About Tom F.
Tom F. Elsner built his foundation at Arizona State University, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree. He went on to earn a J.D. from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2015. The law school years included practical placements that shaped the early steps of his legal career.
While still in law school he served as a law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in 2014. That position exposed him to federal court procedure and the mechanics of trial preparation. The following year he joined the DuPage County legal staff as an assistant state lawyer, a role that placed him in regular contact with courtroom work and county-level legal proceedings.
Elsner moved into private practice and, in 2023, became a partner at Lafata Law LLC. His time in both public service and private practice gave him perspective on how different parts of the system operate. He maintains an active membership in the State Bar of Illinois and practices under Illinois jurisdiction.
Colleagues describe his approach as methodical. He draws on hands-on experience from the bench and the prosecutor’s table when preparing cases. That background informs how he evaluates evidence, drafts filings and approaches hearings. He is comfortable in court settings and on motions, and he brings that courtroom familiarity into client work.
Now a partner at Lafata Law LLC, Elsner continues to work in Illinois. He handles matters that benefit from his experience in federal court procedure and county-level prosecution, and he remains engaged in litigation and client representation at the firm. He currently practices law in Illinois at Lafata Law LLC.
