TARA L. MASON, ESQ.

2806 Verde Valley Manvel, TX 77578

(cell) 504-559-0499 (e-mail) taramasonesq@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND / OBJECTIVE

Mrs. Mason is an experienced in-house corporate litigation/trial attorney, who recently relocated to Houston,

Texas from the Greater New Orleans area. She is currently seeking a legal position in which to utilize her skills

and experience.

In Mrs. Mason’s last position, she managed claims in litigation for a Fortune 100 insurance company, which

involved directing litigation strategy, reviewing and revising pleadings, overseeing discovery and document

collection efforts, attending trials and hearings, and negotiating settlements. Mrs. Mason also managed and

provided oversight of litigation matters referred to outside counsel, as well as regularly audited legal bills

submitted by outside counsel and support vendors to maintain litigation costs within budget parameters.

Mrs. Mason’s legal practice experience also includes handling all aspects of litigation matters from the initial

notice of claims that are in suit through final disposition. This required her to develop litigation strategy plans to

bring cases to successful resolutions. She frequently interacted with business unit personnel, litigation support

staff, opposing counsel, court personnel, expert witnesses, and fact witnesses. She regularly prepared

responsive pleadings, as well as conducted discovery, wrote pre-trial motions and briefs, appeared in court, and

advocated cases through trial or arbitration. Mrs. Mason also routinely provided written case status update

reports to her insured clients and corporate claims, customers to keep them informed in each case. This allowed

her to continually formulate strategies and theories, which maximized the protection of client and corporate

interests, as each case developed. Finally, she regularly negotiated tenders of defense and case settlements

through formal mediations.

Mrs. Mason has been a licensed attorney for almost nineteen years. She also provides insured clients and

corporate claims, customers practical legal advice on how to achieve the best outcome in each of their cases

through her experience in the areas of insurance, employment discrimination, premises liability, products

liability, asbestos, and Hurricane/Mass Catastrophe litigation, as well as her criminal court clerkship.

Finally, while practicing in Louisiana, Mrs. Mason remained active in the legal community and bar association.

She was appointed by Louisiana’s Chief Justice Johnson to serve as a Member for the Louisiana Attorney

Disciplinary Board and previously worked with the Adjudicative and Administrative Committees on the Board.

She also previously served as an Adjunct Instructor in the Paralegal Studies Program at Tulane University.

In sum, Mrs. Mason has regularly utilized her legal, teaching, training, negotiation, and disciplinary board

experiences to build strong internal and external corporate relationships. Through her corporate litigation work,

Mrs. Mason continues to aspire to assist institutions reach “win-win” solutions to their legal challenges, while

facilitating new opportunities.

EXPERIENCE / ACHIEVEMENTS

IN-HOUSE TRIAL ATTORNEY Metairie, LA 04/13 – 04/15

For Nationwide Insurance (Full time)

CONTRACT ATTORNEY Metairie, LA 11/11 – 12/12

For Nationwide Insurance (Part time)

Manage a full case load of approximately 70 files as first chair trial attorney for commercial and

property and casualty insurance cases, as well as complex and high exposure cases

Conduct jury and bench trials

Draft exceptions, motions in limine, motions for summary judgment on commercial and property and

casualty insurance issues, as well as present oral argument on all pre-trial motions

Manage work flow for paralegal and administrative assistant on all assigned files

Conduct depositions for fact and expert witnesses

Draft original and reply briefs to writ applications and appeals as well as present oral argument on all

post-trial motions

Draft litigation reports and budget analysis for all assigned claims adjusters

Negotiate settlements and contractual tenders of defense

Managed and provided oversight of litigation matters referred to outside counsel

Advise clients and customers on contractual obligations to ensure compliance with state and federal

regulatory requirements

TULANE UNIVERSITY Harahan, LA 7/10 – 12/12

Adjunct Instructor (Part time)

Draft course syllabi and instruct paralegal students enrolled in Internship Practicum, Litigation I, and

Litigation II courses

Conduct lectures on best paralegal litigation practices and how to work as part of a legal team through

in-person lectures and the use of Blackboard assignment and project postings

Instruct students on problem solving methods to assist in moving legal disputes to resolution

Engage students with in-class mock interviews to assist students with interpersonal employee skills

Conference with law firm and agency representatives regarding the performance of student interns

Assist school director with the placement of students within law firm or agencies for internship

assignments

LOBMAN, CARNAHAN, BATT, ANGELLE & NADER New Orleans, LA 9/97 – 9/10

Partner

Supervised case assignments for two associates, a paralegal, and a secretary

Led discovery development and defended national client involved in complex asbestos litigation

Developed defense litigation plans and strategies for insurers and their respective insureds involved in

bodily injury, as well as residential and commercial property damage lawsuits in federal and state courts

Developed defense litigation plans and strategies for insurers involved in coverage disputes

Coordinated litigation with claims personnel for the execution of defense plans by providing 30-day

case status updates with analysis of coverage, scope of liability, and potential damages

Led bench trials in 24th JDC, Civil District Court, and 1st City Court Orleans, as well as arbitrations

Successfully led litigation and settlement negotiations for sixty residential and commercial property

insurance Katrina-related lawsuits by collaborating with in-house counsel and national trial counsel

through daily and weekly scheduled conferences

Conducted oral argument on motions and regularly attended hearings and pre-trial conferences within

numerous state courts, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals for the State of Louisiana, and the United State

District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Deposed expert and fact witnesses, as well as conducted corporate depositions, for discovery and trials

Conducted mediations for alternative dispute resolution of bodily injury and property damage lawsuits

Led case management of employment discriminations claims under Title VII in federal court

Argued Title VII employment discrimination cases before appointed arbitrators with the American

Arbitration Association

JUDGE BONNIE JACKSON, 19TH JDC Baton Rouge, LA 9/96 – 9/97

Law Clerk

Drafted legal memorandums in preparation for status conferences, hearings, trials, and sentencing

Drafted Judge’s Orders in response to pre-trial and post-trial motions

ASSOCIATION & BOARD MEMBERSHIPS

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board Member (Dec. 2011 – April 2015)

Diversity and Inclusion Council Member for Nationwide Insurance Company (Jan. 2014 – April 2015)

President of the Louisiana Association of Black Women Attorneys (Jan. 2012 – April, 2013)

Paralegal Studies Strategic Planning Committee Member for Tulane School of Continuing Studies (July

2011 – Dec., 2012)

St. John the Baptist Parish’s Regional Minority Representative for the South Central Planning and

Development Loan Administration Board (March 2011 – Nov., 2011)

Diversity and Inclusion Committee Member for the River Parish Chamber of Commerce (July 2010 –

Nov., 2011)

DRI Diversity Expo Planning Committee Member (July 2010 – June 2011)

Board of Directors Member for the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel (May 2010 – Sept. 2011)

President-Elect of the Louisiana Association of Black Women Attorneys (April 2010 – Dec. 2011)

Legislative Committee Chair for The Insurance Woman of Greater New Orleans (2004 – 2005)

Louisiana State Bar Association (August 1996 – present)

Texas State Bar Association (** application pending **)

EDUCATION

LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER

Juris Doctorate – Grad. Date: 5/96 Bar Roll No.: 24544

Tullis Winner, 1996 Moot Court Competition and 1996 Appellate Advocacy Board

GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Bachelor of Science, International Affairs – Grad. Date: 6/92