About John
John Ellsworth is an attorney admitted to practice in Wisconsin, Illinois and Colorado, and he also holds admissions to the Seventh Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has built a practice that operates across state and federal lines. That range of admissions gives him access to trial and appellate forums as well as federal bankruptcy proceedings.
Ellsworth’s career spans work in contested bankruptcy matters and consumer insolvency cases, together with related civil litigation. He appears in district and bankruptcy courts and has experience filing briefs in appellate courts. He represents individual debtors, creditors and businesses in proceedings that often involve a mix of statutory claims and practical business concerns. His work requires combining courtroom preparation with negotiation and procedural strategy.
Active memberships in several professional organizations mark his professional life. He holds memberships in the Chicago Bar Association, the State Bar of Wisconsin, the State Bar of Illinois and the State Bar of Colorado. He is also a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Lawyers. His affiliations extend to the American Bar Association and the American Association for Justice.
Those memberships reflect the strands of his practice. The bankruptcy organizations connect to his day-to-day docket. The bar associations provide a forum for local courtroom practice and rules. The national groups offer perspectives on appellate and national policy issues. He participates in those circles to stay current on developments in bankruptcy law and consumer litigation.
Ellsworth’s admissions to the Seventh Circuit and to the U.S. Supreme Court shape part of his professional profile. Admission to those courts enables him to handle appeals and to prepare filings that comply with higher court rules. He balances appellate work with trial-court responsibilities. That mix demands attention to both written advocacy and in-court argument.
Colleagues and opposing counsel describe him as methodical in courtroom preparation and straightforward in negotiations. He tends to prefer efficient resolutions when they meet a client’s needs, and he pursues litigation when a case requires a trial posture. He manages matters that range from individual consumer cases to more complex commercial bankruptcy disputes. He currently maintains a practice concentrating on bankruptcy, consumer insolvency and related civil litigation.