Martha Davchev
Addison,IL
Summary
Professional administrative expert and Paralegal with a proven track record in high-demand and fast paced legal environments, adept at handling complex legal documentation and supporting executive-level tasks. Known for reliability, adaptability, and collaborative mindset, ensuring smooth operations and timely results. Skilled in leadership, a can do mindset, document management, and maintaining confidentiality while fostering cooperative work environment.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Legal Assistant
Duggan Bertsch LLC
01.2025 - 11.2025
- Worked as a direct executive to the owner of the firm while overseeing a team of three attorneys, one paralegal, and a legal assistant within the Wealth and Estate Planning sector.
- Served as the primary point of contact for all attorneys, internal departments, private high-net-worth clients, and financial advisors.
- Coordinated travel arrangements for attorneys, enabling them to attend essential meetings without delay or logistical issues.
- Facilitated clear communication between legal team members, effectively organizing and leading meetings, and conference calls.
- Increased attorney productivity by expertly managing heavy caseloads, developing and maintaining detailed project plans and deliverables, and prioritizing tasks based on urgency.
- Coordinated with attorneys, paralegals, clients, financial advisors, and other external parties to ensure efficient project execution from start to finish.
- Prepared meeting agendas, memorandums, DocuSigns, fee agreements, conflict waivers, and client intakes.
- Handled administrative tasks, including billing, calendaring, presentations, note-taking, redlining of documents, document collection, client file organization, and document execution.
- Managed and oversaw an extensive accounts receivable collections project exceeding millions.
Legal Assistant
Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick & Kohn
04.2022 - 12.2024
- Managed a caseload of five attorneys specializing in educational law, including the managing partner of the firm, while performing billable work specifically in the contract, employment, and real estate sectors.
- Acted as the first point of contact for attorneys, clients, title companies, court reporting agencies, local townships, and opposing counsel.
- Drafted, revised, and finalized documents, including letters, memoranda, motions, briefs, subpoenas, discovery requests, collective bargaining agreements, presentations, and various contracts.
- Prepared real estate documents, including purchase agreements, non-homestead property tax exemptions, property tax appeals, and real estate transfer tax declarations.
- Drafted and finalized AIA construction documents.
- Handled administrative tasks including calendaring, expense reimbursements, travel arrangements, matter intakes, conflict checks, organization of client files, legal research, and the preparation of exhibit binders and witness materials.
Lacrosse Coach
Lakeshore Lacrosse
03.2012 - 01.2023
- Head coach of the U10 and U8 girls' teams.
- Developed comprehensive training programs to enhance player skills and performance.
- Mentored junior coaches, fostering professional growth and improving team dynamics.
- Coordinated team schedules, ensuring efficient practice sessions and tournament participation.
- Established clear benchmarks for performance and monitored individual and team progress.
- Directed lacrosse camps, maintained staff, created daily practice plans, assigned players to groups based on skill, assets, and age, and oversaw the logistics of weekly programs.
Legal Assistant / Administrative Assistant
Huck Bouma PC
12.2020 - 04.2022
- Specialized in the estate planning and corporate division of a medium-sized suburban law firm, reporting directly to two directors of the firm.
- Acted as the liaison between clients, advisors, and attorneys.
- Prepared annual reports, corporate special minutes, Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Dissolution, Amendments, Articles of Termination, and Registered Agent Changes.
- Reviewed, audited, and updated corporate documents.
- Obtained EIN numbers for businesses, trusts, and estate administration.
- Filed deeds and Transfer-on-Death Instruments across local counties and states.
- Prepared core estate planning documents within WealthCounsel.
- Handled administrative work, including calendaring, mail, scanning, client intakes, engagement letters, file transfer letters, transcribed dictation tapes, and prepared invoices.
Contract Specialist/Paralegal
AmTab Manufacturing Corporation
04.2020 - 12.2020
- Worked directly with C-suite executives and outside counsel while managing the contract division, and cross-training the sales department and customer services teams.
- Negotiated contracts with cooperative purchasing agencies, governmental agencies, and schools.
- Responded to requests for production within specific application periods.
- Developed and maintained contract templates for consistent documentation across projects, in compliance with company directives.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure clarity of contractual obligations and deliverables.
- Handled administrative tasks, including conference calls, travel, calendaring, conference presentations, and client relations.
Paralegal
McLaughlin & Associates, PC
02.2020 - 04.2020
- Acted as the main paralegal for a one-attorney boutique law firm.
- Prepared legal briefs, motions, pleadings, memorandums, legal opinion letters, discovery requests, and complaints.
- Handled corporate compliance, including incorporating companies, auditing record books, preparing annual reports, registered agent changes, shareholder agreements, and various contracts.
Legal Assistant
Codilis & Associates, P.C.
05.2019 - 02.2020
- Hired as a member of the Foreclosure and File Opening Department.
- Reviewed deeds of trust and mortgages to ensure documents were in accordance with applicable law.
- Drafted assignments of mortgage and allonges.
- E-filed assignments of mortgage in Illinois and Wisconsin, and obtained certified copies of documents.
Child Care Provider for Disabled Person
Private Family
05.2016 - 05.2019
- Assisted with feeding, personal hygiene, socialization, daily life skills, and education, while promoting positive reinforcement.
Recovery Court Intern
McLean County Court Services
01.2019 - 04.2019
- Performed drug screens, home checks, case noting, and filing.
- Assisted in court hearings, team meetings, and office visits.
Tobacco Enforcement Intern
Village of Schaumburg Police Department
01.2013 - 12.2014
- Collaborated with local law enforcement to perform tobacco stings in order to enforce city ordinances and state laws.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Illinois State University
Normal, IL 05-2019
Skills
- Typing speed of 75 WPM
- Notary Public
- Paralegal Certificate
- Experience with PcLaw, Time Matters, WealthCounsel, VendorScape, Juris, transcription software, Coyote, AIA, Asana, NetDocs, Wealth Counsel, DocuSign, and Copilot
- Strong understanding of Microsoft Office applications
- Adept at managing large case loads, multiple priorities, and deadlines at a time
- Analytical problem solving
- Clear and concise communication abilities with collaborative communication skills
- Cultivating strong partnerships and optimizing customer service
- Rapidly acquires new skills and easily adjustments to new challenges
- Skilled in leading teams and working autonomously
Timeline
Executive Legal Assistant
Duggan Bertsch LLC
01.2025 - 11.2025
Legal Assistant
Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick & Kohn
04.2022 - 12.2024
Legal Assistant / Administrative Assistant
Huck Bouma PC
12.2020 - 04.2022
Contract Specialist/Paralegal
AmTab Manufacturing Corporation
04.2020 - 12.2020
Paralegal
McLaughlin & Associates, PC
02.2020 - 04.2020
Legal Assistant
Codilis & Associates, P.C.
05.2019 - 02.2020
Recovery Court Intern
McLean County Court Services
01.2019 - 04.2019
Child Care Provider for Disabled Person
Private Family
05.2016 - 05.2019
Tobacco Enforcement Intern
Village of Schaumburg Police Department
01.2013 - 12.2014
Lacrosse Coach
Lakeshore Lacrosse
03.2012 - 01.2023
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Illinois State University