Deborah F Zal-Ellis
Stafford,TX
Summary
Bringing over 13 years of paralegal experience, specializing in litigation support and ESI project management. Demonstrated expertise in legal analysis and document management, contributing to efficient case development and compliance with environmental regulations. Proven ability to coordinate with internal teams and outside counsel to achieve successful case outcomes.
Overview
1
1
Certification
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Paralegal Litigation and Sustainability
MRC Global Inc.
Houston, USA
01.2022 - 07.2026
- Gathering global information/documentation for and responding to sustainability assessments (CDP, S&P Global and Eco Vadis).
- Research environmental regulations in the US and internationally.
- Assembled information and documentation for customer sustainability questionnaires and requests for proposals, ensuring comprehensive responses.
- Handled lawsuit and subpoena intake, assigned cases, and distributed lawsuits to outside counsel for general litigation matters and internal departments for further handling.
- Oversaw internal electronic stored information management for litigation, ensuring proper organization and accessibility.
- Investigated facts for potential and ongoing litigation, contributing to informed legal strategies and case management.
- Research potential creditor bankruptcy claims, and preparation of proof of claims.
- Coordinated and prepared quarterly reports on loss contingency, litigation, and legal spend, providing insights for strategic decision-making.
- Managed Legal Tracker database to oversee matter management, the matter management database.
Paralegal Manager/Sr. Litigation Paralegal
Jason J. Joy & Associates, P.L.L.C.
Houston, USA
01.2017 - 01.2022
- Developed policies, procedures, and workflows for efficient law office management.
- Establishing workflows for various practice areas (Administrative Claims, Personal Injury, Mass Torts, and Commercial cases).
- Prepared annual budgets for law office operations.
- Trial Coordination and Attendance.
- Project management of new matter management data for the firm.
- Managing administrative personnel.
- Coordinated trial schedules and attended court hearings.
General Litigation Team Lead
Schlumberger Technology Corporation
Houston, USA
01.2007 - 06.2016
- Management of four paralegals in the General Litigation Department.
- The team lead, paralegals and one in-house attorney managed all general litigation matters for North America for a multinational corporation with outside counsel from inception to conclusion.
- Managed and coordinated outside counsel for a docket of over seventy cases, covering labor and employment, personal injury, toxic tort, commercial, and environmental litigation.
- Managing, monitoring, and reporting the progression of lawsuits to Schlumberger Limited's general counsel and Schlumberger Technology Corporation's general counsel including oral presentations of case status and progression.
- Responsible for lawsuit and subpoena intake, assignment, and distribution of lawsuits to outside counsel for general litigation matters and/or distribution to appropriate internal departments for further handling.
- Monitored and reported lawsuit progression to Schlumberger Limited's and Schlumberger Technology Corporation's general counsel, delivering oral presentations on case status and developments.
- Prepared reports and presented general litigation cases to business stakeholders, ensuring clear communication of key developments and implications.
- Coordinated with the compliance department to address litigation needs and share lessons learned.
- Reviewed contracts to assess viability of defense and indemnity options for lawsuits.
- Drafting of policies and procedures for department management and handling of litigation cases from inception to conclusion.
- Trained in-house paralegals in the General Litigation Department and cross-trained paralegals from IP, Government Affairs, and Compliance teams.
- Conducted internal investigations to gather facts from witnesses and evidence related to ongoing litigation. for fact gathering purposes (witnesses and evidence).
- Identifying people with knowledge of relevant facts and custodians for litigation holds.
- Preparation, distribution and tracking of litigation holds.
- Project management of eDiscovery for general litigation ensuring compliance with and navigating GDPR and US state privacy laws.
Paralegal
The Ammons Law Firm
Houston, USA
02.2004 - 11.2006
- Conducted client interviews during intake and throughout case to gather critical facts.
- Trial preparation - witness and exhibit lists, exhibits, deposition excerpts and demonstratives.
- Trial attendance - assisting with jury selection and exhibits throughout trial.
- Coordinated trial preparation, including creation of witness and exhibit lists, organization of exhibits, and compilation of deposition excerpts and demonstratives.
- Case development based on facts as well as witness identification and location.
- Interviewing clients at intake and throughout case for fact gathering purposes.
Paralegal
Fisher, Boyd, Brown Boudreaux & Hugenard, LLP
Houston, USA
01.2000 - 02.2004
- Medical malpractice case development and preparation through trial.
- Reviewed documents for accuracy and relevance.
- Summarized medical records and prepared medical chronologies and depositions for trial presentation.
- Summarized medical records for legal review., preparation of medical chronologies and depositions.
- Prepared for trial, attended proceedings, and assisted with jury selection to facilitate a smooth trial process.
Education
Master of Legal Studies - Litigation
Pepperdine University
01-2026
Bachelor of Business Administration - Finance
University of Houston
01-1994
Skills
- Litigation support
- Legal research
- Legal analysis
- Project oversight
- Regulatory compliance
- Subpoena coordination
- Policy drafting
- Team leadership
- Data analysis tools
- Risk assessment
- Spreadsheet development
- Team leadership qualities
- Client communication
- Communication skills
Affiliations
Active Member of the Paralegal Division - State Bar of Texas
Certification
- NALA Certified Paralegal (Commercial Litigation/Business Organizations)
- NALA Advanced Certified Paralegal (Personal Injury/Auto, Discovery, and eDiscovery)
Training
- Discovery - NALA Specialization Course
- EDiscovery - NALA Specialization Course
- PI Automobile Accidents - NALA PI Specialization Course
- Pl Core Course - NALA
- Advanced CLE Paralegal Conference - Houston Paralegal Association
- Texas Advance Paralegal Seminar - SBOT Paralegal Division
- Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar - SBOT Paralegal Division
- Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar - Austin, TX - SBOT Paralegal Division
- 9th Annual eDiscovery Conference - IQPC - San Francisco, CA - 04/10
- 2010 Labor & Employment Law Conference - The Kullman Firm - New Orleans, LA
- Dealing With Difficult Employment Issues During Turbulent Economic Times - Houston, TX
- Petroleum Exploration and Production - NExT
- New Challenges/New Solutions - ACC 5th Annual Corporate Counsel University
- The Human Resources Institute - NALA
- Code Red - We're Going to Trial - SBOT Paralegal Division
- Litigation Skills - NALA Internet Campus
- Judgment and Analytical Skills - NALA Internet Campus
- Analyzing Medical Records for the Texas Paralegal
- Discovery Skills for the Paralegal - Houston - PESI
- Preparing for Trial: The Role of the Paralegal - HLAA
- Advanced Civil Trial Law - Houston - State Bar of Texas
- Advanced Personal Injury Law Course - State Bar of Texas
- Second Annual General Practice Institute - HLAA
- Trial Preparation & Trial - State Bar of Texas LA Division
- Advanced Civil Trial Law - State Bar of Texas LA Division
- Advanced Personal Injury Law Course - State Bar of Texas LA Division
Timeline
Sr. Paralegal Litigation and Sustainability
MRC Global Inc.
01.2022 - 07.2026
Paralegal Manager/Sr. Litigation Paralegal
Jason J. Joy & Associates, P.L.L.C.
01.2017 - 01.2022
General Litigation Team Lead
Schlumberger Technology Corporation
01.2007 - 06.2016
Paralegal
The Ammons Law Firm
02.2004 - 11.2006
Paralegal
Fisher, Boyd, Brown Boudreaux & Hugenard, LLP
01.2000 - 02.2004
Master of Legal Studies - Litigation
Pepperdine University
Bachelor of Business Administration - Finance
University of Houston