Elissa is a Member in Mintz Levin's Boston office. She chairs the firm's Government Law Practice Group and practices in the Public Finance and Litigation Sections.
Before joining Mintz Levin, Elissa was deputy legal counsel to Governor Romney and executive director of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Office of the Governor of Massachusetts. Before joining the governor's office, she was an associate in the litigation section of a Boston-based law firm, focusing primarily on the defense of complex litigation. Elissa also previously served as a law clerk to the justices of the Superior Court of Massachusetts, and was research assistant to Judge Joseph Nolan of the Supreme Judicial Court. She also previously worked for Congressman J. Joseph Moakley and Massachusetts Senator Jo Ann Sprague.
Elissa represents government and private entities, as well as individuals, on matters regarding ethics, government ethics, corporate compliance, public contract procurement, conflict of interest laws, public records law, lobbying, campaign finance, open meeting law, and other government areas. She has lectured and written extensively on public records law, ethics, campaign finance, lobbying, and open meeting law, including "Attorney-Client Privilege Under the Massachusetts Public Records Law," published in the Massachusetts Law Review 2008. She is senior counsel to clients on all aspects of government operations and frequently trains government entities on compliance. She also advises large corporations and businesses on the unique political law issues they face when interacting with government. Elissa assists clients with developing and maintaining policies and systems to ensure compliance with ethics, lobbying, and other political laws. She also represents clients in enforcement actions. Elissa also serves as a Special Assistant Attorney General representing and defending various state entities. As a former senior member of the governor's legal office, she has extensive experience in legislative and regulatory drafting and government compliance.
Elissa is actively involved in a variety of cases for the firm's pro bono practice. Most recently, she led the legislative redrafting and developed the strategic plan for the passage of the recently enacted G.L. c. 258E, "An Act Relative to Harassment Prevention Orders," a law which allows victims of stalking, sexual assault and/or harassment to obtain a criminally enforceable restraining order against her/his perpetrator. Elissa was awarded the Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service 2010 Public Service Award for her work on the legislation. The Massachusetts Legislature also issued a proclamation in recognition for her work on redrafting legislation. The firm was awarded the American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award in August for its work on the legislation.
Boards and Advisory Committees
· New England Legal Foundation-Advisory Council
· Massachusetts Bar Association-Associate Editor, Law Review
· MSPCA-Board of Overseers
· Friends for Children-Board of Directors
· Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service-Advisory Board
· Middlesex County District Attorney's Office-Diversity Committee
· Bridgewater State University-Board of Trustees 2005-2010
· Member of the Norfolk Zoning Board of Appeals and Historical Commission 2002-2008.
Honors, Awards & Degrees
· Boston Business Journal-"40 Under 40" honoree (a top emerging business leader in Greater Boston)-2010
· Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service-2010 Public Service Award
· STARS - "40 Under 40" honoree (a top emerging leader in the South Shore)-2010
· Boston Magazine-Massachusetts "Rising Stars" (Top Young Lawyers) 2002-2010
· Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly-10 Up and Coming Young Lawyers 2005
· Who's Who of Emerging Leaders-2007
· Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers-"100 Women of Distinction"
· Suffolk University Law School, J.D., cum laude
· Admitted to practice in Massachusetts and Maine