Kelly M. Ellis

Kelly has substantial experience representing clients in business tort litigation involving allegations of fraud, breach of contract, trade secret theft, and/or unfair competition, as well as mass tort cases alleging personal injury and/or product defects. She has experience in all aspects of commercial litigation, from pleadings and pre-trial motions to trials and appeals. Drawing from her end-to-end civil practice, she is both a trial attorney and a critical motions attorney, coordinating case strategy and writing briefs designed to serve both short-term and long-term business objectives.

Her notable past engagements include securing a US$100M jury verdict on behalf of a software company in a complex trade secret case, representing a logistics company over a two-week federal jury trial leading to a favorable post-trial settlement, successfully advocating for individual arbitration on behalf of an insurance client facing putative class action litigation, and obtaining an early-stage dismissal for a pharmaceutical client charged with antitrust conspiracy. She maintains an active pro bono practice, representing incarcerated individuals in habeas appeals and Section 1983 cases, as well as asylum seekers in immigration proceedings. She also advises pro se litigants each month on federal court practice and procedure as part of the U.S. District Court’s Hibbler Memorial Pro Se Assistance Program.

Prior to joining the firm, Kelly served as a law clerk to the Honorable Amy J. St. Eve of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Prior to her federal clerkship, Kelly practiced commercial litigation for an international law firm in New York City, focusing her practice on complex contract disputes and federal securities law.