JOHN C. ELLIS
Owner
John C. Ellis has over two decades of legal experience litigating civil matters of all ranges of size and complexity in both state and federal court as well as through arbitration proceedings. He is admitted to practice in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. John helps businesses and individuals bring or defend lawsuits related to breach of contract, personal injury, premises liability, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, trademark infringement, and other statutory and common law actions. Additionally, John advises clients in the role of outside general counsel in a manner focused on anticipating and avoiding potential litigation.
John founded Ellis Legal P.C. in 2015 after ten years of practice at a premier commercial litigation boutique in Chicago where he gained experience in a wide array of practice types. At Ellis Legal, John continues to emphasize a client-centered approach endeavoring to provide cost-effective solutions to clients' legal issues. John has managed every phase of complex commercial litigation and his clients have particularly benefited from his specialized abilities in trial and trial preparation. John values frequent client communication and employs an aggressive but civil style of litigation aimed at maintaining prompt and fair results for his clients.
John lives with his wife and four children in La Grange, Illinois.
Phone: 312-967-7629
Email: jellis@ellislegal.com
SAMANTHA DITORE
Of Counsel
As an associate at Ellis Legal, Samantha Ditore uses her extensive trial and appellate experience to effectively litigate claims on behalf of our clients. Samantha represents those clients in a wide array of cases, including statutory claims, probate decedent and guardianship estates, and various commercial litigation matters such as breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, trade secret, and fraud. Whether she is prosecuting a claim or defending against a lawsuit, Samantha pursues and reaches successful resolutions for our clients at all stages, from pre-litigation settlement through summary judgment, jury trial, and when necessary, appeals to the Supreme Court of Illinois.
Prior to becoming an associate at Ellis Legal, Samantha served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. As a prosecutor, she successfully completed numerous jury trials, acting as first chair trial counsel on all but one of them. She additionally conducted over 500 bench trials, substantive motions, and contested hearings relating to both civil and criminal disputes. These matters extended from misdemeanor to felony offenses.
In addition to her trial experience, Samantha brings valuable appellate experience to the firm. While assigned to the Criminal Appeals Division of the State’s Attorney’s Office, she drafted appellate briefs and defended convictions in more than 20 cases involving serious felonies such as Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault and Armed Habitual Criminal charges. During that time, Samantha presented oral argument in the First District Court of Appeals, where she successfully defended and upheld felony convictions of complex financial crimes including stringing of bids and money laundering.
Outside of her work at Ellis Legal, Samantha works as an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at Loyola University Chicago’s School of Law, educating law students in advocacy and evidence through both lecture and demonstration. Samantha also serves on the Committee for the Howlett Cup, an annual mock trial tournament dedicated to fostering community among a diverse group of Chicago area Catholic high school students.
While a student at Loyola, Samantha was twice awarded the Philip H. Corboy Fellowship in trial advocacy, an award given to a select group of students annually who demonstrate superior trial advocacy ability. She was asked to serve as a coach for that same program following graduation, a post she now proudly holds. While in the Fellowship, Samantha attained unprecedented success as an advocate in law school trial competitions, including National Championships at both the 2012 and 2013 William W. Daniels National Invitational, and Regional Championships at both the 2013 and 2014 National Trial Competition Regional Tournament. Samantha was the first and only Loyola student to reach the semi-finals or better in consecutive years at the prestigious National Trial Competition co-hosted by the American College of Trial Attorneys and Texas Young Lawyers Association. She was also honored with the Best Advocate Award at the 2013 William W. Daniels National Invitational, awarded to the most skilled advocate out of over 60 advocates from around the country.
Phone: 312-767-5325
Email: sditore@ellislegal.com
JUSTIN DELUCA
Partner
Justin is an experienced litigator who represents clients in a variety of matters including employment disputes, discrimination claims, whistleblower claims, personal injury, civil right violations, wrongful death claims. He uses his breadth of experience to achieve optimal results for his clients, either through settlement or trial, where he has successfully tried cases in both Federal and State Courts. Justin takes a hands-on approach to his clients’ legal issues and enjoys communicating directly with his clients at all stages of litigation. He believes in being pragmatic while at the same time zealously advocating for his clients.
Justin graduated from Loyola University School of Law where he was awarded the Philip H. Corboy Fellowship in Trial Advocacy, where he formerly worked as Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy, educating Loyola’s national ranked trial team and preparing students to become trial lawyers. Justin is a member of the American Bar Association and the National Employment Lawyer’s Association.
Over the past two years, Justin has achieved millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for his clients including:
$1,2000.00 in an abuse case
$200,000.00 in a sexual harassment and discrimination case
$500,000.00 in a personal injury premises liability case
$300,000.00 in a dog bite case
$375,000.00 in a medical malpractice case
Additional confidential settlements in sex, pregnancy, race and military discrimination cases In his spare time, Justin likes to spend time with his wife, son and dogs and travel the world.
Phone: (312) 878-6130
Email: Jdeluca@ellislegal.com
DAVID DESCHEPPER
Senior Associate
David has experience fighting for his clients in all stages of litigation including depositions, arbitrations, mediations, trials, and appeals. As an Associate, David represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of disputes including fraud, personal injury, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and other statutory matters.
Prior to joining Ellis Legal, David was a trial attorney for the Chicago Transit Authority’s Torts Division where he defended the CTA in personal injury lawsuits. In just his first year as an attorney, David completed three jury trials and secured favorable verdicts for his clients in each. Before representing the defense, David provided pro bono representation to victims of workplace discrimination in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission mediations with Loyola University’s Mediation Clinic.
David graduated from Loyola University School of Law where he was twice chosen as one of ten students in the law school to receive the Philip H. Corboy Fellowship in Trial Advocacy. As a Corboy Fellow, David competed in national trial competitions around the country winning a Regional Championship at the National Trial Competition Regional Tournament where he was awarded Best Advocate. After graduation, David was invited to teach as an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he currently teaches alongside his former professors and current co-workers, Justin DeLuca and Samantha Ditore.
Phone: (312) 219-3304
Email: ddeschepper@ellislegal.com
SOPHIA MAIETTA
Associate
As an Associate Attorney at Ellis Legal, Sophia advises and represents clients on a wide range of civil litigation matters, including breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and personal injury. She is currently admitted to practice law in Illinois and Minnesota.
During law school, Sophia clerked for a personal injury and food safety law firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Not only was Sophia a student practitioner representing clients in a legal clinic dedicated to advocating for social justice, but she also externed for a judge in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District Family Court Division.
At the University of St. Thomas School of Law, Sophia served as President of the Women’s Law Student Association and was a Senior Editor on the school’s Journal of Law and Public Policy. Outside of Ellis Legal, Sophia enjoys being outdoors, playing intermural sports, and spending time with friends and family.
Phone: (312) 257-3225
Email: smaietta@ellislegal.com
JOYCE MENDOZA
Associate
Joyce Mendoza Navarro is an Associate Attorney at Ellis Legal, where she advises and represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of civil litigation matters, including personal injury, due process violations, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, defamation, intentional torts, and other statutory and common law disputes. With experience in both state and federal courts, as well as before the Illinois Department of Human Rights, Joyce approaches her clients' legal challenges with empathy, pragmatism, and a steadfast commitment to advocacy. Whether she is prosecuting a claim or defending against a lawsuit, Joyce pursues and reaches successful resolutions for her clients at all stages, from pre-litigation settlement through summary judgment, jury trial, and when necessary, appeals.
During law school, Joyce’s leadership and legal acumen were recognized when she was twice chosen as one of ten students to receive the prestigious Philip H. Corboy Fellowship in Trial Advocacy at Loyola. As a Corboy Fellow, Joyce competed in national trial advocacy competitions, showcasing her advocacy abilities on a national stage. In addition to being a Corboy Fellow, Joyce served as a student attorney and a board member for SUFEO (Stand Up For Each Other), a student-led organization that provides free information and assistance to underprivileged families of PreK-12 students facing issues at school. Outside of her legal career, Joyce enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog, Opi, as well as traveling and spending time with friends and family.
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Joyce Mendoza Navarro es Abogada Asociada en Ellis Legal, donde asesora y representa tanto a demandantes como a demandados en una amplia gama de asuntos de litigio civil, incluyendo lesiones personales, violaciones al debido proceso, incumplimiento de contrato, incumplimiento del deber fiduciario, fraude, difamación, agravios intencionales y otras disputas legales de carácter estatutario y de derecho consuetudinario. Con experiencia en tribunales estatales y federales, así como ante el Departamento de Derechos Humanos de Illinois, Joyce aborda los desafíos legales de sus clientes con empatía, pragmatismo y un firme compromiso con la defensa. Ya sea que esté presentando una demanda o defendiendo contra una, Joyce trabaja para lograr resoluciones exitosas para sus clientes en todas las etapas, desde acuerdos previos al litigio hasta juicios sumarios, juicios con jurado y, cuando es necesario, apelaciones.
Durante la facultad de derecho, el liderazgo y la habilidad legal de Joyce fueron reconocidos cuando fue seleccionada en dos ocasiones como una de diez estudiantes para recibir la prestigiosa Beca Philip H. Corboy en Litigación Oral en Loyola. Como becaria Corboy, Joyce compitió en competencias nacionales de litigación oral, demostrando sus habilidades de defensa en un escenario nacional. Además de ser becaria Corboy, Joyce se desempeñó como abogada estudiante y miembro de la junta directiva de SUFEO (Stand Up For Each Other), una organización dirigida por estudiantes que brinda información y asistencia gratuita a familias de escasos recursos con hijos desde preescolar hasta el grado 12 que enfrentan problemas en la escuela. Fuera de su carrera legal, Joyce disfruta pasar tiempo al aire libre con su perro, Opi, así como viajar y compartir tiempo con amigos y familiares.