Katrina Ransom Owen, NC Certified Paralegal421 Rensselaer Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28203

Mobile: (704) 607-6156 home: (980) 406-3243katrinaRowen@gmail.com

STRENGTHS AND SKILLS

More than 15 years of corporate and litigation paralegal experience with an exceptional and broad skill set, supporting several attorneys in different practice areas.

Strong analytical and problem solving skills. Expert skills to manage heavy caseloads and use discretion in determining priority job responsibilities to meet deadlines. Self-motivated to work in a fast-paced team environment and use cross training experience to accept new challenges and opportunities.

Proficient computer skills using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, DM Hummingbird, Concur, Juris, Needles Case Management Systems, Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw.

Comprehensive experience in office management and administration of a corporate practice. Advanced knowledge of federal and state laws; Project experience to implement and maintain business and legal processes, reports, databases, and tools to assist with the administration, coordination, and management of regulatory and compliance tracking

EXPERIENCECampbell & Associates, PLLC – Legal Assistant *temporary position May - July 14, 2015Assisted 25+ staff members with PI, SS & WC case management, included extensive communication with clients, insurance representatives and outside attorneys; from intial consultations to settlement finalization. Handled high volume phone calls, set up video conferences, meetings; distributed and organized multiple insurance forms and medical records to/from clients, insurance companies, healthcare providers and attorneys.

Hamilton Stephens Steele + Martin, PLLC – Family Law Litigation Paralegal Jan. 7, 2014 - May 30, 2014*note: this was a 5 month temporary job position through Carolina Legal Staffing, Inc.

Managed multiple complex family law cases related to separation, divorce, asset and property disputes, equitable distribution, child custody and support, alimony and alienation of affection litigation. Drafted complaints, answers, motions, discovery requests, responses, and settlement agreements, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, Consent Orders, Quit Claims and Special Warranty Deeds.

Prepared asset and liability analysis spreadsheets for mediations and trials, separation and settlement agreements, trial and exhibit notebooks. Managed attorneys’ calendars for client meetings, discovery deadlines and appellate brief deadlines, court hearings, mediations and trials.

Managed initial client consultations and case reviews. Provided extensive communication with clients, opposing counsel, court administration and judges’ clerks.

Claiborne & Fox, PLLC – Paralegal / Southern Surrogacy, LLC – Case Manager May – Nov. 2013

Assisted attorneys in establishment of new law firm and managed day-to-day office operations in addition to providing paralegal support. Prepared and finalized all legal documents for domestic, interstate, independent, stepparent, agency and adult adoptions, including working with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). Assisted clients by helping to create effective adoption profiles. Prepared and gathered required documents for home studies, ICPC and court finalization processes.

Provided case management for full service surrogacy matching firm by screening surrogate applicants, managing contracts with clients, and working closely with reproductive technology professionals to assist clients and surrogates for successful placements of newborn babies. Managed important time restraints, payment schedules and Trust accounts. Prepared pre-placement Orders of Parentage to finalize surrogate agreements and adoptions.

Bank of America, N.A., Legal Department - Paralegal/AVP August 2000 – Feb. 2013

* note: 2 different job roles: moved from Risk Mgmt./Operations team for 10 years to HR litigation team, last 2 years

Human Resources Litigation Support Staffing Team – Legal Department March 2011 – Feb. 2013

Managed complex claims and lawsuits for six in-house Human Resource attorneys by working directly with multiple outside attorneys and law firms to support multiple internal client groups. Managed multiple state lawsuits brought under EEOC, ADEA, ADA, FMLA, and ERISSA. Prepared responses to regulatory agencies relating to claims of wrongful discharge, discrimination, wage and hour violations, retaliation, harassment, breach of contract and privacy. Managed multiple state labor law claims and lawsuits related to mergers and acquisitions of other financial entities including Countrywide Loans, Merrill Lynch Investments, MBNA credit card and LaSalle Bank.

Served as the primary point of contact for a wide range of corporate clients, key company personnel, and executives from case initiation to conclusion. Partnered closely with in-house attorneys, the Chief Executive Office, General Counsel, Compliance Officers, attorneys and court liaisons in multiple states. Ensured corporate compliance with Secretary of State; tracked and prepared required reporting and responses, maintained a report of all new case openings and assignments. Customized and managed database modules and SharePoint sites for multiple units and business partners. Established consolidated trackingand reporting data systems to improve capabilities and accelerated processing timeframes.

Applied knowledge, skills and expertise to provide substantive legal analysis to identify employment law compliance. Ensured compliance of various legal requirements pertaining to employment law and legal issues relating to hiring and training practices, background checks, audits, benefits, workplace environment policies, social media usage, performance reporting, reduction in workforce and severance agreements.

Gathered research, conducted witness interviews and prepared responses to labor law claims and lawsuits relating to wrongful discharge, discrimination, wage and hour violations, retaliation, harassment, breach of contract and privacy. Conducted independent investigations and gathered all relevant facts to fully analyze legal risks and provide resolution of claims to avoid litigation. Handled case management for pre-trial resolution such as negotiating settlements, preparing Settlement Releases, Separation and Severance Agreements and managed recovery efforts for bank losses. Worked with state and federal law enforcement, state government and regulatory agencies in compliance with investigations and court proceedings. Prepared monthly reports of changes and updates of Federal and State law, new legislation, acts and regulations.

Risk Management/Consumer Banking/Deposit Operations August 2000 - March 2011

• Supported team of seven attorneys, Compliance officers, internal Investigations and Security officers, the CEO’s office and other internal departments to handle consumer fraud claims, regulatory agency inquiries and claims relating to retail bank operations, policy and procedure issues, liability risk management, bank negligence and breach of privacy. Managed complex claims to prevent litigation involving consumer, corporate and global deposit accounts. Supported Media Relations partners to manage legal issues relating to mergers and acquisitions.

• Served as a compliance partner for direct report attorney’s role in the national transition of the California Northwest (CANW) transformation initiative project, a multi-year, multi-hundred-million-dollar integration initiative. Analyzed and applied legal evaluation to improve nationwide consistency and efficiencies in processing and servicing clients for the large-scale legal change management practices to migrate standard processes and technology across the enterprise.

• Conducted independent investigations and research to provide legal guidance and resolve account disputes involving corporations, business entities and other accounts set up for IOLTA, Trust, court restricted, minors, fiduciaries and

decedent accounts. Reviewed multiple state and international documents and court orders, subpoenas, power of attorney forms, trust agreements and probate documents. Supported multiple nationwide internal bank departments and business partners: Executive Relations, CEO’s Office, Media Relations, Corporate Security, Fraud Detection, Legal Order Processing, Commercial/Global/Private Wealth Clients/Special Assets Management & Compliance groups.

• Prepared legal research summaries to attorneys for complex case analysis to determine liability risks for fraud claims and bank operation errors. Ensured compliance of various legal and regulatory requirements by closely monitoring and updating state and federal legislation charts. Prepared state and nationwide alerts and requests for procedure updates and to implement compliance requirements, update bank policies and procedures and ensure consistency across business areas nationwide. Expert knowledge of various state and federal laws and regulations and applicable banking laws such as the UCC, FCRA, Patriot Act, Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering.

Poling and Casey, PLLC - Litigation Paralegal (law firm dissolved 2002) Jan. 1998- May 1999

Managed multiple complex medical malpractice cases for Plaintiff attorneys. Drafted pleadings, discovery requests and responses, motions, briefs and all other court pleadings and filings.

Extensive communication with clients, including initial consultation and case review, expert witnesses, and opposing counsel to investigate and gather facts in preparation for depositions, discovery, mediations and trials. Managed trial calendars and hearings. Prepared summaries of voluminous medical records, created trial notebooks and exhibits.

Golding, Meekins, Holden, Cosper & Stiles, LLC - Litigation Paralegal Nov. 1993 –Dec. 1997

Managed a heavy volume of complex wrongful death and medical malpractice defense cases for senior partner. Supported two additional partners specializing in products liability and insurance defense civil litigation.

Prepared pleadings, discovery requests and responses, motions and all other legal documenta for litigated cases. Analyzed, researched and gathered all relevant facts and documents from clients, witnesses and law enforcement. Extensive communication with clients, expert witnesses and opposing counsel to prepare for depositions, discovery, hearings, mediations and trials. Managed trial calendars and coordinated court testimony by witnesses.

EDUCATION

University of Louisiana at Lafayette, LA -Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice; Minor in Business 1990 National Center for Paralegal Training, Atlanta, GA - ABA Approv Certificate for Paralegal Studies 1991

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS

North Carolina State Bar Association – Certified Paralegal – 2005-Present Metrolina Paralegal Association Member since 1994 (former board member) Former Bank of America Paralegal Forum National Representative, Pro Bono Project “Wills on Wheels” participant

for 4 years with outside law firms to assist elderly clients with Estate planning; Mentor Program participant for onboarding Paralegals; member of committee for National and International Parents and Adoption Support Group

2007 Award of Recognition of Top 1% Bank of America Associates; nominated as one of 10 recipients over 350 Legal Dept. employees

SPAFA – Southern Piedmont Adoptive Families of America member since 2007 (former speaker at seminars) Volunteer at Mecklenburg County Bar Association – Lawyer Referral Services and CLE Seminar assistant