Elise Balkin Ice
Associate
At a Glance
Elise’s practice focuses on complex business litigation in both state and federal courts.  She has successfully handled cases involving a variety of substantive areas, including ERISA, employment and labor, insurance, lead-based paint, class actions, product liability, securities, professional malpractice, and personal injury.  In addition to her experience with these substantive areas of the law, Elise has solid experience taking fact and expert witness depositions, drafting and arguing motions, and preparing for trial.
Education
Mary Washington College (B.A., 1997)

University of Baltimore School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2000); Articles Editor, University of Baltimore Law Review, Volume 29
Practices/Industries
Areas of Concentration
  • Business Litigation
  • Defense Litigation
  • ERISA Litigation
  • Employment and Labor
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Product Liability Litigation
  • Securities Litigation
Representative Experience
  • Successfully argued motions for summary judgment before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and United States District Court regarding ERISA cases involving disputes over eligibility for long-term disability.   
  • Assisted in successful settlement of an accidental death benefits case, which involved a death in a foreign country and parties in various states, saving the client millions of dollars.
  • Obtained dismissals for clients prior to having to produce formal discovery.
  • Completed numerous fact and expert witness depositions in lead-based paint litigation. Experts deposed included neuropsychologists, psychologists, medical doctors, economists, and environmental experts.
  • Drafted and argued numerous motions in state courts and has participated in mediation and settlement conferences.
  • Represents national banks in both FINRA matters and Department of Labor investigations.
  • Generally assists in all areas of complex business litigation, including researching and drafting memoranda, preparing and responding to discovery, and preparing for trial and arbitration.
  • Represented a bankruptcy trustee in an adversarial proceeding involving fraudulent transfers and assisted in the representation of a Fortune 500 Company in Chapter 11 proceedings.
  • Law Clerk to the Honorable James P. Salmon, Judge for the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland.
Publications/Presentations
Publications
Rice v. Paladin: The Fourth Circuit’s Unnecessary Limiting of a Publisher’s Freedom of Speech,” 29 U. Balt. L. Rev. 205 (2000).
Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

Ohio State Bar Association

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

Community Involvement
Liaison between Ulmer & Berne and The City Club

The Club at Key Center (Member)
Admissions
State of Ohio

State of Maryland

State of New Jersey

District of Columbia

Commonwealth of Virginia

U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

U.S. District Court, District of Maryland

U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey

U.S. District Court, District of Washington, D.C.

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio