Gale L. Matteson
Summary
Motivate the delivery of exceptional client service, quality and consistency across team members and ensure processes are developed positively, with best practice shared with other Team Leaders, Legal Support Managers, and colleagues across the region. Possess a thorough background in the legal atmosphere with over fifteen years’ experience as a polished and seasoned Legal Assistant and Paralegal. Ability to easily grasp complex situations, adapt, retain information, and learn quickly. Knowledgeable in methods of legal research and principles of legal writing; possesses excellent oral, written, analytical and interpersonal communication skills; detail-oriented and meticulous. Excellent comprehension and extensive knowledge of legal terminology and court procedures, including extensive e-filing in both State and Federal Courts. Confident, assiduous, and thorough. Possess outstanding organizational skills along with high work ethics and professional/personal expectations. Extremely capable of undertaking assignments with minimal instruction or, as an integral member in a team setting.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Team Leader, West Coast Offices and Practice Administrator – Assigned to Equity Partner Kevin Sutherland – Global Aviation and Products Liability Practice
CLYDE & CO US
Los Angeles, California
01.2021 - Current
- My role as a Practice Administrator for a global Aviation and Products Liability Practice, I am required to oversee ensure the practice runs smoothly with respect to all aspects. Oversee the administration of a global aviation practice specializing in products liability. Manage complex calendar scheduling, case spreadsheets, and provide weekly summary status reports to internal teams. Ensure timely preparation and submission of client reports by associates for partner review at key intervals (30-day, 90-day deadlines). Supervise and coordinate attorney desk coverage to maintain seamless workflow operations. Oversee billing workflows, ensuring timely and accurate quarterly and monthly invoicing via e-billing systems and direct client submissions. Monitor and facilitate accounts receivable collections, drafting follow-up communications for outstanding payments. Track and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs), including contribution margin, debt levels, and debtor days, to ensure financial targets are met or exceeded.
- My role as a Team Leader, I manage individual performance of allocated support resources including regular progress meetings and career conversations. Ensure the smooth induction of new starters and supporting Legal Support Managers in ensuring awareness and understanding of HR, department and client specific policies, procedures, and information. Act as a coach to develop the team to the highest standards of performance and support personal development through feedback, performance management and consistent assessment of training needs. Mentor and advocate for the Legal Assistants. Manage legal support teams with a focus on service delivery and excellence; coordinate and resolve issues relating to workflow to ensure deadlines are met, resource availability, working relationships, service delivery and HR matters. Manage resource allocation following PTO or leaves of absences etc. to ensure service levels are maintained with a fair distribution of workload and coverage. Work closely with other Team Leaders and Legal Support Managers to support wider group. Ensure full understanding of the groups aims and objectives. Develop relationships and proactively manage services around agreed SLAs and ensure successful team management and workflow allocations. Responsible for ensuring the prioritization of work appropriately, balancing fee earning work and capacity, liaising with other Team Leaders and Legal Support Managers on embeds and flows of activity. Identify head count issues to Legal Support Managers and work to create effective solutions and work-sharing. Participate in the recruitment and selection process for team members. Participate in legal support team meetings. Maintain appropriate statistics to fit the requirements of SLA report monitoring. Approval of time off, absences, overtime etc. Develop and manage the current services being provided as well as considering future changes in line with technology changes and the changing needs of our clients/the business and liaise with other Team Leaders and Legal Support Managers on suggested adjustments. Liaise with other Team Leaders and Legal Support Managers to co-ordinate desk allocations, moves and changes in conjunction with IT and Workplace Services. Ensuring high standards of service are consistently maintained and developed.
- Proficient with CM/ECF e-Filings and manual filings in all Court venues (Federal, State, and Appellate); Coordinate attorney diary/calendar system and personal agenda. Drafting correspondence, pleadings, and discovery items; substantial transcription; extensive trial preparation; knowledgeable with extensive trial and arbitration proceedings; as well as scheduling telephone conferences and meetings. Prepare travel arrangements, expense reports, calendar appointments. Simultaneously assigned to assist attorneys in the areas of D&O liability, professional liability, employment practices, fidelity, fiduciary liability, and technology errors and omissions. Aid in insurance company issues such as coverage, litigation management, alternative dispute resolution, and coverage litigation.
Legal Secretary – Assigned to Partner in Charge, Equity Partner, Senior Associate and Senior Counsel
MEYERS, NAVE, RIBACK, SILVER & WILSON
Los Angeles, California
04.2015 - 01.2021
- Well versed with heavy CM/ECF e-Filings and manual filings in all Court venues (Federal, State, and Appellate); Coordinate attorney diary/calendar system and personal agenda. Drafting correspondence, pleadings, and discovery items; substantial transcription; extensive trial preparation; knowledgeable with extensive trial and arbitration proceedings; as well as scheduling telephone conferences and meetings. Prepare travel arrangements, expense reports, calendar appointments. Simultaneously assigned to assist attorneys in the areas of law for Construction and Facilities Practice Group, Public Law, Environmental Practice Group as well as Litigation and Land Use Practice Groups.
Lead Litigation Secretary – Assigned to 3 Partners (including Managing Partner) & 3 Associates
THOMPSON COE & O'MEARA, LLP
Los Angeles, California
02.2011 - 04.2015
- Liaison to Office Manager regarding Human Resources issues for the firm, development, and implementation of standard office procedures and policies. Assist Office Manager/Human Resources with problem-solving issues as they relate to support staff; actively assisted in writing and developing Standard Operating Procedures for the office. Held an integral role on Interview Panel for recruitment of support staff at the firm; conferred with Managing Partner after the interview was conducted to advise whether a candidate should proceed to next tier in the interviewing process for possible employment with the firm. Lead Litigation Secretary on the team responsible for coordinating and overseeing secretaries’ work assignments as well as temporary employees. Train on-boarding legal assistants in office procedures and monitor their workflow, productivity and assist with problem-solving. Coordinate attorney diary/calendar system and personal agenda. Heavy CM/ECF e-Filings and manual filings in all Court venues (Federal, State and Appellate); drafted correspondence, pleadings, and discovery items; substantial transcription; extensive trial preparation; scheduled telephone conferences and meetings. Quite proficient at generating and editing Table of Contents and Table of Authorities, editing and formatting Memorandum of Points and Authorities, daily calendar updates. Prepare travel arrangements, expense reports, calendar appointments. Perform paralegal duties: case management, cite checking, Westlaw research, document production, proofread documents, and scheduled depositions.
- (Formerly with Managing Partner, Frances O'Meara at KAUFMAN DOLOWICH & GONZO LLP until merger; Ms. O'Meara moved her Legal Team to "TCO" in June 2013)
Litigation Secretary – Assigned to 1 Equity Partner & 2 Associates
MENDES & MOUNT LLP
Los Angeles, California
08.2009 - 09.2010
- Coordinated attorney diary/calendar system; arranged travel; and personal agenda. Well versed with CM/ECF e-Filings and manual filings in various Court venues; drafted correspondence, pleadings, and discovery items; transcription; extensive trial preparation; scheduled telephone conferences and meetings; and coordinated, scheduled, and arranged for professional staff preparation. Prepare binders for appearances and pulled cases from Westlaw to assist attorneys at hearings.
Regulatory/Litigation Secretary – Assigned to 1 Equity Partner & 2 Associates
ARENT FOX LLP
Los Angeles, California
09.2007 - 12.2008
- Dealt with Administrative issues relating to healthcare within the Regulatory Department. Maintained attorney diary/calendar system, travel arrangements, time sheets and personal agenda, court filings, drafted all correspondence, pleadings, and discovery items; transcription; trial preparation; scheduled telephone conferences and meetings.
Litigation Secretary – Assigned to 3 Equity Partners & 2 Senior Associates
MAYER BROWN LLP
Los Angeles, California
11.2005 - 09.2007
- Maintained attorney diary/calendar system, travel arrangements, time sheets and personal agenda, court filings, drafted correspondence, pleadings, and discovery items; transcription; extensive trial preparation; scheduled telephone conferences/meetings. Possess specialized knowledge in civil litigation aspects of the law and court procedures.
Lead Litigation Secretary – Assigned to 1 Equity Partner & 2 Associates
SHERNOFF, BIDART, DARRAS & ECHEVERRIA LLP
Claremont, California
08.1996 - 11.2005
- Coordinated attorney diary/calendar system, travel arrangements, and personal agenda, supervision of secretaries regarding court filings and in all aspects of office protocol and procedures; drafted correspondence, pleadings, and discovery items; transcription; extensive trial preparation; scheduled telephone conferences and meetings; filed documents with various Court venues (California Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal, Superior and Municipal Courts).
Education
Master of Science - Criminal Justice
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
08.2018
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice and Criminology
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
03.2017
Associate of Arts - Pre-Law and Political Science
WEST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE
01.1996
Skills
- Proficient in: CM/ECF Procedures (e-filing), computer literacy in most Windows-based Applications and processes, and other Court-based websites and search engines, including but not limited to:
- Microsoft Word 2003, 2007, 2010
- Microsoft Outlook 2010
- Microsoft 365
- Excel (Intermediate)
- PowerPoint (Intermediate)
- 95/-wpm (typing speed)
- Adobe Acrobat
- Legal Solutions
- US Court Forms
- Pacer
- LexisNexis
- Westlaw
- CD Rom
- Proforma
- Lexbe
- Hummingbird
- DM/Manage/Desksite/DeltaView
- DTE Reports; Time Matters; Elite
- SmartTime and Rainmaker
- DOCS Open
- Carpe Diem
- TrialWorks
- MacPac
- InTapp Open
- InTapp Time
- ADP
CM/ECF EXPERIENCE (e-filing)
Participated in Court-approved course study (self-training & exam), to obtain compliance for the attorney(s) in which I provide support.
Timeline
Team Leader, West Coast Offices and Practice Administrator – Assigned to Equity Partner Kevin Sutherland – Global Aviation and Products Liability Practice
CLYDE & CO US
01.2021 - Current
Legal Secretary – Assigned to Partner in Charge, Equity Partner, Senior Associate and Senior Counsel
MEYERS, NAVE, RIBACK, SILVER & WILSON
04.2015 - 01.2021
Lead Litigation Secretary – Assigned to 3 Partners (including Managing Partner) & 3 Associates
THOMPSON COE & O'MEARA, LLP
02.2011 - 04.2015
Litigation Secretary – Assigned to 1 Equity Partner & 2 Associates
MENDES & MOUNT LLP
08.2009 - 09.2010
Regulatory/Litigation Secretary – Assigned to 1 Equity Partner & 2 Associates
ARENT FOX LLP
09.2007 - 12.2008
Litigation Secretary – Assigned to 3 Equity Partners & 2 Senior Associates
MAYER BROWN LLP
11.2005 - 09.2007
Lead Litigation Secretary – Assigned to 1 Equity Partner & 2 Associates
SHERNOFF, BIDART, DARRAS & ECHEVERRIA LLP
08.1996 - 11.2005
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice and Criminology
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
Associate of Arts - Pre-Law and Political Science
WEST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE
Master of Science - Criminal Justice
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY