Ms. Ellis’ practice focuses on international trade, namely, trade enforcement matters, economic sanctions, export controls, CFIUS, internal corporate compliance, import and customs regulations, logistics, e-commerce, internal investigations, data privacy, financial technology, and other cross-border transactional and regulatory law. She has experience in federal and state regulatory compliance concerning securities, corporate, and intellectual property law. As legal counsel for many global corporations, she brings extensive experience to her clients and provides practical and solution-driven advice on complex matters such as U.S. secondary sanctions and the extraterritorial implications of U.S. export control laws.

Regarding economic sanctions and export controls, Ms. Ellis advises public and private U.S. and foreign companies operating in various sectors, including banking, maritime, ecommerce, energy, logistics, aviation, telecommunications, semiconductors, and news media, amongst others, conducting business in Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Somalia, and Cuba, on compliance with U.S., UN, and other sanctions, as well as export controls, including the EAR and ITAR. Ms. Ellis has also prepared, filed, and successfully obtained licenses from government agencies, such as OFAC and BIS, for her clients. Moreover, she has prepared and filed voluntary disclosures to reduce potential penalties on behalf of her clients.

Ms. Ellis also advises foreign investors and U.S. businesses in high-technology sectors, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), life sciences, semiconductors, etc., through the intricacies of CFIUS requirements, ICTS regulations, and securing the necessary licenses and approvals from U.S. trade authorities. On corporate compliance, Ms. Ellis has designed and implemented various internal compliance programs and conducted on-site trade compliance audits for U.S. and foreign companies. These programs and audits cover a range of areas, including customs, export controls, economic sanctions, and anti-bribery laws. In the ecommerce space, Ms. Ellis  counsels clients on U.S. customs and CBP compliance issues, including Section 321, the INFORM Consumers Act, as well as strategies for navigating cross-border regulations.

Ms. Ellis previously worked in the United States Trade Representative’s Office in Washington, D.C., as a contract attorney and Russia trade analyst. Before USTR, Ms. Ellis was an associate at a law firm in Chicago, where she worked in the corporate and fintech practice groups. She also previously worked at an offshore corporate consulting firm in St. Julian’s, Malta, and as a summer associate in the Moscow, Russia office of an AmLaw 100 firm.

Ms. Ellis received her J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. She graduated from Youngstown State University, where she received her B.A. in International Relations and Political Science and minored in Russian studies. She also studied at the St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University in Russia and Imperial College in London, England. Ms. Ellis is admitted to practice law in New York and is pending admission to the DC Bar. She practices under the direct supervision of a DC Bar member.

Publications

• Steering Clear of US Sanctions Wile Paying Pirates Ransom, Law360, March 13, 2025.

• Lifting/Relaxing U.S. Sanctions – Prospects Based on Past Experience, American Chamber of Commerce in Russia Special Webinar on Sanctions, March 10, 2025.

• New U.S. Government Regulation on Restricted Outbound Investments, LawFuel, December 2024.

• 2024 Sanctions Risk Management Conference, Panelist, Private Conference, Almaty, Kazakhstan, June 2024.

• Export Sanctions: Building Future Business Opportunities, Moderator, American Association of Exporters and Importers Annual Conference, Fort Lauderdale, FL, June 2024.

• A Loophole for E-commerce? De Minimis Customs Entries Are Getting a Bad Rap Despite Compliance Requirements. Let Us Explain, March 20, 2024.

• Practical Steps For Navigating New Sanctions On Russia, Law360, February 2024.

• Ask an Expert: Navigating OFAC/BIS Licensing and Sanctions, Panelist, Charity & Security Network, November 2023.

• Sanctions Risk Management: Trends and Current Law Enforcement Practice, Panelist, Private Conference, Moscow, Russia, June 2023.

• AAEI Road Show, Panelist, American Association of Importers and Exporters Road Show, Los Angeles, CA, November 2022.

• The U.S. Sanctions Cryptocurrency Mixer – Tornado Cash – In Light of Rising Sanctions Risks for Cryptocurrency, August 2022.

Areas of Focus

• Export Controls

• Economic Sanctions

• CFIUS & National Security

• Customs & Imports

• Logistics & E-Commerce

Education

• University of Illinois Chicago Law School

  • J.D.

• Youngstown State University

  • B.A.

• St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University

  • Russian Language

Previous Experience

• LimNexus LLP, Associate

• Executive Office of the President, Attorney (Office of the U.S. Trade Representative)

• Ziliak Law, LLC, Associate

• E&S Group, FinTech Legal Analyst

Admissions

• State of New York

• District of Columbia (Pending)

Languages

• English

• Russian