Laura E.Ellsworth

Partner-in-Charge of Global Community Service Initiatives

Pittsburgh + 1.412.394.7929

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Laura Ellsworth is Jones Day's first Partner-in-Charge of Global Community Service Initiatives, spearheading the Firm's rule of law initiatives around the world. In her litigation practice she has handled landmark public nuisance cases, multijurisdictional product liability matters, the largest health care bankruptcy of its time, and nationwide qui tam cases. She served on the Local Rules Advisory Committee for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and in 2013-2014 was co-chair of the Federal Judicial Selection Committee for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Laura has been active in civic and community affairs, serving in leadership roles on the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, and the United Way Women's Leadership Council. Governor Rendell named her one of Pennsylvania's Top Businesswomen, and Governor Corbett appointed her to serve on the boards of the Pennsylvania State System for Higher Education, Pennsylvania Council on Privatization and Innovation, and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. She has served on public company and civic/charitable boards, including FNB Corporation, Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation, Imani Christian Academy, Heinz History Center, Waynesburg University, McCune Foundation, and University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics. Laura has taught law classes in inner-city schools and conducted two Lawyers Without Borders programs in Nairobi, Kenya.

Laura's civic contributions have been recognized in numerous awards including the 2013 ATHENA Award, 2014 Pennsylvania Diversity Council's Most Powerful & Influential Women Award, the 2016 Legal Intelligencer's Lifetime Achievement Award, and a 2017 Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America.

Experience

  • Cuban national obtains asylum before Board of Immigration AppealsOn December 13, 2019, a trial team led by New York Associate Shachar Gannot, and with support from Pittsburgh Partner Laura Ellsworth, as well as Emma Murray, tried client Y’s Migrant Protection Protocol (“MPP”) case from a tent facility in Laredo, Texas.
  • U.S. industrial manufacturer seeks compliance training for joint venture in BrazilJones Day advised a U.S. industrial manufacturer with compliance training involving a joint-venture and subsidiary operations in Brazil under U.S. antibribery laws, including the CAP, and under the Brazilian Clean Companies Act.
  • Outsourcing company successfully defends against shareholder class action alleging 10b-5 claim involving corporate governance disclosuresJones Day obtained a complete dismissal of a shareholder class action alleging misleading disclosures concerning the company's corporate governance practices.
  • UPMC obtains dismissal of Lanham Act claimsJones Day represented the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center ("UPMC") and eight of its subsidiary hospitals against allegations of false advertising, breach of contract, and tortious interference with contractual relations brought by insurer Highmark Inc. in connection with UPMC's "Keep Your Doctor" advertising campaign.
  • Education Management Corporation defends federal and state False Claims Act allegationsJones Day is defending Education Management Company (EDMC) against a False Claims Act action brought by private relators and joined by the federal government, several states and the District of Columbia.
  • Education Management Corporation wins motion to dismiss securities class actionJones Day represented Education Management Corporation ("EDMC") and certain of its directors and officers in a securities class action lawsuit (dismissed) filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
  • Potash Corporation successfully defends historic $43.1 billion hostile takeover bidFollowing an arduous three-month battle, Jones Day's client, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Inc., successfully repelled BHP Billiton's hostile $43.1 billion tender offer for all of PotashCorp's shares in November 2010.
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals obtains dismissal of antitrust claims alleging sham litigation, brought by direct and indirect purchasersOn behalf of Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Jones Day obtained dismissal of direct and indirect purchaser class actions in cases alleging that Boehringer brought sham litigation to maintain an unlawful monopoly.
  • Sherwin-Williams successfully defends temporary restraining order/preliminary injunction action seeking enforcement of non-compete agreement involving senior executiveJones Day successfully defended client, The Sherwin-Williams Company, in a temporary restraining order/preliminary injunction matter seeking to enforce a non-compete agreement to prevent a former PPG senior executive from working for Sherwin-Williams.
  • GE defends against putative nationwide class action alleging discrimination against women in executive pay and promotionsJones Day represented General Electric Company in a nationwide putative class action, alleging discrimination against women in the executive band in pay and promotions.
  • Sherwin-Williams prevails in landmark public nuisance suit over lead pigment before Rhode Island Supreme CourtThe Rhode Island Supreme Court overturned a jury verdict against Jones Day client, The Sherwin-Williams Company, and other former lead pigment manufacturers, stating that the trial court should have dismissed the public nuisance claim at the outset.
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    October 2022 White Paper

    Global Spotlight on Labor Trafficking in Health Care and Corporate Supply Chains

    July 2022 Podcast

    JONES DAY TALKS®: The War in Ukraine’s Human Trafficking Risks

    Fourth Quarter 2021 Alumni Newsletter

    ONE Connection | Working Together to Eradicate Hate

    July 2021 Commentary

    FinCEN Issues First U.S. Priorities for Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing

    JUNE 2021 Alert

    Biden Administration Announces New Trade Restrictions Affecting Solar and Electronics Industries

    MAY 2021 Alert

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection Seizes Two Shipments of Imported Products Found to Be Made With Forced Labor

    April 2021 Video

    Human Trafficking: A Global Crisis

    APRIL 2021 Alert

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection Steps Up Enforcement Activity Against Products Made With Forced or Indentured Labor

    January 2021 Commentary

    Recent Qui Tam Actions Predicated on Human Trafficking Allegations

    January 2021 Video

    The Compendium Project: A Source for Global Anti-Human Trafficking Laws
    View All

    Additional Publications

    • Spring 2017
      Teaching Peaceful Protesting, Best Lawyers: Spring Business Edition 2017

    Speaking Engagements

    • September 28, 2017
      Minority and Women Lawyers' Business Development Forum, Pennsylvania Bar Association
    • September 21, 2017
      Past, Present and Future, Great Lakes Relocation Conference
    • April 22, 2017
      L3 Leadership Breakfast
    • November 18, 2016
      Greater Pittsburgh Non-Profit Partnership Annual Meeting – Perspectives on Election 2016
    • November 17, 2016
      National Conversation on Board Diversity – Women on Boards 20/20 (Facilitator)
    • November 11, 2016
      Jones Day/ABA VetLex Veterans Day Event – launch of first national pro bono lawyer-referral system for U.S. veterans created by Jones Day and American Bar Association
    • November 9, 2016
      Allegheny Conference on Community Development Annual Meeting
    • October 19, 2016
      AON Risk Management, Women Empowered
    • September 14, 2016
      Allegheny Conference on Community Development Third Quarter Regional Investors Council Luncheon
    • June 20, 2016
      Corporate Equity & Inclusion Roundtable
    • April 5, 2016
      National Association of Professional Women, Professional Diversity Network – Power Networking
    • March 24, 2016
      Elsie Hillman Civic Engagement Program (Community Mentor) – "Never A Spectator"
    • March 4, 2016
      Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation – Greater Pittsburgh Community Leaders 2016 Prayer Breakfast
    • November 19, 2015
      The National Conversation on Board Diversity, Why and How Do Winning Companies Recruit to Maximize Board Effectiveness?, 2020 Women on Boards event
    • November 17, 2015
      Magee Movement – Advocating funding of scientific research in women’s health
    • October 22 2015
      Smart People Take Smart Risks, Pennsylvania Diversity Council
    • October 15, 2015
      2015 Regional Energy Conference: Navigating Turbulences in Global Oil & Gas Markets
    • September 23, 2014
      Young Professional Women in Energy (YPWE) Quarterly Event
    • July 25, 2014
      Jones Day Regional Energy Conference, International Implications of the Marcellus and Utica Shale
    • June 9, 2014
      Corporate Equity & Inclusion Roundtable
    • May 19, 2014
      Waynesburg University Commencement Speaker
    • October 11, 2013
      Athena Award Acceptance
    • May 13, 2013
      Corporate Equity & Inclusion Roundtable
    • February 14, 2013
      Jones Day Regional Energy Conference, Harnessing Regional Opportunity in the new Energy Economy
    • November 2012
      Accomplishments and Strategic Plan of the Organization, Annual Meeting of the Allegheny Conference on Community and Economic Development
    • March 25, 2010
      2010 Speaker Series: Climate Change and Renewable Energy
    • November 12, 2009
      Litigation Potpourri
    • October 2007
      Ediscovery Update, PLAC Annual Meeting
    • January 31, 2007
      Proven Strategies for Successfully Managing the Demands of a Law Practice and Personal Life, Pennsylvania Bar Institute CLE program
    • May 2006
      E-Discovery: An Outline of Legal Issues, Association of Corporate Counsel of Western Pennsylvania, Laura Ellsworth and Cecilia Dickson
    • June 9, 2005
      The Impact of Sarbanes-Oxley on Nonprofit Organizations, Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon
    • April 24-25, 2003
      Electronic Discovery

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