Marissa Lara
Whittier,CA
Summary
Disciplined professional bringing 6 years of experience in the legal field. Well-versed in developing and executing effective queries and reporting techniques to manage risk potential and implement solutions.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Conflicts Reporting Analyst
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
10.2023 - Current
- Primary contact for bankruptcy work.
- Created visually appealing reports that effectively communicated the conflicts landscape to bankruptcy team prior to filing deadlines.
- Conduct assistant and analyst training sessions.
- Expedite the conflicts process by processing requests from creation to clearance- generating reports, analyzing results, and liaising with relevant individuals and teams for resolution of any issues.
- Perform in-depth analysis on a variety of matters, including but not limited to, finance, real estate, controversy, and intellectual property.
- Manage approximately 100 incoming calls and emails on a daily basis.
- Drafting of ethical wall memorandum for dissemination to notify personnel within the firm and implementation within firm systems.
Court Appointed Special Advocate
CASA, LOS ANGELES
05.2020 - Current
- Advocate for children with DCFS court cases in the Children’s Courts of Los Angeles (Edmund D. Edelman Children's Court) by communicating with the child to understand their perspective and make recommendations to the court that are in the child’s best interest while also reflecting the child’s preferences.
- Communicate with important individuals in the child’s life, including but not limited to, teachers, lawyers, and social workers, to further inform recommendations to the court.
- Submitted reports to the court prior to each hearing, delineating findings and suggestions for future steps based on the facts presented.
- Review all documents associated with a particular case, noting important developments related to education, permanency, social connections, and physical and mental health.
- Write comprehensive reports of the history of a court case, outlining key facts relevant for understanding the case and planning future steps to best care for the child.
- Founding member of Hispanic and Latina/o/x Recruitment and Outreach Committee.
Conflicts Analyst
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
01.2023 - 09.2023
- Assist with new hire analyst training
- Triage of Conflicts Department email inbox
- Core member of bankruptcy team
- Conduct research and perform analysis of search results to make informed recommendations to clear potential or actual business or ethical conflicts issues, while abiding by all applicable laws and regulations.
Conflicts Analyst
COOLEY LLP
05.2021 - 12.2022
- Conducted research on all entities involved in a new matter in preparation of running conflicts searches
- Reviewed and analyzed results on conflict searches, made recommendations to resolve potential and actual conflicts issues
- Analyzed and resolved complicated conflicts, processed matters that include large banks as adverse, and executing the special waiver process with accuracy and efficiency
- Spearheaded Watchlist Hits special product, creating a reference guide for Conflicts Department to explain: the various types of hits that appear on the Watchlist and their sources, when action should be taken, and what action(s) to take
- Assisted with OPEN software enhancement: tested software for over 6 months prior to firm- wide rollout and made recommendations for updating categorizations of conflicts resolutions.
Conflicts Analyst
MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS LLP
01.2020 - 05.2021
- Researched and analyzed corporate trees, business relationships and conducted related research on companies.
- Experience drafting disclosures and waivers.
- Refined skills in Microsoft Excel by training on functions, formulas, and charts.
- Assisted with training of new team members.
Conflicts/Intake Clerk
MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS LLP
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Processed requests for new business and client relationships by providing quality assurance/risk management support
- Facilitated communications between attorneys and the General Counsel to resolve issues, provide complex research, and retrieve needed information prior to the firm accepting requests for new business
- Answered telephones, liaising with partners, staff and various other integral personnel in order to keep business moving.
- Drafted, proofread, and edited contracts between the firm and clients.
Legal Assistant
GASCOU HOPKINS LLP
07.2018 - 01.2019
- Assisted attorneys by calendaring hearings and other important dates; sorted mail for relevant dates/information.
- Communicated with clients regarding the status of their claims in pending cases.
- Researched and located information in Westlaw.
- Gained familiarity with drafting and filing legal documents by creating discovery response templates and filing discovery and pleadings with the court.
- Appeared on behalf of a client in small claims court (and won by default).
Administrative Assistant
UCLA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (OEM)
01.2017 - 09.2017
- Edited and organized 3 Emergency Planning Manuals, identifying duplicated information and corrections
- Assisted with organization, planning, and execution of training and Women in Homeland Security events.
- First student member of Women in Homeland Security Group.
- Performed day to day office clerical support using advanced Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel) functions.
Caller
UCLA CALL CENTER
08.2016 - 11.2016
- Worked with call center staff to connect with current students and alumni to raise funds for UCLA.
- Strengthened communication skills and experience working in a fast-paced environment.
Intern
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES (Caloes)
06.2016 - 09.2016
- Worked with and supported CalOES Southern Region Staff, assisting during various emergency response activations in Southern Region Emergency Operations Center
- Provided key administrative support to Region Management and Emergency Services Coordinators, Branch Director, State Congressmen, and other important high-ranking officials
- Worked alongside/assisted employees; organized Regional Library of historical activation documents
- Served citizens of California, while upholding CalOES core mission to protect lives and property, build capabilities, and support communities
- Gained experience working with Microsoft Office (Publisher, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel).
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science, American Politics
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA06.2018
Skills
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Attention to Detail
- Effective Communication
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Software: Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Intapp Open, Orbis, S&P Capital IQ, Stata, CreditSafe, LexisNexis Corporate Affiliations, Aderant
Accomplishments
- Dean’s List
- Political Science Departmental Highest Honors
- Keynote Speaker, UCLA Political Science Commencement Ceremony
Coursework
Completed introductory computer science course: CS50L: CS50's Computer Science for Lawyers.
Hobbies and Interests
- Hiking
- Soccer
- Photography
Affiliations
- CASA, Los Angeles
- Latham & Watkins First Generation Professionals Affinity Group, Local Leader
- Latham & Watkins Hispanic and Latin Americans Affinity Group
- Latham & Watkins Women's Affinity Group
Hobbies
- Hiking, Soccer, Photography
- Computer Science. Completed introductory computer science course: CS50L: CS50's Computer Science for Lawyers
Timeline
Conflicts Reporting Analyst
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
10.2023 - Current
Conflicts Analyst
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
01.2023 - 09.2023
Conflicts Analyst
COOLEY LLP
05.2021 - 12.2022
Court Appointed Special Advocate
CASA, LOS ANGELES
05.2020 - Current
Conflicts Analyst
MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS LLP
01.2020 - 05.2021
Conflicts/Intake Clerk
MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS LLP
01.2019 - 01.2020
Legal Assistant
GASCOU HOPKINS LLP
07.2018 - 01.2019
Administrative Assistant
UCLA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (OEM)
01.2017 - 09.2017
Caller
UCLA CALL CENTER
08.2016 - 11.2016
Intern
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES (Caloes)
06.2016 - 09.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science, American Politics
University of California Los Angeles
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