About Elena I.
Elena I. Coleman took an unconventional academic route to the American bar. She began with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance, earned in 2003. A decade later she completed her legal training, receiving a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law in 2013.
After law school she entered the Washington legal community. She is admitted to practice in Washington and has practiced at Fenwick & West LLP. Her training bridges quantitative and legal disciplines. That combination often shapes how she approaches client problems: attention to numbers and attention to legal detail.
Her early studies in economics gave her familiarity with financial concepts and data. Her legal education added statutory and regulatory tools. Together those backgrounds inform her professional judgment on matters that involve economic analysis and legal interpretation. She tends to bring a methodical approach to problem solving and to break complex matters into manageable parts.
At Fenwick & West LLP she has worked on matters that require close coordination among lawyers and clients. Her practice has involved collaboration across teams, drafting legal documents and advising clients on discrete legal questions. Colleagues describe her as thorough and pragmatic in day-to-day practice. She has also helped prepare materials for negotiations and legal filings when those were needed.
Outside of direct case work she keeps up with continuing legal education requirements and the evolving landscape of Washington law. She speaks several languages of technical and financial subject matter, owing to her economics background and legal training. Her current practice concentrates on matters handled at Fenwick & West LLP.
