Ellen Blain Joins Clarick Gueron Reisbaum as a Partner
Clarick Gueron Reisbaum LLP, a commercial litigation boutique known for handling complex disputes, announced that Ellen Blain has joined the firm as a partner. Blain previously served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office as the Acting Deputy Chief of the Civil Division and Chief of the Civil Rights Unit. She brings a deep well of courtroom experience and a record of results that fits squarely with the firm’s practice.
Why This Hire Matters
Blain is the first lateral partner in the firm’s nearly 15-year history—a meaningful milestone for Clarick Gueron Reisbaum. At the U.S. Attorney’s Office, she acted as lead counsel on major investigations and litigations, including nationally watched matters. That background, built case by case, gives her a practical perspective on how to frame a dispute, move it forward, and win it when it counts.
Her work has spanned both affirmative and defensive matters. She has steered difficult cases through thorny legal issues, demonstrating the kind of judgment clients look for when the stakes are high. Clients of Clarick Gueron Reisbaum can expect to tap into that experience from day one.
Track Record and Legal Expertise
During her time in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Blain oversaw more than 500 matters and led a team of 50 lawyers. Her portfolio covered a wide range of government enforcement actions, from groundbreaking investigations to successful trials. She has achieved favorable outcomes in significant False Claims Act and tax cases, pairing careful preparation with clear strategy.
Among her notable results is a settlement with Meta that prompted substantial changes to Facebook’s advertising delivery algorithm to address racial and gender bias. She also helped defend affirmative action policies at U.S. military academies, successfully opposing preliminary relief applications—decisions that were later affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Those matters reflect both the breadth of her work and the care she brings to sensitive, high-impact disputes.
The Firm’s Broader Impact
Since its founding, Clarick Gueron Reisbaum has represented clients across industries, including financial institutions, entertainment professionals, private equity firms, and others facing consequential business disputes. The firm litigates complex cases involving post-merger obligations, corporate governance, and art fraud, among other issues that arise when business and law collide.
The firm’s lawyers also serve the public interest. New York State and New York City have engaged the firm in high-profile matters, drawing on its government litigation experience. That mix—private disputes and public cases—has shaped a practice designed for challenging, high-stakes work.
Blain’s Perspective and What Comes Next
Blain described the move as a chance to join a team that prizes legal excellence while looking after the well-being of its lawyers. She emphasized camaraderie and trust as day-to-day essentials, not talking points. At Clarick Gueron Reisbaum, she’ll keep collaborating with seasoned litigators across disciplines, bringing her government experience to bear on the firm’s most demanding cases.
Looking ahead, Blain aims to strengthen the firm’s capabilities and to help develop the next generation of leaders. It’s a practical goal: deliver for clients and build a team that’s ready for the next hard case.
About Ellen Blain
Blain earned her B.A. from Yale University and her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. After law school, she clerked for Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, gaining early, hands-on experience with federal litigation.
About Clarick Gueron Reisbaum LLP
Founded in 2010, Clarick Gueron Reisbaum LLP focuses on commercial litigation and the careful management of complex disputes. The firm’s work includes corporate governance, securities matters, and employment disputes, with a throughline of tailored strategy and close client service. The result is representation that meets clients where they are and moves cases where they need to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ellen Blain?
Ellen Blain is a former senior official in the U.S. Attorney’s Office—Acting Deputy Chief of the Civil Division and Chief of the Civil Rights Unit—who has joined Clarick Gueron Reisbaum as a partner. She brings extensive experience litigating high-stakes civil matters.
Why is her hiring significant for the firm?
She is the first lateral partner in the firm’s nearly 15-year history. Her background leading major investigations and litigations expands the firm’s depth on complex, high-profile cases.
What kinds of matters has Blain handled?
Her work includes more than 500 matters and leadership of a 50-lawyer team, with successful trials and investigations involving the False Claims Act, tax issues, civil rights, and other government enforcement actions.
What are examples of her notable results?
She helped secure a settlement with Meta that led to changes in Facebook’s ad delivery algorithm to address racial and gender bias, and she defended affirmative action policies at U.S. military academies by successfully opposing preliminary relief—later affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
What does Clarick Gueron Reisbaum focus on?
The firm concentrates on complex commercial litigation, including disputes over post-merger obligations and corporate governance, as well as matters like art fraud and government-related cases for New York State and New York City.
