American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of Excellence, 2009
University at Buffalo, Political Science
Ph.D. Program, Buffalo, NY
M.A., June 2006, GPA: 3.788, Concentrations:
Russia/Post-Soviet States, Comparative Politics
Thesis: French Wine Industry in Crisis: A Case of Intellectual Property Rights
Gone too Far?
University at Albany, History Graduate Program, Albany, NY
M.A., December 2002, GPA: 3.4,
Concentrations: Eastern European/Russian Cultural History
Binghamton University,
Binghamton, NY
B.S., Biology, May 1998
LEGAL EXPERIENCE
6/11-Present
Contract Attorney/Law
Offices of Vanessa Brown Hanks, Rochester, NY
- Law
Office: Provides immigration, debt collection, employment, discrimination, and general practice legal services.
- Forster & Garbus, LLP: Attend court appearances as of counsel for banks in credit card default actions, in order to negotiating and entering into settlement
agreements with debtors or represent their interests in court proceedings.
- Piede Sun LLP: Researched, drafted, and argued several applications before New
York Supreme Courts to subpoena NY witnesses to attend a capital sentencing proceeding in Louisiana for a death penalty case under CPL 640.10. Drafted petitions, affidavits in support, orders, subpoenas, and memoranda of law.
- Law Offices of Stuart L. Plotnick: Drafted motions in limine, jury instructions, and a trial memorandum for a case alleging breach of contract and fraud. Researched subrogation issues and ERISA liens for a personal injury settlement.
8/09-8/10
Baltimore City Circuit Court, 8th Judicial Circuit, Baltimore, MD
2009-2010
Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Kaye A. Allison & Visiting Judges
- Litigation process and case management experience.
- Worked on civil, felony, and misdemeanor dockets.
- Assisted with Business & Technology track cases involving complex business disputes.
- Performed legal research and wrote memoranda on various civil and criminal law
issues.
- Screened motions for adherence to court rules and legal sufficiency.
- Drafted court documents, including, orders, judgments, and opinions.
- Assisted with civil and criminal trials, violation of probation and post-conviction cases,
administrative and District Court appeals, and motion hearings.
- Assisted the judge with discovery motions, disputes, and hearings.
6/08-8/08
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Washington, DC
Summer Legal Intern - Legal Division, Enforcement Section
Researched and wrote memoranda on banking law and consumer protection issues, including
determining the appropriateness of enforcement action.
- Researched and analyzed cases involving unfair debt collection practices, violations of the Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices statute, and the Truth in Lending Act.
- Researched and analyzed cases involving potential violations of the anti-money laundering
compliance program requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act, Suspicious Activity Reports, and various provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
- Assisted with litigation against a subprime credit card company and associated banks.
2/08-4/25/08
Internal Revenue Service, Office of Chief Counsel, Baltimore, MD
Legal Intern - Small Business and Self-Employed Division
- Managed cases for litigation at the United States Tax Court.
- Performing legal research on taxation issues.
- Drafting court documents and wrote legal memoranda.
- Negotiated settlements with taxpayer respondents.
- Argued motions to dismiss for lack of prosecution at the U.S. Tax Court.
5/07-8/07
Delawares Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Unit, Wilmington, DE
Janet D. Steiger Fellow - American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law
- Researched and wrote memoranda on consumer protection and antitrust issues.
- Wrote the analysis for a summary judgment motion and memorandum that was granted.
- Researched foreclosure scams, joinder of out-of-state entities to reach funds where an accountant absconded with his clients assets, deceptive advertising and representations, state identity theft provisions, the unauthorized practice of law, and more.
- Researched Delawares Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Delawares Consumer Fraud Act, Delawares Antitrust Act, and related federal statutes.
OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Editor,
through a Kyoto University Professor, Buffalo, NY, 2005
Editor,
University at Buffalo, Editorial Assistance Program, Buffalo, NY 2004-05
Claims Examiner, Blue Cross Blue Shield, 2001-02
Website Editor, New York State Archives, Albany, NY 2000-01
VOLUNTEER WORK
Volunteer Legal Services Project, Rochester, NY, 2011: Interview individuals denied unemployment insurance benefits and seeking VLSPs assistance with legal representation. Represent such clients for unemployment benefit hearings