Overview
Elin I. Park is a litigator in Holland & Knight's Chicago office. Ms. Park represents companies in commercial litigation and class actions across a range of consumer protection areas, including false advertising, unfair or deceptive trade practices, product liability and privacy. She also handles disputes involving real estate, as well as regulatory proceedings and investigations. Ms. Park works closely with, and reports directly to, officers of companies, who consider her a trusted adviser. She has been recognized for her effective advocacy by the courts, including a federal court that described her advocacy as "superlative."
Ms. Park's practice spans a range of industries, including retail, manufacturers, trade association, technology, energy and utilities, financial institutions and insurance.
Ms. Park has been appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve on its Committee on Character and Fitness. Ms. Park is highly engaged in legal and civic communities, and has received awards from the federal court, bar associations and other organizations. In addition, she has held executive leadership roles across multiple bar associations. Ms. Park speaks Korean.
Representative Experience
- Represented manufacturing and retail companies in commercial lease disputes
- Represented retail company in asbestos litigation
- Represented chemicals manufacturer and distributor in a billion-dollar supplier dispute
- Represented aircraft manufacturer in environmental litigation involving the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
- Represented automobile manufacturer in a class action alleging defective product and misleading advertising
- Represented technology company in a privacy class action involving the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA)
- Represented software program provider in a class action alleging deceptive practices
- Represented ingredients manufacturer and distributor in litigation arising out of a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal
- Litigated contract disputes involving software as a service (SaaS), construction, procurement, engineering, joint venture, master service agreements (MSA), statement of work (SOW) and asset purchase agreements (APA)
- Conducted internal and government investigations of manufacturing and retail companies
- Advised on setting up e-commerce business
- Counseled retail and trade association regarding mitigating regulatory and litigation risks, including by updating terms of use/terms and conditions, and other legal terms and policies
- Represented energy companies in a power plant and construction dispute
- Advised energy company in regulatory proceedings resulting from a wildfire
- Advised energy companies in cost-recovery regulatory proceedings
- Represented internet service provider in a regulatory investigation regarding response to a natural disaster
- Represented financial institution in a class action alleging breach of fiduciary duties and mismanagement of trust assets
- Represented financial institution and mortgage lender in contract disputes
- Represented financial institution in an insurance coverage dispute
- Represented insurance companies in class actions alleging unlawful kickback programs in violations of federal and state statutes, including Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)
- Represented transportation provider in eminent domain proceedings
- Represented media company in a multibillion-dollar arbitration regarding option to acquire interest in another company
- Represented clients in multiple civil rights litigation matters, including federal jury trial
- Advised on a range of litigation involving Korean and Japanese businesses
Credentials
- The University of Chicago Law School, J.D.
- Duke University, B.S., Economics
- Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- Illinois Supreme Court, Committee on Character and Fitness, 2024-Present
- Council of Korean Americans, 2023-Present
- Korean American Bar Association of Chicago (KABA), Vice President, 2020-2023; Advisory Board, 2023-Present
- Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago (AABA Chicago), President, 2021-2022
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)
- Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI), Alumni Network, Former Board Member
- International Association of Korean Lawyers (IAKL)
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, 2024
- 40 Under Forty, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2023
- Leadership Greater Chicago, Signature Fellow, 2023
- Distinguished Honoree, Illinois State Comptroller, 2023
- Hot List, Lawyers of Color, 2023
- Rising Star, Illinois Super Lawyers magazine, Class Action, 2022
- Crain's Chicago Business, Rising Star in Law, 2021
- Excellence in Pro Bono Service, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2018
- Pro Bono and Public Service Award, Seventh Circuit Bar Association, 2014
- Korean