Dena Elkathib is a strategist at heart, with a global mindset and a strong grounding in finance. She brings disciplined thinking, a proactive approach, and a calm, organized way of working—especially when the facts are complex and the stakes are high.
Clients value her clarity and follow-through: identifying what matters most, reducing noise, and building a plan that holds up under scrutiny.
Dena’s core approach:
Clarity. What is happening, what do the documents actually say, and what decision matters next?
Timing. What deadline, contract date, or procedural step is controlling your options right now?
Proof. Strong positions come from records, documentation, and clean communication—not guesswork.
Her practice is shaped by deep interdisciplinary training across business, law, and public administration. That combination helps her move between legal detail and big-picture strategy—so the plan makes sense both on paper and in the real world.
Request a Free Case Analysis
Send a brief description of your issue and the most relevant documents. If there’s a deadline or scheduled date, include it up front.
A strategist with a global mindset and a finance-first foundation
Dena’s work is grounded in practical strategy: understanding the business realities behind the legal issue, mapping risk, and making decisions based on what the record supports.
Her clients often come to her when there are competing priorities—financial pressure, regulatory constraints, and fast-moving timelines. She is known for bringing order to those moments: clean organization, clear communication, and a focused plan.
What it feels like to work with Dena
You should not leave a legal conversation more confused than when you started. Dena’s style is calm and direct, with an emphasis on what can be proven and what must be done next.
Expect a structured process: documents first, timeline second, strategy third. That sequence prevents expensive detours and keeps the matter moving.
Clients typically want three things:- Fast clarity on what the paperwork means
- Realistic options based on timing and the record
- Clean execution that avoids avoidable surprises
This approach is especially valuable when the issue touches finance, regulated decision-making, or sensitive business relationships—where precision matters as much as persuasion.
Education built for complex business and cross-border legal issues
Dena’s academic path is deeply interdisciplinary, designed for high-complexity work at the intersection of finance, law, and policy.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing from Loyola University Chicago, building a strong base in business fundamentals and market realities.
Education highlights:- J.D., UIC John Marshall Law School
- Certificate, International Business & Trade Law (UIC John Marshall)
- Master in Public Administration (MPA), Harvard University Kennedy School of Government
- Certificate, Management, Leadership and Decision Sciences (Harvard Kennedy School)
That blend supports her day-to-day work: translating complex frameworks into actionable plans, balancing risk with opportunity, and communicating clearly with stakeholders who need answers—not jargon.
Need a Clear Strategy?
Call for plain-English next steps and a plan built around the documents—not assumptions.
Practice focus: aviation law and banking law
Dena applies her background where it fits best: matters involving regulation, finance, and risk management. Her focus includes aviation law and banking law, where the details are demanding and the consequences of mistakes can compound quickly.
Her work emphasizes structure and strategy: understanding the framework, identifying leverage points, and approaching the issue with a business-first mindset.
What clients often need most in these matters:- Regulatory clarity and clean compliance thinking
- Risk mapping that identifies what can actually go wrong
- Document discipline so the record supports the position
- Clear communication with decision-makers and counterparties
How Dena works: calm, meticulous, and business-first
Dena is known for clear communication and meticulous attention to detail. She organizes the record, identifies what matters, and builds a plan that can be explained simply—without sacrificing legal precision.
Her clients often describe the same benefit: once the situation is structured, it becomes easier to make good decisions and avoid the “silent mistakes” that happen when timelines are ignored or documents are incomplete.
If your matter is time-sensitive, her priority is triage: confirm the deadline, identify the controlling documents, and choose the next step that preserves the most options. If your matter is transactional or advisory, the goal is control: reducing last-minute surprises and making sure the outcome reflects what you actually agreed to.
Leadership, service, and thought leadership
Dena’s work also includes service and public-facing education. She serves as the Secretary of the Board of the charitable organization Amideast, supporting mission-driven work with structured governance and long-term thinking.
Speaking:
In 2021, Dena was invited to speak at the AirFinance Journal North America conference on bankruptcy in the aviation industry—a topic at the intersection of law, finance, and global commerce.
That same intersection shows up in her legal work: complex problems rarely live in one box, and strong strategy requires seeing the full system—documents, incentives, deadlines, and risk.
When to reach out
If you’re facing a regulated financial issue, an aviation-related legal problem, or a business matter where the documents matter as much as the outcome, start early. Early structure often prevents late-stage emergencies.
Before you call, gather:- The core documents: contracts, notices, key emails/letters, and any relevant filings
- Your timeline: what happened, when it happened, and what is scheduled next
- Your goal: the outcome you’re trying to protect (and what you need to avoid)
Call (312) 775-0980 or request a free case analysis.
If a deadline is driving urgency, mention it first.
From there, the focus is simple: confirm what the record supports, identify the decision points, and build a plan that’s practical, defensible, and clear.
Frequently asked questions
These answers are general information only. The right guidance depends on your documents, your timeline, and what is happening in your specific matter.
Want clarity fast?
Tell us what you received, what date is coming up next (if any), and what you’re trying to protect. If timing is urgent, lead with the deadline.
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. It is not legal advice. Results vary based on facts, documents, timing, and procedures.
If you’re not sure what to ask, start here: “What do my documents actually say, what deadline controls my next step, and what are my realistic options from this point?”
Prefer to Start by Phone?
Call (312) 775-0980. If timing is urgent, mention your deadline first so we can triage appropriately.
FAQ about working with Dena Elkathib
Search-style questions with plain-English answers (general information only).
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