Laura Leonardo Email and Phone Number

-Identify and implement methods to improve department efficiency and productivity, as well as colleague engagement.-Develop, implement and manage department technology and resource initiatives, including knowledge management program, SharePoint sites and subscriptions.-Manage a centralized onboarding process, conducting new colleague orientations, training, and coordination with IT, facilities, and managers.-Manage department e-billing and matter management system, completing first- level invoice review of all incoming invoices across multiple departments.-Coordinate and manage over 400 outside counsel relationships, including rate and contract negotiations, performance evaluation analysis, billing and usage across the enterprise.-Manage over 90 third party vendor risk relationships, coordinating completion and analysis of various risk programs.-Coordinate a team of 11 Paralegals, ensuring proper workload assignment, attorney relationships and training.-Manage and maintain department budget, analyzing spend and colleague reimbursement.-Establish strong relationships with stakeholders across the enterprise including Finance, IT, Corporate Communications, Sourcing, Third Party Risk Management and other operational groups.-Manage internal communications for department leadership, including authoring and publishing a monthly newsletter.

• Provide direct oversight to 8 in-office and 40 international remote staff, spanning all areas of firm operations.• Extensive process creation and development. Created 30+ workflows, tasking and training aids for multiple case types.• Provide guidance and process mapping to members of management and senior management. • Conduct oversight of all office functions, including technical setup, equipment maintenance, client experience.• Aided in the creation of all firm policies including confidentiality and compliance, employee handbook, and conflict checks.• Serve as liaison for all firm legal staff and IT services team. Provide direct support for case management system.• Extensive handling of employee relations; interviews, hiring, coaching, mentoring, performance reviews, staff appreciation, terminations.

• Manage and mentor a team of 26+ staff members, including a 6-person management team.• Conduct review of client and internal scorecards to identify areas of needed improvement, anticipate changing trends, and formulate action plans as needed. Intense focus on effective communication, timeline management, urgent decision making, problem solving and client satisfaction.• Create, monitor, and maintain annual department budget. Keep detailed, ongoing accounts of department headcount, overtime hours, production numbers and curtailments/avoidable costs.• Build and maintain positive working relationships with staff, clients, attorneys, fellow managers, senior management, and external contacts.• Analyze, research, and implement an average of 20+ monthly incoming directives. Ensure accurate execution by department staff to confirm compliance with all federal and client mandated policies.

• Completed research and corresponding implementation of a new web-based Learning Management System for the firm.• Wrote, edited, and produced multiple and varied training courses and videos to improve content retention and employee engagement. Self-taught Camtasia and GoAnimate programs.• Assisted in the creation and content management of the firm blog. Drafted, edited, and published weekly blog posts for staff engagement through a shared internal web system.

• Hired, trained, and monitored a team of 14+ part time employees, as well as a full time Assistant Manager.• Independently created and implemented foundations for the department structure.• Regularly handled major employee disciplinary actions and various personnel issues.• Drafted and maintained up-to-date written training materials for over 60 different tasks catering to numerous day-shift department needs and requirements.

• Assisted in creating the department's portion of the custom-built case management system, CaseE. Met with developers, wrote rule sets, tested all aspects of the program, and provided feedback to ensure smooth transitions and minimal errors. Conducted training for all department employees and measured success of each aspect of the process throughout its implementation.• Developed a quality control process for the department and provided in-depth training to department employees.