Overview
Elise is an accomplished trial attorney in the Commercial Trials & Litigation group. She practices in all areas of complex state and federal commercial litigation with a focus on financial services, including matters involving the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and similar state statutes. She has litigated before federal and state appellate and trial courts.
A former prosecutor in Palm Beach County, Florida, Elise has tried, as lead counsel, more than 30 cases to verdict in both jury and non‑jury trials ranging from misdemeanors to serious felony drug and firearms charges, bringing a disciplined, trial‑ready approach to every matter. Skilled in managing heavy caseloads from start to finish, Elise has handled a wide array of evidentiary issues and navigated complex legal challenges in pursuit of justice.
Elise also has significant arbitration experience, having first‑chaired proceedings from initiation through final award involving consumer finance disputes and contractual claims. She advises clients with an emphasis on strategic risk assessment, efficient resolution, and strong trial positioning. She is experienced in managing fact‑intensive cases involving regulatory compliance, consumer claims, allegations of fraud, breach of contract, and RICO.
In addition, Elise has also handled a broad range of complex, high-stakes insurance coverage disputes. Her experience includes representing insurers in matters involving asbestos, environmental, pharmaceutical, cyber, event cancellation, travel insurance, and property coverage claims arising from natural disasters and other catastrophic events, along with the novel complexities arising from current events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid epidemic.
Elise also maintains an active pro bono practice. She has represented incarcerated individuals in civil rights matters under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and has authored amicus briefs addressing First Amendment issues and anti-SLAPP protections.
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- US District Court, Middle District of Florida
- US District Court, Southern District of Florida
- US District Court, District of Maryland
- US District Court, District of Colorado
- US District Court, Southern District of Indiana
- Hon. Kenneth L. Ryskamp, Judicial Intern, US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 2017
- J.D., University of Miami School of Law, 2017, magna cum laude, President of Miami School of Law’s Student Bar Association, Articles Editor, University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review
- B.S., Florida State University, 2014, magna cum laude, Criminology
Representative Matters
- Defended national bank in numerous arbitrations involving complex claims of breach of contract, fraud, RICO, and various other tort and contract-related allegations.
- Successfully defended a national bank in several litigations involving unconventional legal theories aimed at avoiding repayment of a valid debt through the use of fictitious "payment coupons." Secured complete dismissal of all claims, preserved the client’s right to enforce the underlying obligation, and obtained awards of attorneys’ fees and costs.
- Served as trial counsel in successfully representing an incarcerated individual in a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging constitutional violations by a state prison and its officials. The jury returned a verdict in the client's favor, finding the prison and its officials liable and awarding both punitive and compensatory damages.
- Represent property insurer with respect to a multimillion-dollar opioid insurance coverage case in Illinois state court.
- Represent property insurer with respect to complex insurance issues arising from an asbestos and environmental-related bankruptcy.
- Successfully defended major commercial property insurers to resolve COVID-19 business interruption coverage claims throughout the country via dispositive motions at the pleadings or summary judgment stages. Most recently, prevailed on summary judgment on fraud claim involving agency issues as well as novel coverage issues regarding whether the suspension of a multi-state tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic involved multiple occurrences.
- Prevailed on a motion to dismiss bad faith and negligence claims brought against an excess property insurer for failure to settle an underlying wrongful death suit that had resulted in a $100 million-dollar excess verdict in Georgia state court.