Makana Ellis

Associate

New Haven
mellis@carmodylaw.com

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203.784.3161

Legal Services

Education

University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, J.D., 2012
Yale University, B.A., 2005

Admissions

Bar Admissions

Connecticut
New York State

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut

Back to Our Team

Home » Our Team » Makana Ellis

Makana represents clients in a diverse range of litigation matters including agency law, breach of contract, construction, criminal defense, evictions, foreclosure, housing, medical malpractice defense, property, real estate, and employment immigration matters.

Makana previously worked as a public defender at the Bridgeport G.A. 2 Courthouse, representing clients on the motor vehicle and domestic violence docket and providing arraignments. Makana also clerked at the New Haven J.D. Superior Courthouse in civil, family, and criminal court.

Prior to law school, Makana worked at Yale University as the inaugural director of the Dixwell-Yale University Community Learning Center, an education facility which provided after school programs for New Haven area youth and health and wellness programs for adults.

Affiliations

Connecticut Bar Association: Legislative Policy and Review Committee 2021-Present, Pandemic Recovery Future of Technology Task Force 2022-Present
New Haven County Bar Association: Executive Committee 2021-Present
George W. Crawford Black Bar Association: Secretary 2019-2020, President-Elect 2020-2021, President 2021-2022, Advisory Council 2022-Present
Middlesex County Bar Association

Distinctions

57 Most Influential Award – Northeast Black Law Student Association, 2025
New Leader in the Law – ALM Law.com New England Legal Awards, 2023

Community

Shubert Theatre: Board Member, 2024-Present
Gateway Community College Foundation: Board Member, 2023-Present
Youth Continuum: Board of Directors, 2022-2024
Christian Community Action, Inc. of New Haven: Board Member, 2017-2023
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
Yale Alumni Schools Committee
Yale Club of New Haven

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Issues New Form I-9

April 21, 2025

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a new edition of the Form I-9 on April 3, 2025, here. The new version of the government’s employment eligibility verification form, dated 01/20/25, is currently available for download and has an expiration date of May 31, 2027. Employers may continue to
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Carmody Litigators named New Leaders in the Law 2023

August 07, 2023

Carmody litigators Damian Gunningsmith, Makana Ellis and Doug Balko are recognized by Connecticut Law Tribune and American Lawyer Media International as New Leaders in the Law 2023 in the inaugural New England Legal Awards.

DHS Ends Remote Inspection of I-9 Document Flexibility for Employers on July 31, 2023

July 05, 2023

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ends COVID-19 temporary flexibilities for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, on July 31, 2023. Employers will have thirty (30) days to reach compliance with Form I-9 requirements through August 30, 2023. The COVID-19 flexibilities were initially announced in March 2020 and updated in March
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