VALERIE SUMNER

• Worked for Consilio as a contract attorney with the Quality Control Team, reviewing documents for mass tort litigations in the pre-trial phase utilizing various platforms including Relativity and Everlaw.
• From 2014 to 2022, I focused on raising our children, one of whom was adopted after a challenging and protracted process, traveling with family, and my animal rights advocacy work, including legislative outreach and grassroots efforts with the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Mercy for Animals, and the ASPCA. During this time I continued to work as a legal research and writing attorney on a very limited basis.
• I have not worked during the past ten months due to the illness and ultimate passing of both of my parents and my sister-in-law during this period.

• Provided remote, independent legal research and writing services to law firms in New York and North Carolina, including extensive analysis of applicable case, statutory, and other relevant law, and the drafting of pleadings, motions, and legal briefs on the trial and appellate level.

• Researched and drafted decisions on motion for the Justices of the New York State Supreme Court, Civil Branch, involving diverse areas of law including contract, tort, commercial, constitutional, and bankruptcy. Performed comprehensive legal research relevant to plaintiffs’ and defendants’ submissions, determined final case disposition, and drafted decisions on behalf of the Supreme Court Justices.

In August 2001, I returned to New York State Supreme Court,

having previously been employed there as a Court Attorney

from 1993-1997. After witnessing the September 11 attacks I

chose to leave Lower Manhattan and resume my legal research

and writing practice.

• Provided litigation support to the senior litigation partner, including all legal research and the drafting of pleadings, motions, affidavits, trial and appellate briefs. My employment with the firm was on a temporary basis to assist with case management following the death of a partner.

• Researched and drafted hundreds of decisions on motion for the Justices of the New York State Supreme Court, Civil Branch, involving diverse areas of law including contract, tort, commercial, constitutional, and bankruptcy. Performed comprehensive legal research applicable to plaintiffs’ and defendants’ submissions, determined ultimate case disposition, and drafted final decisions on behalf of the Supreme Court Justices. Distinguished as one of the foremost legal writers among the fifty attorneys comprising the Law Department.

• Performed legal research and drafted decisions for Judge Wexler involving multiple areas of federal civil and criminal law.