Prior to joining Sokoloff Stern, Ms. Vélez was an associate at another New York boutique litigation defense firm, where she litigated cases on matters involving education law, premises liability, wrongful death, defamation, and negligent hiring, training, and supervision for a number of large institutional clients—including non-profit organizations, foster care agencies, city agencies, school districts, and hospitals. She has extensive experience defending medical malpractice claims on behalf of one of the nation’s largest and most respected hospitals, as well as the defense of cases involving child sexual abuse, including those filed under the Child Victims Act. Her wide range of experience includes the successful defense of cases at both the trial court and appellate levels.