Meet Our
Team

Eleni A. (“Eleana”) Drakatos

I am committed to helping injured victims. I am licensed to practice law in Ohio (State and Federal Courts), the District of Columbia, and the United States Supreme Court. In 2003, I earned my law degree from Capital University School of Law, where I met my husband and law partner Dennis Yacobozzi, II. In 2014, I joined my spouse’s law practice, which became Yacobozzi | Drakatos, LLC. I represent people that have been injured due to someone else’s fault. My clients are people and families hurt in car accidents, motorcycle collisions, slip-and-falls, and due to medical negligence.

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but spent my entire childhood in Greece. I came to Columbus, Ohio, in 1996, to attend Ohio Wesleyan University, where I graduated in 2000 with a degree in Psychology and Neuroscience. My science background helps me understand the medicine when reviewing, negotiating, and trying injury cases.

My commitment to the practice of law extends beyond my work at the office. I enjoy working with legal organizations that help attorneys do better for their clients. In 2018, I was elected to serve as the President of the Ohio State Bar Association for the term of 2019-2020. I served as president of the Women Lawyers of Franklin County, and have served on the Boards of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Company, the Ohio State Bar Foundation, the Ohio Association for Justice, and the Central Ohio Association for Justice.

Dennis and I enjoy spending time with our daughter. We enjoy biking on the beautiful trails of Ohio, exploring the Ohio food scene, and visiting with family and friends.

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Cheryl L. Botkin

I have been a paralegal working in downtown Columbus for 36 years. I have always loved to organize things, which is a skill that has served me well. My first position (1985) was with a well- known large defense law firm in Columbus, with offices in several other cities and states, in the litigation department. I was the youngest and greenest of a team of 4-5 litigation paralegals in their Columbus office who taught me what they do not teach you in school. I primarily worked on files in litigation, defending physicians against claims of medical negligence.
I also have always had a natural affinity for the underdog and in 1992, I was ready for a professional change. Several attorneys were leaving the large structure of the defense firm, joining existing smaller Plaintiff’s firms, representing persons who had been injured by the negligence of others. I followed one such attorney over to a much smaller Plaintiff’s law firm, working on medical negligence and personal injury matters.
Unfortunately, economic changes in 2008 led to many personnel changes over the next several years. In early 2010 it was my turn to be downsized. I had been occasionally freelancing for several Plaintiff’s attorneys, in anticipation of being downsized. I accepted a temp job working for a very impressive younger attorney working at another well-known and successful Plaintiff’s law firm. Little did I know it was a 2-week interview to see how I fit in with the rest of the staff and if I had the experience and work-ethic to become the paralegal for one of the firm’s named partners. I accepted and became essentially a case manager for a large number of medical negligence cases for 6 years.
The very impressive younger attorney who hired me in my position above, was Eleana Drakatos. She since joined her husband’s existing practice and when she heard I too was making a change, made me an offer. Mid-year 2016 I joined Yacobozzi | Drakatos. I was born and raised in the Village of Ottawa. Ohio. I graduated magna cum laude from Wittenberg Univ., Springfield OH the Spring of 1984 with a political science major and music minor. The Fall of 1984 I completed a residential 13 week, 5 days a week, AMA approved paralegal program with the National Institute for Paralegals, Atlanta, Georgia, graduating with honors. Mid-January 1985, I accepted my first paralegal position. Outside joys are yoga, Boston Terriers, good friends, and good food, and last but not least my son, born in 1988.
I have had the pleasure of working with many fine attorneys, paralegals, and staff over the years, many of whom became lifetime friends, Eleana and Dennis included. They practice law and approach each case as if the client were a close friend or relative. I am proud to be a member of their team. As lawyers, they are exceptional; as bosses they are extraordinary; and as human beings, they are compassionate and caring.