Ellen C. Arabian-Lee

Ellen is an experienced litigator who has handled mediations, arbitrations and trials in both State and Federal Court.  Ellen has a broad litigation background, defending individuals, insurance companies, public entities, non-profits, retail stores and self-insured entities against employment related, property damage, construction defect, personal injury and products liability claims.  She also provides General Counsel services to non-profit organizations and other businesses both small and large.  Ellen handles employment law matters in the areas of wrongful termination, sexual harassment, retaliation, discrimination, FMLA/CFRA alleged violations, and ADA alleged violations. She provides regulatory compliance services to private and corporate clients, on-site seminars for management teams, and she drafts, edits and revises employee handbooks and other essential corporate records.  She also provides advice and counsel relating to non-compete agreements and severance agreements.

Ellen received Martindale-Hubbell’s “AV Preeminent” rating based upon her peers ranking her at the highest level of professional excellence for her legal ability and ethical standards.  She is an experienced settlement conference mediator for El Dorado County, and a member of the Sacramento and Placer County Bar Associations.  Ellen is the current President of the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada.  She is a former Board member of the Sacramento County Bar Association's Solo/Small Firm Division and Women Lawyers of Sacramento.  Ellen is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (“FDCC”).  She is currently the Co-Editor in Chief of the Defense Comment magazine, published by the Northern California Association of Defense Counsel, and the Editor of Sacramento Lawyer magazine, published by the Sacramento County Bar Association.  Ellen is included in Sacramento Magazine’s 2016 list of Top Lawyers in Sacramento, and she was voted “Best Attorney” by the readers of the Roseville Press Tribune in 2016.

Ellen received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English (cum laude) from Santa Clara University in 1987, and her Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1990. She is admitted to practice in all state and federal trial and appellate courts in California.   

Ellen is a former partner in one of Northern California's largest law firms, and now the owner of her own law firm.