Law Firm Overview

Awerkamp & Bonilla, PLC, represents employees and employers in employment matters, including but not limited to discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and whistleblower claims. The firm represents private and government employees in various forums, e.g. federal and state courts, administrative agencies, personnel boards, medical and other professional boards. Much of the firm's work involves representing professors and physicians in various matters. The firm is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating.

Don Awerkamp is a partner in the law firm of Awerkamp & Bonilla, PLC. He has represented employees since 1983, and for the past twenty years his practice has been almost exclusively in the area of employment and labor law. He provides representation for private and government employees in most forums, including State and federal trial and appellate courts, the National Labor Relations Board, merit commissions of city, county, state, and federal governments, and other administrative agencies. He also provides advice and representation to employer clients giving him a dual perspective.

Mr. Awerkamp chaired the State Bar of Arizona Labor and Employment Law Section in 1995-1996. He is a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association. He served for many years on the Court Rules Committee for Pima County. He is on the National Board of Directors of the American Lung Association and has chaired the Board of the American Lung Association of the Southwest. He has also served on the Boards of the Community Outreach Program for the Deaf and the Arizona Center for Disability Law.

Before receiving his J.D. degree from the University of Arizona and becoming an attorney in 1982, Mr. Awerkamp received a M.A. degree from Duquesne University in 1969 and a Ph.D. degree from De Paul University in 1974 and taught philosophy. He has frequently given presentations on employment law issues for the State Bar of Arizona, the University of Arizona College of Law, and various other organizations. He is also one of the authors for the Arizona Employment Law Handbook. He has served as an expert witness on employment law issues in litigation and has provided expert testimony before the Arizona Legislature on employee whistle blowing.

Mr. Awerkamp is rated A-V by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating as provided by fellow lawyers. Mr. Awerkamp is also listed in Best Lawyers in America for employment lawyers.

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.

Ms. Bonilla 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.

Areas of Practice

• Sexual Harassment
• Discrimination
• Employment Law -- Employee
• Employment Law -- Employer
• Labor Law
• Whistleblower/Qui Tam

West Practice Categories

Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Labor Law, Whistleblower/Qui Tam