Elisabeth C. Arko

Elisa Arko focuses her practice on complex litigation and appellate matters, including product liability defense.

Elisa specializes in developing strategies to meet our clients’ goals at every phase of the litigation, including consultation, dispositive motion practice, expert development, trial, and appeals. Applying this specialization, Elisa has handled all aspects of litigation, including motion practice, discovery, preparation and defense of fact and expert witnesses, and exploring alternative dispute resolutions. She also has handled and assisted with multiple appeals, including preparing briefs and oral argument.

Before pursuing a career in law, Elisa worked in local politics and as a community and media relations representative for the United States House of Representatives. Through these experiences, Elisa learned to effectively communicate difficult topics in a concise and succinct way and to articulate and successfully advocate a position on behalf of clients.

While in undergrad, Elisabeth was a member of the Ashland University Women’s Golf Team. She helped take the team to a 9th place finish nationally and was second-team all-GLIAC her senior year. Elisa is still an avid golfer and welcomes any opportunity to play the links.

Education: Cleveland State University College of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2016); Cleveland State Law Review, Editor-in-Chief (2015-2016); Ashland University (B.A., 2011); Ashbrook Scholar

State Admissions: Ohio, 2016

Federal Admissions: United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio; United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio

Service Areas: Appellate & Legal Issues; Class Action Litigation; Consumer Product Safety; Mass Tort & Product Liability; Life Sciences Litigation; Medical Malpractice Litigation; Health & Life Sciences

Represents a state pension system in class action litigation involving the interpretation of the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution and state statutory requirements
Drafted motions for summary judgment and to exclude plaintiff’s proffered expert witnesses in nationwide multi-defendant toxic tort litigation
Crafted an appeal to the Eighth District Court of Appeals arguing the scope of subject matter jurisdiction of a probate court during a guardianship proceeding
Drafted motions to dismiss in various jurisdictions based on elements of novel statutory interpretation
Handled appellate briefing and oral argument on behalf of corporate clients throughout the state of Ohio
Participated in appellate briefing in the state of New York and Georgia
Briefed and successfully argued a motion for summary judgment for a corporate client in a multi-defendant toxic tort case in federal court

speaking engagements

“Reptile Theory in Appellate Courts,” Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys Annual Meeting, Columbus, Ohio (November 2024)
“Supreme Court Term in Review,” Tucker Ellis 2024 In-House Counsel Summit, Cleveland, Ohio (October 2024)
“2022–2023 Supreme Court Term in Review,” Tucker Ellis In-House Counsel Summit (October 2023)
“Supreme Court Year in Review,” Tucker Ellis In-House Counsel Summit (October 2022)
“Back to the Courtroom: What We Can Expect from Courts Moving Forward,” Moderator, 2022 OACTA Annual Meeting, Cleveland, Ohio (November 2022)
“The Supreme Court Year in Review,” Tucker Ellis In-House Counsel Summit Webinar (October 2021)
“Restatement of the Law, Liability Insurance (2019): How Will It Impact Ohio Law?”, OACTA Insurance Coverage Virtual Seminar (April 2021)
“How Blockchain Could Transform the Real Estate Industry,” BOMA 2019 International Conference & Expo, Salt Lake City, Utah (June 2019)
“Blockchain: Changing the Game and Going Beyond Cryptocurrency,” 2018 In-House Counsel Summit, Tucker Ellis LLP, Cleveland, Ohio (October 2018)

publications

“5 Ways to Champion Women Lawyers,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (April 2023)
“Preservation of Error in Ohio: Waiver Beware,” OACTA Quarterly Review (Spring 2022)
“Supreme Court Case Tests Outer Time Limits for Bringing Malpractice Suits – AMCNO Files Amicus Brief,” Northern Ohio Physician (Summer 2020)
“Stop, Drop, and Think: A Futurist’s Plea for Caution in the Age of AI,” LegalTech News, New York Law Journal (March 2019)
“How Blockchain Can Help Secure Connected Devices,” Law360 (January 2019)
“That Which We Call ‘Any Exposure’ by Any Other Name Would Smell as Rotten: The Transmogrification of the ‘Any Exposure’ Opinion,” DRI’s For The Defense (November 2018)
“True Blue: Avoid ‘Fake News’ on Product Packaging,” Manufacturing Today (October 2018)
“An Often-Overlooked Defense to Product Liability Claims,” DRI’s For The Defense (April 2017)

media

“Legal Tech’s Predictions for 2019 in Cybersecurity and Privacy,” Legaltech News (December 2018)

Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys (2024)
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America (2023–2025)
Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars® (2025)

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- 3Rs Program
Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys
- Board of Trustees (2024–present)
- Annual Meeting Chair (2022)
- Appellate Advocacy Committee, Co-Chair