violations. Co-authored winning brief on appeal of trial court’s decision.

New York Times v. Port Authority: Litigated constitutional right to privacy of families of 9/11 survivors in lawsuit by the New York Times brought to force release of police/fire/emergency tapes of 9/11 events.

Port Authority v. Allied: Assisted in prosecuting product liability lawsuit that recovered $60M, the largest such recovery in an asbestos-related product liability lawsuit in the U.S.

Celotex Chapter 11 Bankruptcy: Recovered $2.1M in connection with asbestos-related property damage to buildings at all Port Authority facilities.

EDUCATION & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Rutgers Law School | Juris Doctor | Camden, NJ

Rutgers University | Bachelor of Arts in Political Science | New Brunswick, NJ

Bar Admissions:

Supreme Court of the United States; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey; U.S. District Court, Southern District of NY; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of NY; U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of NY; U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of South Carolina; Appellate Division, Supreme Court of the State of New York, First Department; Supreme Court, State of New Jersey; Supreme Court of South Carolina

Publications:

Editor, American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Section International Committee Newsletter, 2006-2007, 2008-2009, 2009-2010

Co-author, “Understanding Insolvency and D&O Liability Outside the United States: An Introduction,” The Brief, Winter 2011; Vulnerability Assessments: Creating New Standards for Owner/Possessor Liability, The Brief, Winter 2010; “Potential Pitfalls of Public/Private Partnerships,” Tort Source, Summer, 2008; "The National Bank of Wal-Mart? Doubts About Financial One-Stop Shopping," Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Winter 2007 Newsletter

Co-author, "Bull Street" a book on frauds in the U.S. financial markets

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