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 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 Awerkamp decided to form Awerkamp & Bonilla, PLC, a law firm practicing only employment law. In 2017, Shannon Giles joined the partnership and the firm became Awerkamp, Bonilla & Giles, PLC.
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 the Merit System Protection Board and the EEOC. Since 2013, Ivelisse has been listed as one of The Best Lawyers in America in Employment Law-Individuals, as one of the Southwest Super Lawyers in Employment and Labor Law, and in Tucson Lifestyle as one of the best lawyers in Tucson in Employment Law. She is a Past Chair of the Executive Committee of the State Bar of Arizona, Labor and Employment Law Section and Past President of the Federal Bar Association, Tucson Chapter. Ivelisse is also a fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.
Ivelisse 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. Supreme Court, 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.
