Manuel Ugarte, Jr.

Experience

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  The Greenlining Institute

  Jun 2008 - Aug 2008

  Summer Associate

  Organized a convening in the Bay Area of key stakeholders in the health care industry focused on creating methods and partnerships to increase health workforce diversity. Drafted questionnaire for directors of educational pipeline programs inquiring about best possible approaches to educate the youth on medical careers and partnerships with the private sector. Reached out to pharmaceutical companies in efforts to create philanthropic partnerships benefiting the Bay Area youth and their pursuit of higher education. Show less

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  East Bay Community Law Center

  May 2009 - Jul 2009

  Legal Intern

  • Assisted with the provision of legal services to low-income clients, primarily with debt collection, bankruptcy, and civil matters. • Drafted initial and responsive legal documents; wrote motions, requests for discovery, and demand letters; and made phone calls asserting clients’ rights.• Engaged in negotiations with creditors and collection agencies and asserted federal and state fair debt collection statute counterclaims under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and California’s Rosenthal Act. Show less

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  Penn State's Center for the Study of Mergers and Acquisitions

  Feb 2010 - Apr 2011

  Research Assistant

  • Researched federal and state health care regulatory laws for treatise chapter on health care business transactions, from a mergers and acquisitions perspective.• Developed an introductory framework of the health insurance and managed care industry for deal lawyers.• Analyzed various healthcare compliance and enforcement issues involved in business transactions affecting physicians and contracting parties.

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  Bay Area Legal Aid

  May 2010 - Aug 2010

  Summer Law Clerk

  • Represented clients at informal hearings before the Social Security Administration regarding overpayments and wrongful denials of disability benefits. • Provided case management assistance and contacted federal and state agencies on behalf of clients to obtain case histories.

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  Penn State's Center for Immigrants' Rights

  Aug 2010 - Dec 2010

  Clinical Law Student

  • Prepared a toolkit for attorneys and advocates on “refugee adjustment” under the Immigration and Nationality Act.• Reviewed legal standards, practice advisories, and related materials pertaining to “refugee adjustment.”• Collected information from practicing attorneys and advocates.

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  Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas

  Oct 2011 - Mar 2014

  -Researched and drafted opinions, bench memorandum, and other legal correspondence on issues of family law, specifically those relating to dependency-Presided as Juvenile Hearing Master when the Judge is not presiding and hear all types of dependency cases-Managed intake of motions, affidavits, petitions, and other filings for chambers. -Drafted opinions, letters, and other correspondence for the Judge.-Observed criminal non-jury bench trials, and sentencing proceedings.-Performed research on evidentiary issues, appeals, motions in limine and post trial motions.

  • Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Edward C. Wright

    Jan 2012 - Mar 2014

  • Judicial Fellow to the Honorable Daniel J. Anders

    Oct 2011 - Dec 2011
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  Law Office of Manuel Ugarte, Jr., Esq.

  Apr 2012 - Mar 2014

  Solo Practitioner

  -Managed practice dealing primarily with criminal defense, minor civil disputes, landlord/tenant court, and traffic appeals-Prepared and argued motions for trial (such as: motion to dismiss for violation of a defendant’s right to a speedy trial and motion to suppress evidence due to 4th Amendment violations, amongst other grounds)- Certified arbitrator for Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas’ Civil Division Compulsory Arbitration Center.

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  Law Offices of Tahir Mella, PC

  Mar 2014 - Dec 2015

  Associate Attorney
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  Rencher Law Group, P.C.

  Mar 2016 - Sept 2016

  Litigation Assistant
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  Landerholm Immigration, APC

  Nov 2016 - Dec 2020

  Managing Attorney
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  Bowles & Verna LLP

  Jan 2021 - Mar 2024

  Litigation Attorney
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  Lewis Brisbois

  Apr 2024 - now

  Partner