In its 2026 edition of Forty Under 40, Louisville Business First named labor and employment partner Rudy Ellis III, recognizing him as one of the region’s next generation of Louisville leaders. Rudy was also featured on the cover of the publication’s Forty Under 40 issue. Below is an excerpt from Rudy’s profile.
What’s your impact at your job on the Louisville-area community?
My work gives me the opportunity to support the Louisville community in a few different ways.
I advise local employers on workplace issues, helping them make sound decisions, resolve disputes and create better environments for their employees.
I also serve as legal counsel to public school boards on a wide range of issues involving students, employees, governance and compliance.
Those decisions can affect thousands of families, so I take that responsibility seriously. Much of my impact happens behind the scenes, but helping important local institutions operate effectively and navigate difficult situations is one of the most meaningful parts of my job.
How do you give back to the community outside work?
Outside of work, I try to give back in ways that feel personal to me. I serve as chair of the CGI Charitable Giving Fund and help organize the Charlie George Invitational, a local golf scramble which brings hundreds of people together each year to raise money and remember friends we’ve lost.
I’m also involved with Kentucky Defense Counsel and mentor a law student through the UofL Brandeis School of Law mentorship program, which gives me a chance to support the next generation of lawyers.
To view Rudy’s full profile, click here.