Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Eleanor (Ellie) Wetzel is an advocate of lifelong learning. Prior to joining Vialto Partners, where she practices corporate immigration law, she focused on legal research and writing for courts at the state and federal trial level. She received her JD from Indiana University in Bloomington (now Maurer School of Law), ranking in the top 10% for both oral advocacy (Moot Court) and legal writing (Scribe Award). Ellie was admitted to the Indiana bar in 2000 and the Tennessee bar in 2002. Ellie currently serves on the board of directors for the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals. She and her Great Pyr mix, Winnie, have volunteered as a Pet Partners therapy animal team at a children's hospital, foster care review board, and community events. Ellie has presented on animal accommodation law at continuing legal education classes, professional seminars, college classes, and community events.
Previously PwC Law LLP
● Responsible for written opinions and drafted >500 decisions on constitutional and evidentiary issues, including issues of first impression (e.g., admissibility of electronic surveillance, news reporter privilege, admissibility of BWS evidence as part of defense where criminal act against non-aggressor third-party, admissibility of cadaver/HRD dog scent evidence where no physical evidence was recovered, and admissibility of probabilistic genotyping evidence). ● Drafted opinions on admissibility of evidence under state and federal constitutions and Rules of Evidence as well as opinions on collateral challenges such as post-conviction petitions (including immigration law concerns and cases involving deported petitioners), writs of error coram nobis, and writs of habeas corpus. ● Oversaw all ex parte filings. Conducted in camera review of documents filed under seal. ● Prepared training materials (e.g., Managing Capital Cases training for Tennessee state judges conference, Inns of Court programs, CLEs, etc.). ● Spoke at presentations (e.g., Nashville Bar Assoc. CLEs, Vanderbilt University School of Law career services judicial panel, Nashville Bar Assoc. Criminal Justice Committee post-conviction workshop, Belmont University College of Law Criminal Law Society, etc.). ● Served as liaison between Chambers and counsel.
● Drafted opinions for dispositive motions for a variety of federal criminal and civil law matters, including employment discrimination (Title VII, ADA, ADEA), patent disputes, and diversity jurisdiction personal injury claims. Drafted opinions for social security appeals. ● Prepared jury instructions for civil and criminal trials. Began as summer intern in 1999; offered employment for two-year clerkship.
● Researched law and drafted legal memoranda and court orders for civil and criminal cases. Began as summer clerk; offered employment for subsequent academic years.
● Drafted summary judgment motions and briefs. ● Prepared research memoranda. ● Compiled state survey of railway laws. Offered employment as an Associate upon law school graduation.