Danica Joseph
Brooklyn
Summary
Seasoned Legal Operations Specialist with 20 years in high-stakes legal environments. Skilled in client matter management, cross-functional coordination, and executive communications. Streamlined workflows for global legal teams and facilitated effective collaboration among senior partners and stakeholders while ensuring professionalism and discretion.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Legal Team Assistant/Project Manager
Dechert LLP
New York
01.2026 - Current
- Lead high‑priority client‑matter opening initiatives, coordinating across offices and departments including Conflicts, General Counsel, Billing, and Office Administration
- Serve as central point of communication for cross‑functional project execution, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery.
- Manage complex internal and external calendars involving multiple senior stakeholders
- Schedule and coordinate meetings, ensuring all logistics, materials, and departmental requirements are met for seamless execution
- Provide regular briefings to Department Co‑Heads on project status, risks, timelines, and next steps
- Train and guide legacy assistants and Billing teams on specialized, client‑specific billing guidelines and customized matter‑opening protocols
Legal Practice / Executive Specialist
McDermott Will & Emery
New York
01.2018 - 01.2026
- Provided executive‑level administrative and operational support to senior attorneys, including a Global Practice Group Leader and multiple National Co‑Chairs
- Managed sophisticated, high‑volume calendars for attorneys with demanding schedules and competing priorities
- Coordinated complex domestic and international travel arrangements for timekeepers, optimizing schedules and managing costs
- Submitted, tracked, and reconciled attorney expense reports, ensuring timely reimbursement and policy compliance
- Organized firm‑wide and client‑facing events, including private dinners, department functions, and team‑building initiatives
- Liaised with external vendors, maintaining service quality, verifying invoice accuracy, and resolving issues
- Assisted with preparation of exhibits and supporting documentation for court appearances and trials
- Collaborated closely with Accounting and Billing teams to meet monthly billing and pre‑bill deadlines
- Facilitated onboarding of incoming partners and junior associates, promoting smooth integration into firm
Legal Secretary
DLA Piper
New York
01.2011 - 01.2018
- Assisted senior attorneys in Litigation and Accounting Defense, facilitating smooth operations for local practice heads
- Acted as primary liaison for internal teams and external clients, maintaining high standards of professionalism and responsiveness
- Coordinated attorney calendars, meetings, and domestic and international travel arrangements to ensure seamless scheduling
- Drafted, transcribed, and proofread legal documents, including briefs, court filings, and client correspondence to maintain accuracy and compliance
- Reviewed attorney time entries for accuracy and compliance, ensuring adherence to billing standards
- Prepared, submitted, and reconciled expense reports and monthly credit card statements
- Processed monthly client billing and collaborated with accounting
Legal Secretary / Receptionist
Kirby McInerney LLP
New York
01.2000 - 01.2011
- Transcribed dictated attorney notes and compiled materials for review, facilitating efficient case preparation
- Drafted, revised, and proofread legal and handwritten documentation
- Prepared detailed inventories of attorney expenses and organized billing statements for attorney review, ensuring accuracy and clarity
- Scheduled and coordinated meetings, conferences, and attorney‑client receptions
- Executed mass mailings using mail merge tools, enhancing communication with clients and stakeholders
- Operated switchboard and facilitated high‑volume internal and external communications
Education
Associate of Applied Science -
Kingsborough Community College
Brooklyn, NYSkills
- Legal process improvement
- Project and client management
- Document management
- Expense management
- Travel expense management
- Client coordination
- Cross-departmental coordination
- Stakeholder and vendor relations
- Virtual meeting coordination
- Calendar management
- Microsoft Office Suite proficiency
- Google Workspace familiarity
- Time tracking systems
- Executive and C-suite support
- Mentorship and team leadership
- Confidential communications
Affiliations
PeerForward, Leadership Counsel Board Member
Certification
Certified NYS Notary Public
Technology Systems
- Microsoft365
- Salesforce
- Chrome River
- Google Workspace
- InTapp
- Prebill Manager
- Adobe Acrobat
- Kofax Power PDF Advanced
- ITimeKeep
- Concur
Timeline
Legal Team Assistant/Project Manager
Dechert LLP
01.2026 - Current
Legal Practice / Executive Specialist
McDermott Will & Emery
01.2018 - 01.2026
Legal Secretary
DLA Piper
01.2011 - 01.2018
Legal Secretary / Receptionist
Kirby McInerney LLP
01.2000 - 01.2011
Associate of Applied Science -
Kingsborough Community College