Sara Bishop

Experience

• 

  Clark Hill PLC

  Sept 2005 - Dec 2008

  Litigation Associate

  Handled civil litigation in range of areas, including insurance defense, commercial litigation, municipal law, and construction law. Managed all aspects of cases pending in state and Federal courts, including drafting pleadings, conducting factual investigations and legal research, preparing and arguing motions, preparing written discovery requests and responses, taking and defending depositions, and conducting settlement negotiations. Played key role in building successful structured settlement transfer practice. Show less

• 

  U.S. Customs and Border Protection

  Jan 2009 - May 2013

  Attorney

  Represented U.S. Customs and Border Protection in administrative litigation proceedings before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and in arbitrations. Independently planned, organized, and managed all aspects of these cases. Prepared litigation reports and referrals to the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Department of Justice in civil litigation involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Provided assistance to those offices in cases involving immigration and customs laws. Provided legal support and advice on all areas of law enforced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including customs, immigration, trade, and seizure and forfeiture laws, as well as laws involving employment, ethics, and FOIA requests for official records and information. Show less

• 

  FEMA

  Jun 2013 - Jun 2019

  Served as lead legal counsel for senior executive management of Region II (New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Supported regional leadership in meetings and relationships with FEMA headquarters and Federal, state, local, and tribal partners by providing legal counsel, policy guidance, and strategic consultation on a broad range of areas impacting FEMA’s operations. Routinely delivered such guidance and advice for multiple and complex issues under high-pressure and time-sensitive conditions, including during the preparation for and immediate response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Managed team of geographically-disbursed attorneys. Provided legal guidance, advice, and training to Region II leadership and clients concerning Federal disaster relief laws, regulations, policies, and executive orders, as well as Federal ethics, employment, privacy, information sharing (including FOIA), and procurement laws and regulations. Show less Assisted clients and external stakeholders, including the States of New York and New Jersey, the City of New York, local and tribal governments, private non-profit organizations, and voluntary organizations with understanding and applying relevant laws, regulations, policies, and guidance to aid in strategic and creative problem-solving and implementation of FEMA programs in order to make stakeholder-centric decisions that are effective and agreeable to all parties. Conducted legal research and prepared memoranda of law, memoranda of understanding, interagency agreements, and correspondence incorporating research and analyses of laws, regulations, and policies. Show less

  • Regional Counsel, Region II

    Mar 2016 - Jun 2019

  • Assistant Regional Counsel, Region II

    Nov 2015 - Mar 2016

  • Attorney Advisor

    Jun 2013 - Nov 2015
• 

  U.S. Customs and Border Protection

  Jul 2019 - Jul 2022

  Attorney
• 

  Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

  Aug 2022 - now

  Senior Attorney