Although a native of New Orleans, Mr. Ellis was raised in Houston, Texas where he attended and graduated from Klein High School and the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Ellis graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994 and returned home to attend Loyola University New Orleans law and business graduate schools. While in graduate school, Mr. Ellis worked as the Director of Government Relations for Hibernia National Bank managing the Hibernia People for Good Government Political Action Committee wherein, he proposed legislation and worked alongside state and federal legislators. Mr. Ellis graduated with a Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration in May of 1998. After graduating Loyola University, Mr. Ellis worked as an attorney primarily in the area of municipal taxation and finance through serving as outside counsel for the St. Tammany Parish Sherriff’s Office.
In 2002, Mr. Ellis was selected to chair the New Orleans’ Mayor’s Transition Team Task Force on Sales and Use Tax Collection. Thereafter, he began representing the City of New Orleans in Sales and Use Tax Collection matters as Special Tax Counsel.
On November 4, 2002, Mr. Ellis was awarded the contract as Special Counsel Tax to the City of New Orleans for the collection of sales and use taxes. Specifically, Mr. Ellis launched a program to identify, locate, and collect sales and use taxes from out-of-state medical vendors who were not in compliance with the City’s tax code. Mr. Ellis initiated and supervised over 600 audits that ultimately identified 144 out-of-state vendors not in compliance. In an eighteen (18) month tenure as Special Tax Counsel for the City his efforts resulted in an economic impact of $6,940,917.76.
In 2004, Mr. Ellis became an Assistant City Attorney IV representing the City in an expanded role. Initially, assigned to the Litigation team, his role continued to expand into other areas of representation such as the Department of Public Works, New Orleans Fire Department, and Department of Procurement in matters such as procurement protests and breach of contracts.
In 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Ellis was designated essential personnel and returned to New Orleans and was thereafter promoted to Deputy City Attorney. Normally, any Assistant or Deputy City Attorney is assigned to a specific section or department; however, although originally assigned to Litigation team, Mr. Ellis was assigned to Finance (Bureau of Revenue – collection of sales taxes and fees and Treasury – ad valorem taxes), Safety & Permits (permit and zoning mandamus and injunction actions), Department of Procurement (procurement challenges), alcohol beverage compliance, Department of Public Works, New Orleans Fire Department, and the New Orleans Municipal Employees’ Retirement Board.
Additionally, from 2007-2009, Mr. Ellis also served as an Administrative Law Judgment overseeing proceedings related to blighted property and code enforcement matters. Mr. Ellis was also responsible for training new administrative law judges.
During his tenure from 2004 through 2011, he has represented nearly every department inside the City of New Orleans, with very few exceptions. In June 2011, Mr. Ellis resigned from the City to pursue his passion as attorney-entrepreneur.
After leaving the City, Mr. Ellis utilizing the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Investor Pilot Program (EB-5 Program) authored a business take combined the foreign investment funds, with both the Louisiana and Federal solar tax credit programs creating one of Louisiana’s first solar lease programs. Mr. Ellis oversaw all aspects of the business operations, and, more importantly, qualified for all State and Federal credits afforded under the programs. From 2011 through 2013, Mr. Ellis served as General Counsel and Vice President of Uptown Solar, LLC, a residential solar installation company installing several megawatts on residential homes through Louisiana.
Thereafter Mr. Ellis assumed the management and direct day-to-day business operations of Gulf Coast Regional Center, L.L.C., a licensed regional center, working to promote economic redevelopment and permanent job creation throughout Louisiana. Identify key focus areas for future investment, including green technology; manufacturing and distribution; coastal redevelopment and reforestation; and sustainable development of mixed-use commercial projects under the guidelines of the EB-5 Program.
In December 2013, Mr. Ellis returned full time to the practice, but never getting to far away for his passion in municipal and state government he was lead counsel in the legalization of short-term rentals (AirBnB, ect.) in the City of New Orleans. The legalization of short-term rentals led to an immediate $8 million dollar a year revenue increase to the City of New Orleans and an economic impact of ten times that to the citizens. Ellis also serves as General Counsel for a variety of businesses, from short-term rental operators to construction companies in New Orleans, Louisiana, Austin and Houston, Texas, San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and St. Croix with a primary focus on corporate law and compliance.
In 2019, Mr. Ellis’ passion for soccer led to his appointment as General Counsel for the National Premier Soccer League
In 2013, Mr. Ellis returned full time to private practice focused on providing services to corporate clients that needed assistance in working with government agencies. During this time, Mr. Ellis began serving as counsel to several companies that are actively engaged in emergency management and recovery operations. Mr. Ellis’ experience in managing major disaster recovery operations with FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program has led to travel to various states and territories providing his clients with guidance on compliance on all matters, including resolving audits, appeals, and arbitration.
Over the past seven (7) years the firm has represented hundreds of clients on various matters. There are, however, several clients that the Firm has provided consistent, long-term professional services for what would be considered a General Counsel position. These services include:
Advising executive, senior management and board on various matters such as legal rights, and new and existing laws.
Managing organization's legal matters.
Representing the entity before the municipality, City, State, or Federal government.
Examining and creating draft agreements.
Maintaining knowledge of organization’s operations and legal documents.
Conducting legal research and reviewing company's litigation strategy pertaining to legal actions.
Promulgating and creating directives of corporate acts and decisions.
Preserving all corporate records.
Handling statutory filings, such as licensing forms.
Liaising with outside counsel regarding their assignments.
Creating new entities and managing organization's intellectual property.
In some cases, the scope of services is expanded depending upon the needs of the client and the Firm provides for litigation support for all clients. It is this foundation of being ready, able, and available that has led to the growth and strength of its clients.
