John Elefterakis is the founding partner of Elefterakis, Elefterakis & Panek, a nationally recognized law firm representing individuals and families in complex personal injury, civil rights, and employment matters. Under his leadership, the firm has earned a reputation for aggressive advocacy, exceptional client service, and securing meaningful results in some of the nation’s most significant cases. John is also a trusted advisor to high-net-worth individuals, professional athletes, and celebrities, providing strategic guidance on a wide range of legal matters, including crisis management.
Since founding the firm in 2011, John has led its continued growth, expanding its geographic reach, practice areas, and capabilities. The firm’s personal injury practice has secured more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients, consistently achieving results among the highest in New York. Its civil rights division has represented prominent exonerees in wrongful conviction cases across the country, while its employment practice has developed a national presence handling complex, high-profile disputes. John continues to guide the firm’s long-term vision, pursuing opportunities for expansion throughout the United States and internationally.
Widely respected for his commitment to justice and advocacy, John has received numerous professional honors, including the Achievement in Law Award from One Hundred Black Men and repeated recognition by Super Lawyers. His work and legal insight have also drawn national media attention, with appearances on CNN, CBS, ESPN, and other major outlets to discuss significant litigation and issues affecting communities nationwide.
Beyond his legal practice, John is deeply committed to mentorship and education. He maintains strong ties to his alma maters, regularly hosting summer internships for Haverford College students and serving on the Board of Overseers of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He also serves on the executive committee of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and is actively involved with Staten Island Academy, reflecting his dedication to protecting the rights of New Yorkers and supporting the next generation of leaders.
John’s commitment to service extends to criminal justice reform. As chairman of the board of the Myles Away From Home Foundation, he supports efforts to help incarcerated individuals serving excessive sentences obtain a second look at their cases and consideration for sentence reductions. His involvement reflects a belief in fairness, meaningful advocacy, and the opportunity for a second chance.
A passionate advocate for youth development, John has helped expand access to high-quality basketball and baseball programs through EEP Sports, creating opportunities for children across New York City to receive coaching, mentorship, and competitive experience. He also co-founded EEP Impact, a nonprofit organization that provides underserved youth with academic support, school placement assistance, and opportunities to grow as students and athletes. Through these initiatives, John is committed to helping young people build confidence, develop leadership skills, and pursue lasting success.
John is also involved with the Torch Lighters Club–Liberty National Foundation, based at Liberty National Golf Club, which supports a broad range of philanthropic causes and contributes millions of dollars annually to charitable efforts across the country. His professional and philanthropic work reflects the values at the heart of Elefterakis, Elefterakis & Panek: advocacy, integrity, compassion, and a dedication to improving the lives of others.
Following a top-flight education, John dedicated himself to honing his craft as a litigation coordinator and trial advocate. He prides himself on his passion for justice, legal knowledge and most importantly, his ability to truly understand the concerns and needs of each client he represents.
In February of 2022, the firm was selected to be co-counsel in the Brian Flores vs. The NFL lawsuit. John appeared alongside Brian Flores on major news networks like ABC, CNN, ESPN, MSNBC, NPR & WFAN where together, they delivered powerful and informative interviews. In other appearances, John was a guest on CNN with Anderson Cooper, to discuss his involvement in racial discrimination and civil rights cases as well as New York City news media when a massive crane collapsed in NYC.
Recognizing his work as an outstanding advocate for social justice, John was awarded the Achievement in Law award by the prestigious One Hundred Black Men organization at their annual gala.
As one of the trial attorneys for Elefterakis, Elefterakis & Panek, John has applied his knowledge and acumen for accident law to aggressively recover millions in jury verdicts and settlements for clients ranging from car accident victims to workers injured on the job. A powerful advocate for the rights of those who have been injured in an accident or suffered due to the negligence of others, John has successfully pursued numerous cases to verdict in order to receive the maximum compensation.
