Our Team

Essential Discovery Leadership Team

Meet Susan A. Callender, Esq.

As Founder and President of Essential Discovery, Susan Callender is responsible for global field operations including consulting, alliances and client programs. Bringing more than 25 years of legal expertise, Susan oversees the development and execution of the company’s discovery and document review service to ensure that the highest caliber of contract attorney teams are available for client projects.

Prior to Essential Discovery, Susan spent nine years in the international law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. As Special Counsel, Susan represented clients in a variety of intellectual property matters, including those related to patent and trade secrets. Susan also carried out case and trial management for major International Trade Commission (ITC) matters and participated in creating electronic databases for large-scale multilingual and multiparty discovery. In addition, she successfully conducted motion practice in a variety of venues.

Susan began her career as Assistant Public Defender in the Office of the Public Defender of Contra Costa County. Her time there was spent participating on defense teams for clients charged with capital offenses.

Susan has extensive experience speaking on topics that range from digital rights management and the Internet to issues surrounding discovery management and document review in federal district courts and the ITC.

Susan earned a J.D. from Stanford Law School and a bachelor’s in politics from New York University. She is a licensed attorney under the State Bar of California and a member of several legal organizations including the State Bar of California and American Bar Association.

Meet Shelly Blackman

Shelly Blackman is Essential Discovery’s National Director of Business Development. With nearly 30 years of experience in the legal industry, Shelly’s primary focus is on strengthening Essential Discovery’s global offerings. Additionally, Shelly is responsible for key account management, expansion of e-discovery and document review services and developing strategic business partnerships.

Shelly comes to Essential Discovery with eight years as Business Development Manager for Exclusively Legal, a legal search and placement firm. There, Shelly developed the company’s document review services, making Exclusively Legal a premier provider of on-site and off-site document review management in San Diego and additional key markets. Other professional experience includes law office management and serving as Director of Operations for his family owned legal placement agency in Los Angeles.

Shelly is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, is involved with the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program and with the nonprofit organization, SAY San Diego. Additional legal community contributions include ongoing consultation services to a variety of law firms, various judgeships for legal professional awards ceremonies and serving as a panelist for the national conference of the American Association for Paralegal Education.

Meet Kira Smartt

As a Senior Recruiter, Kira Smartt is responsible for recruiting attorneys for document review projects. Kira's many years of recruiting experience is complemented by nine years of direct law firm experience and financial consulting expertise.

Previous work experience includes a career at Smith Barney with its private equity group as a financial consultant. There, she was responsible for short- and long-term financial planning strategies. Prior to Smith Barney, Kira worked in a support capacity for two law firms specializing in civil litigation.

Kira chose to transition to the legal staffing industry after a year abroad in 2003 so she could utilize her business acumen and legal expertise. She is widely respected among law firms and corporate clients alike and over the years, has excelled in her role to become a top recruiter and consultant.

Kira frequently presents on topics that include resume and job search strategies, attorneys in transition and more. She's sat as a panel judge for legal recognition awards and is active with Circle of Friends, a charity to aid underprivileged boys. Kira earned a bachelor's in political science from the University of California, San Diego.