Ragin Jennings-Howard

About Ragin Jennings-Howard

Ragin Howard, a Maryland-barred Attorney, has over 13 years of legal experience, including over 7 years in employment law, EEO, Title VII, and contracts, and 6 years in e-discovery, with 2 years focusing on FOIA. Currently, Ms. Howard supports DOS in its construction contract litigation efforts, providing legal research, analysis, writing, and litigation support. Ms. Howard has supported both DOS and DHS/ICE reviewing documents for potential production in response to FOIA requests, focusing on requests in litigation at DOS. She was part of a team that reduced a significant DHS/ICE FOIA backlog resulting in praise for the agency’s progress. She has knowledge and experience applying FOIA and PA exemptions and reviewing large quantities of documents on sensitive and high-profile matters, which require careful review while meeting tight deadlines. Ms. Howard has experience utilizing multiple review platforms, including Relativity, Stratify, and FOIAXpress. In addition to her employment law, e-discovery, and FOIA experience, Ms. Howard has worked in other legal areas, including regulatory compliance, BSA/AML/OFAC policies and procedures for regulated financial institutions, KYC (Know Your Customer) remediation efforts in response to regulatory actions, financial crime risk assessments, trademarks, contracts, and trial support.

Experience

1. Attorney Specialist

   Deloitte

   Feb 2015 — Present · Arlington, VA

   Advisory Project Delivery Specialist, Deloitte Transactions & Business Analytics, Government and Public Services, February 2015 to Present• Advising the Department of State (DOS), Office of Overseas Building Operations (OBO), in construction contract litigation and settlement negotiation, and streamlining cases for DOS client. Drafting pleadings, Contracting Officer Final Decisions, and responses to Requests for Equitable Adjustment (REAs) for DOS client. Trial support, legal research, document review, and case coordination with team of DOS attorneys, construction experts, and other Deloitte staff.• Anti-Money Laundering Analyst for KYC remediation for a Tier 1 financial institution, responsible for understanding and adhering to production targets, remediation processes, and procedures in accordance with CDD and EDD on MMB High-Risk Customers, conducting investigations related to KYC, and ensuring due diligence and compliance with federal consent order, Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), PATRIOT Act, regulatory standards, and internal controls.• Advised the Department of State (DOS), the Office of the Legal Adviser Management, in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation and Privacy Act (PA) matters and streamlined FOIA litigation cases for DOS client. Reviewed documents, applying FOIA exemptions and potential redactions. Coordinated 100+ FOIA litigation cases with team of DOS attorneys and other Deloitte staff. Conducted legal research, prepared privilege log, and drafted motions and pleadings related to FOIA matters.• Supported DHS/ICE in processing FOIA requests by applying the current FOIA procedures and PA to safeguard access and dissemination of personally identifiable information (PII), institutional practice and tactics, and privileged communications, and provided ICE FOIA office with business model transformation insights through continuous process improvement. Significantly reduced agency FOIA backlog reviewing documents in Relativity and FOIAXpress.

Education

• Parkview High School

  Diploma

  1994 — 1997

• Howard University School of Law

  J.D.

  2005 — 2008

• Howard University

  Bachelor of Arts

  1997 — 2001

• Heidelberg High School

  HIGH SCHOOL/SECONDARY DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES

  1994 — 1994

• Omega Studios Recording Arts & Sciences

  Certificate

  2004 — 2005

Skills

• Insurance
• Trademarks
• Mediation
• Patent Litigation
• Litigation
• Fundraising
• Trade Secrets
• Copyright Law
• Legal Writing
• Intellectual Property
• Employment Discrimination
• Legal Advice
• Legal Research
• Employment Law
• Westlaw
• Licensing
• Civil Rights
• Entertainment Law
• Civil Litigation
• Entertainment