Katrina Ransom Owen, NCCP421 Rensselaer Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28203

mobile: (704) 607-6156 home: (980) 535-1055katrinaRowen@gmail.com

STRENGTHS AND SKILLS

15+ years of legal experience, supporting several attorneys in different practice areas. Expert skills to manage heavy caseloads and use discretion in determining priority job responsibilities to meet deadlines. Proficient computer skills using Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Sharepoint, Concur, Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw.

Strong analytical and problem solving skills. Self-motivated to work in a fast-paced team environment and use cross training experience to accept new challenges and opportunities.

EXPERIENCE* Mecklenburg County Bar Association - Lawyer Referral Services Assistant - Weekly Volunteer Jan. 2015 –Present* Tower Legal Solutions – document review project relating to legal relativity

Jan. 28-30, 2015

Hamilton Stephens Steele + Martin, PLLC – Family Law Litigation Paralegal Jan. 7, 2014 - May 30, 2014 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, 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

Human Resources/Support Staffing Team – Legal Department March 2011 – Feb. 2013• Managed complex claims and lawsuits by working directly with multiple outside counsel law firms and internal team

of six Human Resource attorneys and internal client groups. Applied knowledge, skills and expertise to provide

substantive legal analysis to identify employment law compliance. 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.

• 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. 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.

Consumer Banking/Deposit Operations/Risk Management 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 the CEO’s Executive Relations office and Media Relations partners to manage legal issues including mergers and acquisitions with Countrywide Loans, Merrill Lynch Investments, MBNA credit card and LaSalle Bank.

• 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 corporate mergers. 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 Client, Special Assets Management and 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, when necessary to notify applicable business units to implement compliance requirements or to update bank policies and procedures and ensure consistency across business areas nationwide. Expert knowledge of various state and federal laws and regulations and applicatble banking laws such as the UCC, FCRA, Patriot Act, Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering.

Poling and Casey Law Firm - Litigation Paralegal 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, LLL - 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 Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, LA -Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice; Minor in BusinessNational Center for Paralegal Training, Atlanta, GA - ABA Approved Certificate for Paralegal StudiesPROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: NC Bar Association – Certified Paralegal and Metrolina Paralegal Association