Meet Our Lawyers
Meet Ivelisse Bonilla
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 courts and government employees in administrative forums such as the Merit System Protection Board and the EEOC. Since 2024, Ivelisse has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® as Lawyer of the Year® for her work in Litigation- Employment and Labor in Tucson. Since 2013, Ivelisse has been recognized as Best Lawyers® by The Best Lawyers in America® in Employment Law-Individuals, and as one of the Southwest Super Lawyers® in Employment and Labor Law. In addition, Tucson Lifestyle magazine listed Ivelisse as one of Tucson’s Best Lawyers 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.
Email: ib@abdilaw.com
Ivelisse Bonilla, J.D., LL.M., 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.
Meet Shannon Giles
Shannon Giles, LL.B., LL.M., practices almost exclusively in employment law and litigation. Her work is heavily focused on the representation of employees. Shannon provides representation for both private and government employees in most forums, including courts and administrative agencies and she has an extensive background in litigation. She has actively litigated numerous employment cases including wrongful discharge, discrimination on all bases, retaliation, breach of contract, and violation of due process.
Shannon received her LL.B. degree from the University of Alberta in 1996. She then moved to Tucson and received an LL.M. degree from the University of Arizona in 1998. She worked as a litigation associate at Streich Lang, P.A., which merged with Quarles & Brady, LLP, in 2000, from the time of her admission in 1998 until 2005.
In 2005, she became a Litigation Partner at Quarles & Brady, LLP. In 2009, Shannon began her solo practice at the Law Office of Shannon Giles, PLLC, and continued litigating in Tucson. She joined the firm of Awerkamp & Bonilla, PLC in April 2012, and in January 2017 she became a partner in the firm, which is now named Awerkamp, Bonilla & Giles, PLC.
Shannon is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States, the Arizona Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the Judicial Court of the Tohono O’odham Nation. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Arizona State Bar Labor & Employment Section, and she is an active volunteer for the Volunteer Lawyers Program in Southern Arizona and Step Up to Justice.
Shannon has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America© since 2018 in the categories of Employment Law - Individuals and Litigation - Labor and employment.
Email: sg@abdilaw.com
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