Ellis, Joel M.

Carolyn obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in History & Literature of Religion from Northwestern University in 1978. Her two years as manager of copyright control for a major book publisher (then Harcourt Brace Jovanovich) in New York City after college fueled her interest in law that had begun with a mock trial in high school. After moving to Los Angeles, Carolyn decided to pursue the career that had been nagging her for years. She graduated from Southwestern University’s SCALE program – a two-year program that focuses on a conceptual approach to law – in 1987. A judicial externship at the state court of appeal at the end of her second year sealed her fate – it was an appellate career she wanted.

In her nearly two decades with GMSR since that time, Carolyn has written over 500 briefs, petitions and motions. She has argued before every district of the California Courts of Appeal, as well as the California Supreme Court. Carolyn regularly works on medical malpractice and public entity defense cases, but has handled a wide variety of other matters involving landlord-tenant disputes, construction contracts and injuries, employment disputes and civil rights.

Carolyn lives in Beverly Hills with her husband, daughter, two stepchildren and a dog named Sally. Between writing briefs and driving kids around, Carolyn makes time for knitting, crocheting, sewing, jewelry-making, reading and, of course, shopping.