Overview
Elena’s practice focuses on complex litigation matters involving a wide variety of business torts, estate litigation, antitrust litigation, commercial contracts, mortgage loan disputes, and enforceability of restrictive covenants. Elena regularly practices in state and federal court.
Elena also frequently represents clients in government and corporate investigations and assists clients with financial regulatory and compliance issues including flood insurance matters, Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (“CCAR”) exercises, and recovery and resolution planning. In 2017, Elena completed a three-month secondment at a U.S.-based global financial institution focusing on financial regulatory matters and, specifically, recovery planning.
Active in pro bono work, Elena supports the firm’s Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Pro Bono Projects. Elena has handled cases for Legal Aid of North Carolina (now the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy) and for the International Refugee Assistance Project. She also has litigated civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in federal court.
Representative Experience
Investigations
- Routinely conducts internal investigations related to employment law matters, including allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation
- Conducted an internal investigation into whistleblower allegations related to advice provided by the legal department of a U.S.-based global financial institution
- Conducted two separate internal investigations on behalf of a U.S.-based global financial institution relating to alleged auditing irregularities
Litigation
- Representing a large international bank in various consumer antitrust class actions related to foreign exchange market conduct
- Representing physicians and a physician staffing company in litigation involving numerous private causes of causes related to their alleged retaliatory termination
- Representing clients in will and trust caveats, including ones involving competency and undue influence issues
- Routinely responds to civil investigative and third-party litigation subpoenas
Advisory
- Advising a U.S.-based global financial institution on flood insurance matters
- Advising two, U.S.-based global financial institutions on recovery and resolution planning
- Advising a U.S.-based global financial institution on creating legal risk assessments for CCAR
Notable
Notable
- North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society, 2017-2018
- Featured speaker at a CLE for the legal department of a U.S.-based global financial institution for two years in a row on the topic of attorney-client privilege and work product protection
- Completed a secondment at Wells Fargo focused on financial regulatory matters and, specifically, recovery planning
News
News
Insights
Blogs and Resources
Blog Posts
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Board of Directors, Women Lawyers of Charlotte
- Young Affiliates of the Mint Museum
- Mecklenburg County Bar Young Lawyers Division
- Mecklenburg County Hispanic Latino Lawyers Bar
- Charlotte Gamecock Club
- UVA Club of Charlotte
Publications
Publications
- Contributor to Moore & Van Allen's MVA White Collar Defense, Investigations, and Regulatory Advice Blog, keeping clients up to date on the constantly evolving regulatory environment and serving as a thought leader as regulations and enforcement policy continue to develop
- "New Treasury Department Regulations Modify Mandatory Filing Requirements for Critical Technology Businesses", MVA White Collar Defense, Investigations, and Regulatory Advice Blog, June 2020
- "Treasury Department Publishes Interim Final Rule Implementing CFIUS Filing Fees", MVA White Collar Defense, Investigations, and Regulatory Advice Blog, April 2020
- “Treasury Department Publishes Proposed Rule on CFIUS Filing Fees”, MVA White Collar Defense, Investigations, and Regulatory Advice Blog, March 2020
- “New Treasury Department Regulations Expand CFIUS Authority”, MVA White Collar Defense, Investigations, and Regulatory Advice Blog, February 2020
- “Parting the Waters of Uncertainty for Private Flood Insurance,”ABA Banking Journal’s Risk and Compliance Newsletter, July 2019
- “The Time Is Now to Prepare for Congressional Inquiries from a Democrat-Led House,” Westlaw Journal Bank & Lender Liability, March 2019
- When Someone Shows You Who They Are, Believe Them the First Time:* What a Blue Wave in the House Likely Means for Financial Institutions,"MVA White Collar Defense, Investigations, and Regulatory Advice Blog, November 2018
- "Transitioning Away from LIBOR: What Is Coming and What Can We Do Now?" Corporate Compliance Insights, May 2018
Capabilities
- Civil Litigation
- Class Actions
- Commercial Litigation
- Commercial Real Estate
- Corporate Governance & Shareholder Relations
- Cross-Border Investigations and Defense
- Financial Services Litigation
- Internal Investigations
- Investigations
- Litigation, Regulatory & White Collar
- Real Estate & Construction Disputes
- Securities & Capital Markets Litigation
Education
B.A., University of South Carolina, 2013, Honors College
J.D., University of Virginia, 2016, Law Review
Admissions
- North Carolina, 2016
- All Federal District Courts in North Carolina, 2016
- 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, 2016