EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Transcription

1 L E E SA PAT R I CIA THOMAS-B ANK S L E C T U R E R DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, & ACCOUNTING UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE KIAH HALL ROOM 2117 PRINCESS ANNE, MD OFFICE PHONE: ; HOME: FAX: [email protected] EDUCATION Loyola University New Orleans School of Law J.D. Common Law Emphasis, May 2000 Member, Loyola Moot Court Member, Phi Delta Phi, International Legal Fraternity Member, A.P. Tureaud Chapter of the Black Law Students Association Oakwood University B.A. Communication, Speech and Journalism Emphasis, April 1996 Cum Laude Graduate Ball State University Journalism Certificate, July 1991 EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Department of Business, Management & Accounting, Princess Anne, Maryland University of Maryland Eastern Shore, September 2010 Present Responsibilities: Designing course syllabus, preparing and grading exams, giving lectures Courses: Business Law I, Business Law II, Business Communications, Industrial Relations The Law Office of Leesa P. Thomas, Dallas, Texas Senior Attorney, October 2005 Present Autonomously manages a heavy caseload and responsible for delegating responsibilities to staff and associates while generating new business and managing the firm. Practice areas include business litigation, business transactions, mediation, corporate governance, bankruptcy, domestic relations and immigration. Represented clients in appeal to the Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas Counseled and educated business and entrepreneur clients on business law Negotiated favorable settlements in numerous business and family cases Represented clients in mediation proceedings obtaining favorable results

2 LEESA P. THOMAS - BANKS PAGE 2 Prepared numerous briefs, memoranda, pleadings, discovery and motions Completed trials and pretrial responsibilities including depositions, direct and cross examinations, as well as opening and closing arguments The Law Offices of Sue Y. Moulliet, Dallas, Texas Associate Attorney, January 2004 September 2005 Maintained responsibility for cases in a variety of legal disciplines including business litigation, corporate, family, and immigration law. Provided legal guidance and managed case load while preparing research, discovery, memoranda and pleadings. Represented international business clients in two-week jury trial winning on all counts Represented business and family clients in litigation matters Represented international business clients in federal court-ordered arbitration Negotiated favorable settlements in numerous mediation cases Represented and advised low income clients in bankruptcy cases Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Richardson Church, Richardson, Texas Administrator to Pastoral Staff, Served in many leadership capacities including overseeing the day to day activities of the many ministries in a large, multi-ethnic congregation. Maintained responsibility for operational matters with an emphasis on the young adult, music and youth ministries. Launched a counseling and smoking cessation program Conducted research on issues surrounding religious freedom and civil liberties Presented proposals to the board and finance committee for approval and implementation Created successful programs that addressed the needs of members ages Leader and head teacher of the young adult class Improved overall productivity of the office and streamlined church procedures Deloitte & Touche, LLP, Washington, D.C. Law Clerk, State and Local Tax Section, Legal Department, Summer 1998 Conducted research on the corporate advantages of Michigan tax law for executive staff. Rotated through the legal department substituting with minimal training for clerks that were on vacation. Received recognition from staff for ability to learn and research material quickly Whirlpool Financial Corporation, Benton Harbor, Michigan Business Development Representative, Summer 1994, Summer 1995 and Developed portfolio of existing business clients in the Southwest. Personally created departmental training manual for employees and educational material for business clients. This resulted in the increase of business portfolio by more than 50%. Received Worldwide Excellence Systems Award, March 1997 and June 1997 Received 1996 Quality Achievement Award for outstanding service to clients

3 LEESA P. THOMAS - BANKS PAGE 3 Assisted small business clients with UCC filings and in expanding their business Lead department in development, exceeding departmental goals each quarter by 30% OTHER TEACHING EXPERIENCE Cedar Hill Independent School District, Cedar Hill, Texas Substitute Teacher various subjects, Loyola University Street Law Program, New Orleans, Louisiana Instructor civic and history classes, ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE Contract Attorney - O Melveny & Myers, Washington, D.C Law Clerk - Bruce McConduit & Associates, New Orleans, Louisiana Congressional Aid U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. Summer 1998 PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS MEMBERSHIP Member, Texas Bar Association, Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas Member, American Bar Association Business, Tax and Family Mediation Continuing Education Training PROFESSIONAL SERVICE Leader, UMES Business Management & Accounting Student Recruitment Committee Advisor, Lead For Hope, Inc., an international not for profit organization Board Member, Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Richardson Adventist Church Member, Leasing Committee, Richardson Adventist Church Volunteer, Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program & Legal Services of North Texas, Inc. Community Leader, indigent outreach program, providing guidance to Pro Se litigants Student Advisor, Richardson Adventist Church Youth and Young Adult Department Bible Instructor, Richardson Texas Women s Group Practitioner, Loyola University New Orleans Legal Clinic Student Recruiter, Loyola University New Orleans School of Law WORKS IN PROGRESS My major interest is in the use of arbitration, mediation and collaborative law to resolve business disputes before trial.

4 LEESA P. THOMAS - BANKS PAGE 4 CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT M. Sawicki, Facebook, Twitter and Social Media: Managing, Controlling & Understanding an Unstoppable Trend, Business Torts Institute Lecture Series, Dallas, Texas, April 11, 2012, webinar previously recorded presented by M. Sawicki. S. Sotomayor, A Conversation with Justice Sonia Sotomayor Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States, 20 th Annual Joseph L. Rauh, Jr. Lecture Series, Washington D.C., April 2, 2012, presented by S. Sotomayor and W. Henderson. M. Javaheri, Dense 2-generator subsemigroups of 2 x 2 matrices, AMS Session on Linear and Multilinear Algebra: Matrix Theory, American Mathematical Society-Mathematics Association of America Joint National Meetings, Boston, Massachusetts, January 7, 2012, presented by M. Javaheri, Sienna College. T. Banks, On the structure of certain class of Toeplitz-like Kernels, AMS Session on Linear and Multilinear Algebra: Matrix Theory, American Mathematical Society-Mathematics Association of America Joint National Meetings, Boston, Massachusetts, January 7, 2012, presented byt. Banks, Salisbury University. L. Schnase, An Investment Adviser s Duty to Supervise Sub-advisors In the Wake of Madoff, November 30, 2011, Houston, Texas, webinar previously recorded presented by L. Schnase. L. Schnase, Adviser and Fund Compliance Programs: Building a Sound and Effective Program, November 30, 2011, Houston, Texas, webinar previously recorded presented by L. Schnase. L. Schnase, Can an Adviser be Liable for the Wrongdoing of Another Adviser?, November 30, 2011, Houston, Texas, webinar previously recorded presented by L. Schnase. G. Cokinos, Construction Law: Twelve Things Every Lawyer Should Know, November 29, 2011, Houston, Texas, Houston Bar Association Professional Development Conference, webinar previously recorded presented by G. Cokinos. J. Hoeffner, What Every Lawyer Should Know about Bankruptcy, Texas State Bar Bankruptcy Seminar, November 27, 2011, Houston, Texas, webinar previously recorded presented by J. Hoeffner. Texas Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Legal Ethics, presented in association with the Texas Bar Association, November 28, 2011 webinar previously recorded. D. Dowd, Knock Em Dead: Identity Theft and Scams, Texas State Bar Professional Development Seminars, November webinar previously recorded presented by Honorable D. Dowd. L. Jeffereson, Business Disparagement and the Internet: Libel and Slander, Business Torts Institute Lecture Series, Dallas, Texas, August 9, 2011 webinar previously recorded presented by L. Jefferson. REFERENCES

5 LEESA P. THOMAS - BANKS PAGE 5 Available upon request