Laura E. Ellsworth

Laura Ellsworth is Jones Day's first head of Global Community Service Initiatives, spearheading the Firm's rule of law initiatives around the world. In her litigation practice she has handled landmark public nuisance cases, multijurisdictional product liability matters, the largest health care bankruptcy of its time, and nationwide qui tam cases. She served on the Local Rules Advisory Committee for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and in 2013-2014 was co-chair of the Federal Judicial Selection Committee for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Laura has been active in civic and community affairs, serving in leadership roles on the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, and the United Way Women's Leadership Council. Governor Rendell named her one of Pennsylvania's Top Businesswomen, and Governor Corbett appointed her to serve on the boards of the Pennsylvania State System for Higher Education, Pennsylvania Council on Privatization and Innovation, and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. She has served on public company and civic/charitable boards, including FNB Corporation, Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation, Imani Christian Academy, Heinz History Center, Waynesburg University, McCune Foundation, and University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics. Laura has taught law classes in inner-city schools and conducted two Lawyers Without Borders programs in Nairobi, Kenya.

Laura's civic contributions have been recognized numerous times including the 2013 ATHENA Award, 2014 Pennsylvania Diversity Council's Most Powerful & Influential Women Award, the 2016 Legal Intelligencer's Lifetime Achievement Award, and a 2022 Legal Intelligencer's "Unsung Heroes" Award. In 2024, she received the Righteous Among Neighbors award and the Pursuer of Peace award for her work in founding The Eradicate Hate Global Summit.