Ellen Leonida

Ellen Leonida is an experienced trial lawyer specializing in white collar criminal defense and investigations and complex commercial litigation. With over 20 years of litigation experience, she has first chaired more than 80 jury trials in state and federal courts. She has also conducted internal investigations and counseled clients regarding government investigations and subpoena compliance. Ms. Leonida is a nationally recognized forensics expert, who has lectured on topics including DNA, digital forensics, and trial skills.

Ms. Leonida represents individual and corporate clients in a broad range of criminal matters, including trade secret theft, bribery, money laundering, and fraud. She represents clients in state and federal courts, in grand jury investigations, and in administrative proceedings.

Ms. Leonida also handles a wide range of civil litigation matters, including disputes involving breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation, and unfair business practices, as well as. In addition, Ms. Leonida handles probate litigation matters including contesting or defending wills and trusts, allegations of breaches of fiduciary duties, and disputes regarding estate administration.

Ms. Leonida, a 2023, 2024, and 2025 California Super Lawyer, has been recognized for her civil litigation skills, including receiving the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, Fr. Cuchulain Moriarty Award (2024), and twice being named in The American Lawyer Litigator of the Week Shout Outs (2023)

She has been appointed by the judges of the Northern District of California as the Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorney Representative for the Northern District of California. Additionally, Ms. Leonida is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco, Criminal Justice Task Force and Judiciary Committees and serves on the Executive Committee of the Northern District of California Federal Bar Association.

Ms. Leonida currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco Law School and formerly taught at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.