Elena M.Occhipinti, Esq., Principal/Managing Attorney

As the founder of the Occhipinti Law Group, Elena brings inspiration and success to every aspect of her life’s work. Born and raised in the creatively conscious city of Chicago, Elena has been a passionate member of the performing arts community since the tender age of three.  Elena attended the nationally renowned, public performing arts academy, Franklin Fine Arts Center, for the length of her primary education, in addition to studying for more than ten years at Chicago’s acclaimed Moming Dance studio. After graduating with honors from the college preparatory program at Lane Technical in 1993, Elena went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, in just three and a half years, from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and her Juris Doctor degree, in May 2001, from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles.

Prior to forming the Occhipinti Law Group, Elena was as an associate at the entertainment law firm, LaPolt Law, working with an extensive list of clients including the Estate of Tupac Shakur, Estate of Lisa Lopez, and Amaru Entertainment.  As an associate at LaPolt Law, Elena’s work included entity formation, copyright and trademark registration, and reviewing, drafting and negotiating a multitude of entertainment and business related agreements including recording, deal shopping, producer, songwriter, booking and tour, studio rental, publishing, management, music distribution, film and television production and distribution, film and video licensing, production financing, endorsement, film/script options, as well as operating, joint venture, partnership, and employment/consultant agreements.

Before transitioning exclusively into entertainment law, Elena served for five years as General Counsel for Palmer Investments, Inc., a prominent, diversified real estate investment and development firm located in Santa Monica, California.  Palmer Investments’ holdings include land under development as master-planned communities in California and Colorado, and interests in over 5,000 apartments. As General Counsel, Elena supervised outside counsel with regard to transactional and litigation related matters, assessed title for acquisition/deposition, formed various legal entities, prepared due diligence materials, ensured compliance with campaign contribution regulations and structured, negotiated, drafted and finalized a variety of real estate and corporate related agreements.

Currently, in addition to managing the Occhipinti Law Group, Elena produces music videos, is the Music Supervising Producer for IFC’s “Dinner with the Band”, and is partners with deejay and producer, Anthony Khan p/k/a “The Twilite Tone”, in the music production company, The Tallest Building.

Elena is a member of the State Bar of California and the Beverly Hills Bar Association.  Throughout her career, Elena has been a volunteer and/or supporter of numerous citizen, community, and charitable organizations.  Presently, she serves on the Chicago Music Commission’s Board of Advisors.  Previously, Elena served as a volunteer at both the Western Law Center for Disability Rights and the Reading for Kids Program in Los Angeles, and as a mentor at the Cabrini Green Mentoring Program in Chicago, Illinois.