Sylvia Mora Gonzales
Attorney
San Antonio,Texas
Summary
To contribute to the productivity and efficiency of a company by utilizing my legal, auto claims and management experience. Qualifications Licensed in State of Texas. Familiar with local courts and filing procedures. Accomplished Attorney offering 20-year record of supporting clients in legal matters. Communicates clearly and effectively with clients, opposing counsel, jurors and judges. Adept at developing lasting professional relationships.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
28
28
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Language
Work History
Staff attorney
Attorney Chavez Legal Group
San Antonio, TX
04.2015 - 08.2022
- In house counsel for Fred Loya Insurance
- Provided a legal defense for insured/insured driver's in personal injury cases
- Partnered with claims adjusters to build a strategy for handling suits
- Evaluated each suit and drafted and filed various answers, discovery requests, discovery responses and motions specific to each case for filing and service
- Conducted discovery, mediations, depositions, hearings and corresponded with courts, clients and opposing counsel.
- Conducted depositions of parties and defended clients in depositions
- Maintained complete case management database for time line and up to date status of case history.
- Worked cooperatively with staff and other attorneys to achieve organizational objectives.
- Established and maintained professional relationships with court personnel to build credibility.
- Conducted intake interviews and provided legal information, referrals and advocacy to determine potential courses of action.
- Researched legal authorities, statutory and case law and examined legal document drafts for compliance with procedural requirements.
- Developed strategies to resolve cases in client's best interest.
- Advocated for clients before court in oral argument by presenting facts and evidence in most favorable light.
- Filed timely case pleadings to meet firm deadlines.
- Interviewed witnesses and gathered public record research relevant to each case.
- Managed high-volume caseload in Bexar, Travis and other surrounding counties
- Conducted legal research and conferred with colleagues with subject matter expertise to develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
- Analyzed probable outcomes of cases using knowledge of legal precedents.
- Assessed cases for probable outcomes by researching black letter law and other legal authority, comparing fact patterns to those of precedential cases.
- Learned and operated specialized legal software such as TimeMatters
Experience Associate Attorney
Law Office of George Ruiz, PLLC
San Antonio, TX
12.2020 - 10.2021
- Represent clients in Family Law, Criminal Law and Personal Injury
- Attend hearings via Zoom in Family Law and Criminal Law
- Communicate with clients and counsel them regarding their case
- Draft pleadings, motions and discovery requests
- Maintain a case load of about 60 cases.
- Developed strategies to resolve cases in client's best interest.
- Conducted legal research and conferred with colleagues with subject matter expertise to develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
- Advocated for clients before court in oral argument by presenting facts and evidence in most favorable light.
Associate Attorney
Anderson & Truitt, PLLC
San Antonio, TX
10.2017 - 12.2020
- Provided defense for the insured of multiple auto insurance companies in personal injury and property damage
- Pursued subrogation claims for multiple auto insurance companies in various courts
- Analyzed risk exposure, claim value, litigation costs, and other factors to guide client strategy
- Maintained productive relationships with clients, claims personnel and management
- Negotiated settlements under authority
- Drafted and respond to written discovery and draft various motions and settlement and closing documents
- Conducted and attended depositions of parties, witnesses and experts
- Attended hearings (in person and Zoom) in various courts
- Maintain a case load of 75 plus cases in Bexar, Travis and surrounding counties.
Litigation Adjuster
Fred Loya Insurance
San Antonio, TX
04.2014 - 04.2015
- Work an average of 175 3rd party auto claims for Bodily Injury and/or Property Damage
- Handle claims in various states such as; TX, AZ, CA, NV, NM & IL
- Review photos, statements & medical records to generate a value for each claim
- Settle and close an average of 30 claims per month
- Work closely with in house or out side counsel for resolution of claims
- Attend mediations and negotiate with attorneys to obtain a proper settlement of the claim
- Comply with company deadlines and guidelines and verify coverage and liability
- Hit quarterly bonus consistently.
- Prepared summaries of damage, payments and policy coverage.
- Verified insurance claims and determined fair amount for settlement.
- Investigated and assessed damage to property and reviewed property damage estimates.
- Answered questions posed by insured and attorneys.
- Analyzed information gathered by investigations to report findings and recommendations.
- Documented all investigation activity and presented reports to management.
- Reviewed police reports, medical treatment records and physical property damage to determine extent of liability.
- Partnered with legal counsel on litigation cases.
Subrogation Manager
Fred Loya Insurance
San Antonio, TX
10.2013 - 04.2014
- Successfully managed nine Subrogation Adjusters and four Arbitration Specialists
- Increased monthly collections
- Maintained an arbitration win/loss ratio within 3% points of industry standards
- Managed an inventory of over 3,500 files per month
- Collections efforts were concentrated in various states
- Ensured compliance with state regulations, statutes, case law and FLI best practices
- Evaluated cases to determine feasibility in filing arbitration or proceeding to suit
- Contracted with out-of state law firms and other outside vendors to maximize collections
- Oversaw the clean up over 5,000 files and worked closely with IT to improve the claim system for tracking subrogation files.
Staff attorney
Attorney Aliseda & Associates
San Antonio, TX
04.2013 - 10.2013
- For Fred Loya Insurance
- Provide defense for insured
- Partnered with claims to build a strategy for handling suits
- Scheduled and participated in discovery, mediations, depositions, hearings and corresponded with courts, clients and opposing counsel.
Paralegal
Dietz & Associates
San Antonio, TX
11.2011 - 04.2013
- Firm staff counsel for Fred Loya Insurance
- Preformed duties in support of one or more attorneys
- Prepared documents such as Letters, Answers, Motion’s to Compel, Summary
- Judgments Agreed Docket Control Orders and Discovery
- Gathered medical and billing records
- Conducted trial checklists.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence -
Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Houston, Texas 08.1999 - 05.2020
Master of Arts - undefined
St. Mary’s University
08.1999 - 05.2000
Bachelor of Arts - undefined
St. Mary’s University
08.1998 - 05.1999
undefined
08.1992 - 05.1996
Ph.D. -
Texas Tech University School of Law
Lubbock, Texas 08.2000 - 05.2002
Skills
Strong communication skills and detailed orientedAble to multitask and work well under pressure
Proficient in ProDoc, e-file, TimeMatters, Practice Panther, Microsoft Word & Excel
Legal writing
Discovery processes
Negotiation
Bilingual (English & Spanish
Timeline
Experience Associate Attorney
Law Office of George Ruiz, PLLC
12.2020 - 10.2021
Associate Attorney
Anderson & Truitt, PLLC
10.2017 - 12.2020
Staff attorney
Attorney Chavez Legal Group
04.2015 - 08.2022
Litigation Adjuster
Fred Loya Insurance
04.2014 - 04.2015
Subrogation Manager
Fred Loya Insurance
10.2013 - 04.2014
Staff attorney
Attorney Aliseda & Associates
04.2013 - 10.2013
Paralegal
Dietz & Associates
11.2011 - 04.2013
Ph.D. -
Texas Tech University School of Law
08.2000 - 05.2002
Doctor of Jurisprudence -
Thurgood Marshall School of Law
08.1999 - 05.2020
Master of Arts - undefined
St. Mary’s University
08.1999 - 05.2000
Bachelor of Arts - undefined
St. Mary’s University
08.1998 - 05.1999
undefined
08.1992 - 05.1996