Ellen A. Swick
Partner

Ellen A. Swick, a partner at Ashford & Wriston, joined the firm in April 2022.

Ms. Swick focuses her practice in the areas of commercial litigation and bankruptcy, representing lenders, secured creditors, creditor committees, and debtors in a variety of industries. She has experience in defending the creditors’ rights of financial institutions and community associations, as well as experience in large bankruptcy cases, including chapter 11 reorganizations, and judicial foreclosure proceedings. Prior to moving to Hawai’i, Ms. Swick practiced civil litigation and real estate law with an emphasis on zoning and land use in Maryland.

Professional Activities and Associations:

Ms. Swick is licensed to practice in Hawai’i and Maryland. She is a member of the Hawai’i State Bar Association and its Business Law, Litigation and Probate and Estate Planning sections. In December 2019, Ms. Swick was elected by the federal judiciary to serve as a lawyer delegate to Hawai‘i’s annual United States District Court Judicial Conference, convened to promote the better administration of justice in the District of Hawai‘i. Ms. Swick is a current member and former President (2020) / Treasurer (2018-2019) of the Hawai‘i Bankruptcy Bar Association.

In August 2023, following her appointment by Hawai’i Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, Ms. Swick was sworn in as an Arbitrator in the Court Annexed Arbitration Program of the First Circuit (“CAAP”).

In July 2024, Ms. Swick was elected to serve on the board of directors of Hawaii Women Lawyers, a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization, whose mission it is “to improve the lives and careers of women attorneys, influence the future of our legal profession, enhance the status of women, and promote equal opportunities for all.”

Community Activities:

Ms. Swick sits on the Board of the Rotary Club of Honolulu, Pau Hana Chapter, where she has served as Treasurer since 2022. She also volunteers with the Access to Justice Room at Honolulu District Court, which assists self-represented litigants by providing legal advice on civil matters.

In April 2024, Ms. Swick participated in the Hawai’i Supreme Court’s “Courts in the Community” program, designed to educate high school students about the Judiciary’s role in government and its function in resolving disputes, by preparing local students with moot court activities in advance of viewing oral argument in a current case.

Ms. Swick is also active with Make-a-Wish Hawaii,  which helps grant life-changing wishes for local children with critical illnesses, and The Laulima Giving Program, a partnership between Keiki O Ka ‘Aina Family Learning Centers and KHON2, who strives “to bring the community together, with many hands, for the good of others.”