Christopher M. Ellis is a partner with the law firm of Bolen Robinson & Ellis, LLP. Mr. Ellis graduated with honors from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1998 and Georgetown University Law Center in 2001. Prior to joining the firm, he was an associate with the Washington, D.C. and Chicago, IL offices of Ross Dixon & Bell (now Troutman Sanders).

Mr. Ellis is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Ellis was formerly admitted to practice before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and various federal courts in and around the District of Columbia. Mr. Ellis has substantial experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in major civil litigation, including commercial, personal injury, and products liability. Mr. Ellis has recently become very involved in handling complex real estate and commercial transactions of various kinds, as well as matters affecting health care facilities, including compliance with various state and federal statutes.  In addition, Mr. Ellis has recently devoted a significant portion of his time to handling matters concerning labor negotiations and union activity, as well as handling intricate transactions for commercial lenders.

In 2005 Mr. Ellis co-authored the Appellee's brief in the Illinois Supreme Court the case Andrews, et al. v. Kowa Printing Corp., et al., 217 Ill.2d 101, 838 N.E.2d 894, 298 Ill.Dec. 1 (2005). Andrews is a seminal case under the Illinois Wage Pay and Collection Act that, among other things, clarified that corporate officers of defunct Illinois corporations cannot be held liable for unpaid wages when he or she was not in control of the corporation at the time the payments came due. This case provides significant protection to Illinois corporate officers and clarifies, for the first time, certain provisions of the Wage Act.   Mr. Ellis is currently serving as lead counsel and/or co-counsel on multiple litigation cases where millions of dollars are at stake, including a commercial litigation dispute involving valuable coal rights in the southern Illinois basin.

Mr. Ellis currently serves on the Executive Board of Directors and general Board of Directors for the United Way of Decatur & Mid-Illinois and acted as the 2007 chairperson and 2006 vice-chairperson for the United Way Campaign. Mr. Ellis is currently the chairperson for the Friends of St. Mary’s Foundation and also serves on the Board of Directors for the following local charitable entities: Children’s Museum of Illinois, Decatur Celebration and Campaign Executive Committee for St. Mary’s Hospital.  Mr. Ellis is an active member of First General Baptist Church, and has served on mission teams locally for the Lost Bridge Great Banquet.