Practice Areas
Litigation
Education
LL.M., John Marshall Law School, International Business and Trade Law
J.D., John Marshall Law School
B.S., Northern Illinois University
Bar & Court Admissions
Illinois
Florida
Northern District of Illinois
Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar
Central District of Illinois
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
United States Supreme Court
Memberships
Illinois State Bar Association
Florida Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
- Women in the Law Committee
Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
- Municipal Law Committee
DuPage County Bar Association
International Association of Chiefs of Police
Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police
Our People
Ellen K. Emery
Partner
Ellen practices in the areas of litigation and litigation management for both the firm’s governmental and private sector clients.
She has extensive jury trial experience and has successfully represented clients on the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal courts. She is lead counsel in many civil rights, constitutional, Title VII, wrongful death and dismemberment, class actions, large property damage and other high profile cases. She also supervises and mentors the firm’s associates in all aspects of litigation, and is responsible for successfully maintaining several large litigation portfolios for clients of the firm.
Prior to joining Ancel Glink, Ellen was Associate General Counsel and Director of Litigation for Metra, Chicago’s commuter railroad. She was lead counsel in many trials for Metra, supervised all outside counsel, and was instrumental in developing and implementing new investigative procedures and trial techniques. Before that, Ellen was a litigation partner at a large Chicago law firm, as well as a Special Assistant States’ Attorney for Cook County.
Ellen has served as a Judge for intramural moot court competitions, as well as for the National Appellate Advocacy Competition finals for the American Bar Association.
Ellen previously served as an elected Village Trustee in Westmont, where she chaired the Finance & Administration and Public Safety committees. She lives in Westmont with her husband, Brant, and their two Jack Russells.
Prior to joining Ancel Glink, Ellen was Associate General Counsel and Director of Litigation for Metra, Chicago’s commuter railroad. She was lead counsel in many trials for Metra, supervised all outside counsel, and was instrumental in developing and implementing new investigative procedures and trial techniques. Before that, Ellen was a litigation partner at a large Chicago law firm, as well as a Special Assistant States’ Attorney for Cook County.
Ellen has served as a Judge for intramural moot court competitions, as well as for the National Appellate Advocacy Competition finals for the American Bar Association.
Ellen previously served as an elected Village Trustee in Westmont, where she chaired the Finance & Administration and Public Safety committees. She lives in Westmont with her husband, Brant, and their two Jack Russells.
Experience
Particular highlights of her recent practice include:
- Successfully defended many wrongful death, dismemberment, and serious personal injury cases at trial, mediation, and settlement conferences to achieve defense verdicts or extremely favorable settlements.
- Successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a myriad of breach of contract and other commercial lawsuits.
Presentations
Ellen is a frequent speaker at local, state, and national municipal organizations, trial practice seminars, and police associations on such subjects as Crisis Management and Catastrophic Response, Preventing Violence Against Public Officials, Successful Partnering with Outside Counsel, as well as developing trial strategies and other trial-related subjects.
Honors & Awards
- Designated by her peers, as a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Civil Rights/Constitutional Law and Government, Municipal and Administrative Law
- Illinois SuperLawyer in Civil Litigation Defense
- LL.M. with high honors in International Business and Trade Law
