Chicago, IL, & New York, NY. Nixon Peabody LLP is proud to announce that partners Elizabeth Baio and Aaron Yowell have been named among the 2026 “Notable Leaders in Accounting, Consulting & Law” by Crain’s regional publications.
Chicago-based Intellectual Property partner Ela was recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business, while Crain’s New York Business honored Aaron, an Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner in the firm’s New York City office.
Ela co-leads the firm’s International & Foreign Associate Network IP team and focuses her practice on a range of intellectual property counseling matters. She advises companies on patent and trademark counseling, prosecution, and enforcement, helping clients develop national and global IP protection strategies aligned with their business objectives.
Outside the office, Ela serves on the board of Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global and is a Scholarship and Centennial Committee member of the Notre Dame Club of Joliet. She is also a member of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago and the International Trademark Association. Ela has been recommended by World Trademark Review 1000 as a leading Illinois lawyer for trademark prosecution and strategy since 2024.
Aaron represents for-profit and nonprofit developers, private equity investors, and family offices on complex real estate transactions that create and preserve affordable and transitional housing. He has a particular focus on novel and unconventional structures, advising clients on all aspects of project development, new construction, rehabilitation, and operation, including acquisitions, dispositions, regulatory matters, public and private financings, 501(c)(3) bond transactions, joint ventures, and investments.
As Nixon Peabody’s Chief Innovation Officer, Aaron leads the firm’s Innovation Team and its efforts with respect to artificial intelligence, including large language models and generative AI tools that are now embedded in the firm’s day-to-day practice. He has built leading-edge collaboration and other technology to deliver efficient and high-quality legal services to clients across the firm, including in the housing sector.
Each year, Crain’s New York Business and Crain’s Chicago Business recognize professionals who are leaders within their firms and respective industries, such as healthcare, technology, manufacturing, finance, and real estate. The honorees are making their mark by managing offices, representing public and private companies, handling multi-billion-dollar matters, working with nonprofits, and more.
