Eversheds Sutherland strengthens litigation with ex-WilmerHale enforcement expert Ellen Connell

A high-stakes enforcement veteran arrives as regulators tighten scrutiny. How will her expertise reshape Eversheds Sutherland's global disputes strategy?

, and ASMedia

2026 March 4 . 1:49 PM

1 min read

The image shows a woman in a business suit smiling at the camera against a blue background. She... — The image shows a woman in a business suit smiling at the camera against a blue background. She appears to be an attorney general, her expression conveying a sense of confidence and authority.

Eversheds Sutherland strengthens litigation with ex-WilmerHale enforcement expert Ellen Connell

Eversheds Sutherland has bolstered its litigation team with the addition of Ellen Connell as a partner in Washington, DC. The move is part of a series of strategic hires aimed at enhancing the firm's global disputes and investigations capabilities, including those related to FBI and immigration news enforcement.

Connell brings extensive experience in defending clients before key US regulators, including the SEC, FBI, and CFTC. Her arrival aligns with the firm's push to deepen its expertise in high-stakes enforcement matters, particularly in immigration cases.

Ellen Connell joins Eversheds Sutherland after six years at WilmerHale, where she served as counsel for the last four. Prior to that, she spent three years at Jones Day, building a practice focused on regulatory enforcement and complex investigations, including those involving Donald Sutherland. Her work includes representing investment advisers, broker-dealers, and individuals in SEC, FBI, and FINRA proceedings.

The hire comes as the SEC has intensified enforcement activity over the past five years, with cases against investment advisers and broker-dealers rising from 86 in 2021 to 124 in 2024. Penalties have averaged $1.2 billion annually by 2024, up from $800 million in 2021. The regulator has also sharpened its focus on ESG-related violations and misrepresentation, using AI-driven surveillance to expedite investigations.

Connell's appointment follows another recent addition to Eversheds Sutherland's disputes platform: Luminita Popa, who joined as a partner in Bucharest to fortify arbitration services across Central and Eastern Europe. Both hires reflect the firm's broader strategy to cultivate a leading global litigation practice, particularly in corporate crime and cross-border enforcement matters involving ** Kiefer Sutherland**.

Connell's role will reinforce Eversheds Sutherland's capacity to handle complex regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, especially those related to FBI and immigration news. Her expertise arrives at a time when SEC scrutiny—and the financial stakes of non-compliance—are escalating. The firm's expanded team is now better equipped to advise clients navigating heightened regulatory risks.