Eric Michael Garza Email & Phone Number

Bloomington, Illinois, Us

• Serve as lead counsel in first-party and third-party insurance defense cases, which included conducting client meetings, drafting pleadings and motions, taking and defending depositions of parties and experts, and conducting direct settlement negotiations with opposing counsel and/or attending mediation. • Serve on national corporate leadership committees, including legal department’s process improvement group, volunteer and pro bono committee, and LGBT initiatives committee. • Recognized as legal department’s 2023 Pro Bono Award Winner.

San Antonio, Texas, Us

• Managed a docket of 50-70 matters comprised of first-party and third-party insurance defense cases.• Served as lead counsel on assigned matters, responsible for preparation of pleadings, motions, trial briefs, and other legal documents, in addition to taking and defending depositions of parties and experts, conducting direct settlement negotiations with opposing counsel and/or attending mediation to resolve matters, and reporting all significant events to handling claims representative.• Served as second-chair at trial, including presenting opening statement and conducting cross-examination of plaintiff, which resulted in no-negligence finding in favor of defendant client.

Global, Gb

• Assisted partners from various divisions within the firm, including products liability, financial services, and employment and labor industry divisions.• Assisted corporate clients (e.g., AT&T, Cooper Tires, Discount Tire, and Wal-Mart) through all phases of complex commercial litigation matters, including initial fact investigation and strategy phase, written discovery, pleadings and motions, and preparation for alternative dispute resolution.• Assisted global financial services clients with third-party litigation defense, declaratory relief litigation and coverage advice requiring analysis of multiple lines and years of coverage.• Assisted with large-scale document review, analyzing documents to determine responsiveness, relevance, confidentiality, privilege, and issue specific relevance.• Served as Co-Chair of the Pride Network, a national position, which aimed to create an inclusive environment for LGBT employees, as well as to develop relationships with client networks and the wider LGBT community.

San Antonio, Tx, Us

• Served as counsel in third-party insurance defense cases, primarily defending commercial vehicle operators, including conducting client meetings, written discovery, and drafting of pleadings and motions.• Counseled commercial clients on actual and potential litigation matters and transactions, e.g., drafted economic development agreement for an aviation corporation seeking tax incentive from city government.

Woodland Hills, Ca, Us

• Served as lead counsel in first-party and third-party insurance defense cases, defending individual persons and businesses in personal injury and construction defect litigation, with duties similar to current position.• Significant achievement included serving as second chair in jury trial and securing defense-oriented verdict (nominal jury award) in Hidalgo County jury trial.

San Antonio, Texas, Us

• Assisted with issuing and adjusting automobile and homeowner insurance policies.• Provided customers with explanations of coverage, term definitions, limitations and exclusions.• Held General Lines - Property & Casualty Insurance License issued by Texas Department of Insurance.

Dual Degree Graduate - Doctor Of Jurisprudence & Master Of Business Administration

Bachelor Of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Entrepreneurial And Small Business Operations