Intro
Ellen represents and advises owners, developers, public agencies, general contractors, and subcontractors in all manner of construction and land use-related disputes. She maintains a busy litigation practice representing both plaintiffs and defendants in state courts, federal courts, and arbitration tribunals pertaining to issues including delay claims, construction defect, design build agreements, design defects, defending and challenging land use entitlements, code enforcement, government tort claims act, and section 1983 claims.
On the transactional side, Ellen frequently advises landowners, developers and public agency clients in land use and environmental regulatory matters and has experience conducting land use due diligence, preparing and processing entitlement applications, ensuring compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Subdivision Map Act, the Housing Accountability Act, and other land use and environmental legislation, and representing clients in administrative proceedings in front of federal, regional and state agencies.
Areas of Focus
Education
Academic Distinction
UC Davis Law Review, Senior Articles Editor
Legal Research & Writing Teaching Assistant
Trial Practice Honors Board, TYLA Competition Chair
Marin and Santa Clara County Public Defender Offices, Intern
Admissions and Courts
Successful defense of a development company against construction-related claims for additional compensation by design-builder in excess of $10MM related to the design and construction of two assisted living facilities in Northern California (with a collective project value in excess of $50MM)
California Lawyers Association, Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Legal Services Award (2020-2022)
Judicial Extern to the Honorable James T. Chou and the Honorable Roy O. Chernus, Marin County Superior Court