Elena Zoniadis has spent her entire legal career working in various areas of health law. In addition to defending the rights of medical providers, her prior experience includes handling medical malpractice cases, representing individuals with disability matters, and advocating for mental health rights. As a Senior Associate at Ekblom & Partners, LLP, Ms. Zoniadis’ practice focuses on medical malpractice defense and litigation.

Having worked in the private and public sectors, Ms. Zoniadis has engaged in both direct representation and matters concerning national public policy. With a “no stone left unturned” approach to litigation, she is committed to offering thorough and tireless representation to her clients. An adept trial advocate and skillful litigator, Ms. Zoniadis provides careful attention and responsive counsel in every case she handles.

Before joining Ekblom & Partners, Ms. Zoniadis was the managing attorney for Disability Rights New Jersey where she oversaw the Institutional Rights Team and the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals for Mental Illness (PAIMI) Advisory Counsel. During her time with the agency, she frequently provided testimony regarding bills pending before the New Jersey State Legislature, lectured on disability matters, and advocated for individuals in connection with their individual rights. Ms. Zoniadis’ vast experience in health law also includes her previous employment with Schneider, Kerr & Robichaux, a Social Security Disability law firm in Portland,Oregon.

Ms. Zoniadis obtained her law degree from the City University of New York School of Law, where she served as a staff member of the CUNY Law Review. Following law school, she was actively involved with the Mental Health Law Committee for the New York Bar Association. She also served as an Assistant Deputy Public Advocate in the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, Division of Mental Health Advocacy. Additionally, Ms. Zoniadis performed Pro Bono work on behalf of the National Crime Victims Law Institute at Lewis & Clark Law School in Oregon.

Born in Greece and raised in New Jersey, Ms. Zoniadis is a native Greek speaker and has professional proficiency in Spanish. When she is not working, Ms. Zoniadis enjoys painting, traveling, being outdoors, hiking, kayaking, and spending time with her family. She currently resides in North New Jersey.

Ms. Zoniadis is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, and Oregon.

Representative Speaking Engagements

• Nursing Home Transition: Finding Your Home in the Community, Disability Rights New Jersey in collaboration with the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities and the New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman, September 29, 2021.
• Know Your Rights: Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities and Residential Child Care Facilities – What They Are, How They Operate, and What Your Rights are as a Resident, Disability Rights New Jersey in collaboration with the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, October 29, 2021.
• Preadmission Screening Resident Review: Your Rights Before Taking Residence in a Nursing Home, Disability Rights New Jersey in collaboration with the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, October 29, 2021.

Articles

• Breaking Down Barriers, Breaking the Silence: Making Health Care Accessible for Women with Disabilities, (contributing author), New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, October 2012.
• Desperation without Dignity: Conditions of Children Placed in For Profit Residential Facilities, (contributing author), National Disability Rights Network, October 2021.
• Psychiatric Advance Directives: Helping You Take Control of Your Health Care Planning, Disability Rights New Jersey, May 2021.