Liza Velazquez

A partner in the Litigation Department at Paul, Weiss, Liza Velazquez leads the Employment Law, Workplace Investigations & Trade Secrets Litigation practice group. She has extensive experience representing corporate clients, financial institutions, media and entertainment companies, and non-profit institutions in a broad range of employment-related litigations and investigations. Liza also regularly counsels clients on employment-related issues including litigation risk assessment, review of internal policies, developments in employment law and compliance.

Liza is a recognized leader in the New York employment field and has been at the forefront on issues from civil rights and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to COVID-19 and #MeToo. She was recently a key contributor to the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Advancing Diversity and helped author a September 2023 report that provided a detailed, timely blueprint for law schools, corporations, law firms and courts to maintain and increase their diversity in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision barring race-conscious university admissions policies.

Liza has represented clients before state and federal courts across the country, in alternative dispute resolution proceedings, and before federal and state regulatory agencies. She was recently named a “Litigator of the Week” by The American Lawyer for a high-stakes trial victory in the Southern District of New York on behalf of a major technology company in a trade secrets case against a departing senior executive. She also has extensive experience handling sensitive workplace investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment and other workplace misconduct on behalf of public companies, financial institutions, private equity funds, non-profit institutions and their executives and principals. Liza’s significant trial experience and experience in a broad range of complex civil and corporate litigation matters enables her to bring a well-rounded perspective to her.

Liza is actively involved in human rights and pro bono matters. She has successfully represented many asylum clients, including parents separated from their children at the U.S. border, women and their families fleeing gang violence, and individuals seeking protection from persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity in their home countries. She recently represented more than 100 companies in an amicus brief supporting the Equal Rights Amendment. She is Chair of the Board of Legal Services NYC, the nation’s largest civil legal services provider, and a member of the Board of Advisors of Human Rights First. Liza serves on the governing body for the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice and is a member of the Board of the Fund for Modern Courts as well as the Board of Ambassadors of the National Health Law Program (NHeLP).

Liza has been repeatedly recognized for her trial accomplishments and litigation achievements, particularly in the employment space. In 2022, Liza was recognized by Law360 as an MVP in the Employment category and by The National Law Journal as an “Employment Law Trailblazer” for her achievements advising employers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Liza was named “Labor and Employment Lawyer of Year” by Euromoney for their Americas Women in Business Law Awards series. She was also recently named to the 2021 edition of Crain’s New York Business’s “Notable Women in Law” list. Liza has been recognized as a “National Star” for Labor and Employment Litigation by Benchmark Litigation for four consecutive years, and was selected by Lawdragon to the 2024 “500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers” guide and to the 2024 “500 Leading Litigators in America” guide.