Ivelisse Bonilla has been practicing employment and labor law since 1997. In 1995, Ivelisse started working in employment matters as a law clerk and upon graduation from law school she joined the Employment Law Section of McConnell Valdes, the largest law firm in Puerto Rico. While an attorney at McConnell Valdes, she was asked to serve as Deputy General Counsel for the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration in Washington, D.C. While in Washington, she pursued an advanced law degree in employment law and then returned to McConnell Valdes to continue her practice.
Moving to Tucson, she joined Raven, Awerkamp & Clancy, P.C. in 2004 and in January 2008 Ivelisse and Don decided to form Awerkamp & Bonilla, PLC, a law firm practicing only employment law. Ivelisse represents employers and employees in all aspects of employment law including, but not limited to, sexual harassment; discrimination because of age, race, gender, national origin, disability and other protected groups; wrongful termination in violation of public policy; and other matters. Ivelisse represents employees and employers in federal and state court and government employees in administrative forums such as Personnel Review Boards and Commissions of the different counties, towns and cities in Southern Arizona and the EEOC.
She received her B.A. degree from American University in Washington, D.C., in 1991, her J.D. degree cum laude from the Inter‑American University of Puerto Rico in 1997, and her LL.M. degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2001. She is a member of the bar for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; U.S. District Court, District of Puerto Rico; U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit; State of Arizona; U.S. District Court, District of Arizona; and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Ivelisse is a member of the Board of Directors of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the National Employment Lawyers Association. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the State Bar of Arizona Labor and Employment Law Section.
