20 years
of Client Experience
About Us
A Legacy Built on Trust
Inspired by the wisdom and courage of the women in law who came before us, our practice is designed to be approachable, flexible, inviting and deeply ingrained in the communities where we work and live.
Belle Legal has cultivated a space where our clients feel safe and comfortable talking about planning for the hard things – the passage of loved ones, estate planning, or divorce. Likewise, our attorneys operate with a warm, transparent approach that focuses on education and empathy, giving you the tools you need to move forward with confidence, ready for the next stage of life.
Alone you can go fast; together, we can go far. We’ll help you plan well so your future will ring true for generations to come.
What's in a name
The Belle Story
Inspired by the wisdom and courage of the women in law who came before us, the attorneys at Belle Law approach our practice a little differently. We’re not a traditional law firm. Instead, we’ve built our business to be approachable, flexible and deeply ingrained in the communities where we work and live.
Incorporating the name, “Belle,” honors the trailblazing legacy of Belva Lockwood a pioneering attorney. A relentless champion for equal rights in the legal profession, she was the first woman to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court, reflects Belle Legals’ commitment to justice and advocacy to women and families.
“Belle” also projects a sense of strength, sophistication, and resilience, qualities essential in the practice of law.
Our Vibrant Team
J. Ellen Keller
Estate Planning | Business Law
Bar Admissions
State of Ohio
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
Education
J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law
B.A., Miami University
Professional Associations
Ohio Bar Association
Community Involvement
Board Member of Changing Gears
Past Board Member of JDRF, Southern & Central Ohio Chapter
Past Board Member of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Cincinnati Affiliate
Ellen is an avid reader, with a particular penchant for murder mysteries and sci-fi/fantasy novels. When she’s not reading, Ellen enjoys spending time with her two kids and her friends and family, including Noodle! Ellen has accepted that exercise is necessary for a healthy lifestyle but does not enjoy it. She is a big fan of FC Cincinnati.
Tina J. Barrett
Family Law | Mediation
Bar Admissions
State of Ohio
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
Education
J.D. University of Cincinnati College of Law
M.A. in Philosophy, Miami University
B.A. in Political Science & Philosophy, cum laude, Miami University
Professional Associations
Ohio Bar Association
Founder of Adding Light, Inc.- a not for profit organization with the mission to healing for those in grief, for those suffering from mental health challenges, homelessness and/or poverty and aims to protect the interests of those, including companion animals, who have been abused, neglected or are in need of support for their basic needs of life. In essence, Adding Light, Inc. strives to add light back into an otherwise dark world.
Tina has a special interest in ethics and has done extensive research into the reliability of moral claims. Her Master’s Thesis “Can Moral Claims be Tested the Way Scientific Claims Can be Tested?” sought to illustrate the foundational ties between the ways we approach a reliance upon scientific certainty and the way we test the existence of moral properties such as “good” and “right.” She sees her ethical studies as foundation for her study of law and recognizes that the ‘black letter law’ is only one necessary consideration in a full and productive appreciation of a client’s needs and obligations. Tina has two dogs and an ever-changing number of cats. She is able to talk about normal-people things in addition to her very fancy philosophy talk. When in doubt, ask her about Harry Potter.
Whitney Ellison
Probate Law | Estate Planning
Bar of Admissions
State of Ohio
Education
J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law
B.A., University of Oklahoma
Professional Associations
Ohio Bar Association
Community Involvement
Power to Pursue: Co-Founder 2021. Annual event speaker and moderator 2021-2024
Wise Wellness Guild: Founding Member, Speaker, Facilitator
Resident Enneagram Facilitator: Galia Collaborative 2021-2024
Cincinnati ArtsWave: Boardway Bound, Class of 2025
Administrative Board Chair: Highland United Methodist Church
Board Member: Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
Pro-bono Volunteer: Project Connect at Cincinnati Public Schools
Whitney Ellison is an attorney focused on probate and estate planning. She practices at Belle Legal, a woman-owned and woman-run law firm in Madeira, Ohio. Whitney earned her J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and her B.A. from the University of Oklahoma.
At the heart of her work is guiding people through seasons of transition—particularly after the loss of a loved one. She helps clients administer probate and trust estates with care and clarity, and she partners with individuals and families on thoughtful estate planning, including trusts, wills, health care directives, and powers of attorney. Her approach is grounded in both precision and compassion, recognizing that legal work is often deeply personal.
Outside of the practice of law, Whitney is a published writer, speaker, and poet. Creativity and compassion are her core values, and writing, poetry, and public speaking are the ways she brings those values into the world. She is married with three awesome kids, an avid napper, and also loves strength training, Pilates and yoga. She is shamelessly obsessed with her three wily Boston Terriers.
As of January 2026, Whitney is proud to announce that she is a newly minted Board Member of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, serves as the Administrative Board Chair of her church in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and volunteers monthly as a lawyer with Project Connect through Cincinnati Public Schools.
Sarah Ellen Eads Adkins
Family Law | Immigration Law | Non-Profit Law
Bar Admissions
State of Kentucky
State of Ohio
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
Education
B.S., Campbellsville University
J.D., Harvard Law School
Professional Associations
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Kentucky Bar Association
- Cincinnati Bar Association
- Northern Kentucky Bar Association
Publications
Sarah Ellen Eads Adkins, Immigration Law, In Preaching in and the Borderlands (J. Dwayne Howell and Charles L. Aaron Jr. eds., 2020)
Sarah has built her career advocating for underrepresented communities. Most recently, she served as Associate Professor and Director of the Legal Access Clinic at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.
Before joining Belle Legal, Sarah was the Founding Executive Director of Neighbors Immigration Clinic, an immigration legal services nonprofit. She also served as an Assistant Attorney General under Andy Beshear in the Office of Civil and Environmental Law, handling civil litigation at every level of state and federal court. Sarah completed a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Judge Van Tatenhove of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and began her legal career representing immigrants at Maxwell Street Legal Clinic, funded by a Public Service Venture Fund Fellowship from Harvard Law School.
Sarah lives in Fort Thomas with her soon-to-be middle schooler, her husband, an English Springer Spaniel puppy, and ten backyard chickens. She’s a dedicated reader of literary fiction, specifically books where nothing happens, and a loyal listener of political podcasts. She loves craft beer and bourbon, and her favorite extracurricular activity is drinking a craft beer outside, near trees, with her family and pup.
What's in a brand mark
The New Belle Logo
Inspired by the wisdom and courage of the women in law who came before us, the attorneys at Belle Law approach our practice a little differently. We’re not a traditional law firm. Instead, we’ve built our business to be approachable, flexible and deeply ingrained in the communities where we work and live.
Incorporating the name, “Belle,” honors the trailblazing legacy of Belva Lockwood a pioneering attorney. A relentless champion for equal rights in the legal profession, she was the first woman to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court, reflects Belle Legals’ commitment to justice and advocacy to women and families.
“Belle” also projects a sense of strength, sophistication, and resilience, qualities essential in the practice of law.
Our Happy Clients
Schedule Your Consultation Today
We’re here to help you plan for the future, guide through transitions and ensure legacies are honored, securing tomorrow, today. We’re here to guide, educate and support. Simply put, we’re here for you.