J’Aimee Crockett
Partner, ElevateNext
Education & Other Stuff
- University of North Carolina – Bachelor of Arts
- Stetson University College of Law – Juris Doctor magna cum laude
Although client service is not my only passion, it greatly informs how I practice law. In my pre-law life, I was a sommelier. In that pursuit, memorizing vintages, appellations, and the contents of a wine library is only part of the job. That knowledge must be translatable to your audience, and you have to understand what it is they want to experience. Not everyone is a steak-and-red wine type (personally, I hate Chardonnay). So, no matter how great the wine is, it may not be the right answer for your guest.
In litigation, like in wine, understanding a client’s priorities, processes, quirks, and sensibilities are just as important as understanding the law. Over my decade as a commercial and employment litigator, I have represented companies in state, federal, and appellate courts, as well as in proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Illinois Department of Human Rights. I can attest to the fact that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and that every client and every case is unique. ElevateNext not only understands that – it has developed nimble and cost-effective solutions to make our legal services accessible to clients at all levels. Here, you get legal-heavy hitters without the BigLaw price tag. You also get a team that respects the human element in litigation and holds client service paramount. And if you play your cards right, you may also get wine.
Ms. Crockett is an experienced litigator who primarily represents business entities in commercial and employment-related matters in state and federal courts, as well as in mediation and arbitration. As a commercial litigator, Ms. Crockett is well-versed in matters involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, shareholder disputes, and IP and trade secret protection. In the employment-law realm, she has defended corporations in a class action, multi-plaintiff, and single-plaintiff lawsuits involving claims of harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, and wage and hour violations. In addition to myriad court appearances, Ms. Crockett has appeared in proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
Ms. Crockett received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina and a Juris Doctor magna cum laude from Stetson University College of Law. At Stetson, Ms. Crockett was a distinguished scholar who served as a Law Review Editor, Teaching Fellow, and Research Assistant to the Dean. As a member of Stetson’s Moot Court Team, she and her team won the International Moot Court Competition in Information Technology & Privacy Law in Chicago, Illinois, and were semifinalists (finishing 8 out of 264) in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria.
Ms. Crockett is licensed in Illinois and Florida and has clerked for both Federal and State Appellate judges. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Florida Bar Association, and serves as a co-chair of the Civic and Community Involvement subcommittee of the Chicago Bar Association’s Alliance for Women.
About me:
- Champagne connoisseur, gardener, home chef, accidental comedian.
- Studied Ancient Greek and lived in Thebes and Athens for a year. Big fan of the ancient Philosopher Chrysippus who died laughing at one of his own jokes.
- Lover of snowboarding, cycling, and swimming. Will not run unless chased.
- I enjoy drawing, oil painting, and playing guitar. I’m good at one of those.
Bar and Court Admissions:
- Member of the Illinois State Bar AssociationMember of the Illinois State Bar Association
- Member of the Florida State Bar Association
- Clerked for The Honorable Mary Scriven in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- Clerked for the Honorable Chris Altenbernd in Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal
- Co-chair of the Civic and Community Involvement subcommittee of the Chicago Bar Association’s Alliance for Women