Christine E. Ellice

Christine Ellice’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and class action defense.  Ms. Ellice is experienced in servicing clients in the consumer financial services and banking space, and has also represented clients in the entertainment industry in film finance, copyright, defamation, and licensing litigation.  Ms. Ellice represents both individuals and established corporations, as well as founders, start-ups, and early stage companies in business/partnership disputes.

Ms. Ellice is valued for her skills as a trial lawyer, which she employs to deliver results to her clients at all stages of litigation by bringing a balance of creativity, efficiency, and practicality to the courtroom.  Ms. Ellice has tried multiple cases to verdict or judgment in court and arbitration, including one class action tried to jury verdict in the Northern District of California. 

Presently based in Los Angeles, Ms. Ellice began practicing law in Stroock’s New York office and is also admitted to practice in state and federal courts there.  Prior to beginning her legal career, Ms. Ellice worked as a media planner for an advertising agency in New York City where she managed multi-million dollar media budgets in executing national and regional marketing plans.  Ms. Ellice earned her undergraduate degree in business from McGill University and her juris doctorate from Emory University School of Law.

Ms. Ellice is actively involved in representing clients in pro bono matters and serves as lead trial counsel for asylum cases contested by the Department of Homeland Security.  Ms. Ellice is a five-time recipient of Stroock’s Public Service Project Award for commitment to and achievements in pro bono work. Additionally, Ms. Ellice serves on the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Council, is a founding member of the firm’s Anti-Racist Ideas and Action Committee, serves as the co-chair of the Los Angeles office’s Women’s Affinity Group, and leads initiatives internally on recruiting, mentoring and training attorneys. 

• Accounting and Auditor Liability Defense
• Asset Management
• Broker-Dealer Litigation
• Consumer Financial Services Defense
• Directors and Officers
• Financial Services Litigation, Regulation and Enforcement
• Litigation
• Privacy/California Consumer Privacy Act
• Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement Actions

• Represents HSBC Bank USA, N.A. in three companion state court cases involving allegations of violations of the California Invasion of Privacy Act.  Tried one case to complete defense judgment for the bank following a two-week bench trial in San Diego Superior Court.
• Successfully opposed class certification on behalf of national retailer in putative class action alleging violations of the Song-Beverly Act.
• Represented two of three partners of a successful start-up in the health care space in a wide-ranging business dispute. 
• Represented a private equity fund in a confidential arbitration arising out of an M&A transaction.
• Represented underwriter defendants in two class action lawsuits in the Central District of California alleging violations of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with public offerings of common stock in Chinese companies.
• Defended an investment management company and its principals in a FINRA arbitration regarding a stock purchase transaction on the Indonesian Stock Exchange.
• Defended a national bank in a confidential seven-week long arbitration involving claims for RICO, fraud, breach of contract and others arising out of the financing of over 20 independent films.  Obtained a complete defense verdict for the bank and its officers and over $9 million in attorneys’ fees.
• Represented a well-known auction house in a dispute with an international art dealer over more than $16 million of artwork in New York state court.  Successfully resolved the case and obtained complete dismissal of a counter-suit.

• Super Lawyers, Rising Star

• Board Member, Courage California

California; New York

U.S. District Court: Eastern District of New York; U.S. District Court: Southern District of New York; U.S. District Court: Central District of California; U.S. District Court: Northern District of California; U.S. District Court: Southern District of California; U.S. District Court: Eastern District of California; U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

J.D., Emory University School of Law, 2007

BCom., McGill University, 2002