Kerry Downes

I worked as a Directorate Business Manager within the Communications and HR Department and also the Strategy and Systems Management Department.

I was responsible for the smooth running of the business affairs of the Director's across the functions of the directorate, creating and managing systems that ensured the effective delivery of the directorates' objectives. I also had line management responsibility for the Team Administrators who provided administration support.

I identified key issues and highlighted any areas for concern to the Director's and worked with colleagues to ensure all directorate documentation was of a high standard of presentation and quality, complying with corporate identity guidelines.

My role also included orgainsing diaries, travel, minute taking, dictation, audio typing, HR issues, presentations, training, proof reading, screening telephone calls, compiling Agendas and project work.

I worked in the Personal Injury and Conveyancing Department assisting the Solicitors which included: drafting Witness Statements, Particulars of Claim, Applications to the Court, investigation work, calculating fees, writing letters to the Defendants and Clients, instruting medical experts and Counsel, reading through Medical Reports to identify specific areas, checking Deeds, arranging searches and working with the Land Registry

I worked within the Corporate and Commercial Practice Department which dealt with commercial practice, including mergers and acquisitions, mutual funds, corporate finance and debt and equity offerings. I provided PA support to two Partners dealing with international clients, face to face and on the telephone, transcription, coordinating meetings and appointments, proof reading corporate documents and billing professional matters.

I was PA/Secretary to the Head of the Personal Injury Department. My duties as PA were to organise the diary, travel, Court dates, minute taking, dictation, audio typing and filing, working on client's files, meeting with client's giving them basic legal advice, dealing with Defendants and attending and assisting at Court.

I worked with AFR Consortium for 8 years with various roles. I started as a Youth Trainee with basic duties working up to an Office Manager in the United States in which I managed staff in the US office and also UK office. This included the welfare of the staff, health and safety, and recruitment. I also dealt with PA work for the Operations Manager.