Emily I. Ellse

Emily I. Ellse
Partner

(619) 515-0269

Emily I. Ellse is a Partner in the San Diego office of Manning Kass. She is a member of the Business Litigation, Class Action and Mass Torts Defense, Construction Defect, Employment Law, Premises Liability, Product Liability, Retail, Restaurant, and Hospitality Litigation, Sports, Recreation, and Attractions, and Trucking and Transportation teams. 

Over the years, Ms. Ellse has acquired experience in a broad range of practice areas including Business Litigation, Products Liability, Premises Liability (including third-party criminal acts and wrongful death claims), ADA claims, Construction Defect, Trucking and Transportation, Privacy, Constitutional claims, Foodborne Illnesses, as well as internal business and ethics investigations. She primarily manages employment and contract claims.

She has represented an array of businesses and employers, ranging from large international corporations to local start-ups. Ms. Ellse provides productive, individually suited advice to her clients to help correct current, past, and potential shortcomings in the workplace, including privacy compliance. She identifies ultramodern issues employers and businesses face and creatively tailors her counseling, investigative, and litigation techniques towards their individual needs.

Recently, Ms. Ellse secured a take-nothing settlement in a multi-million dollar foodborne illness case for a large goods manufacturer. She has also been commended on her many granted Motions for Summary Judgments. Moreover, she is extraordinarily keen on high-publicity claims and has secured defense favorable settlements with zero public media exposure or social backlash.

Early in her career, Ms. Ellse managed components of the California Supreme Court case, Brinker Restaurant Corp. v. Superior Court (Hohnbaum), a class action that her firm won. Brinker set California precedent for wage and hour issues and employers’ duties to provide meal and rest breaks.

Prior to joining Manning Kass, Ms. Ellse gained extensive litigation experience as both a plaintiff and defense attorney. She also has experience in Workers’ Compensation and Subrogation defense. Furthermore, Ms. Ellse volunteered with the Legal Aid Society of Santa Barbara and San Diego where she assisted indigent citizens in matters including unlawful evictions, civil harassment restraining orders, and domestic violence.

Ms. Ellse earned her Juris Doctor with Honors from California Western School of Law in San Diego, California. She graduated as a member of the Dean's List and Pro Bono Honors Society and was recognized with multiple American Jurisprudence Awards, including in Employment Law. Her dominant studies were in Constitutional Law, mainly discrimination.

Ms. Ellse earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at Boston University, where she majored in Political Science. During her time at Boston University, she worked at the Massachusetts State House as a campaign operative. Ms. Ellse further studied psychology, and also received a minor degree in Fine Arts in Dance after having been nationally trained by the American Ballet Theatre during high school.

Having worked all over California, from Redding to San Diego, Ms. Ellse prides herself on her ability to communicate ethically and effectively to reach optimal outcomes. Nevertheless, she welcomes aggressive defense when warranted and has a superior ability to mirror and "read the room."  She has been commended on her incredible case outcomes without compromising her integrity.

Admission

  • California

Education

  • California Western School of Law, Juris Doctor, with Honors
    • Dean's List
    • Pro Bono Honors Society
    • Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award in Employment Law, and others
  • Boston University, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, minor in Fine Arts in Dance