Darnisha Lewis-Bonilla

Ms. Lewis-Bonilla received her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in English-Creative Writing from Hofstra University, Honors College of Arts and Sciences. She served on the Dean’s List during all semesters of college. She received a plethora of scholarships, including the Presidential Scholars Award and a Horace & Amy Hagedorn Scholarship. She studied abroad at Hofstra University’s Honors College in Shanghai, China. She served on the Hofstra University Judicial Board as a Student Justice. She also served as a member of the Hofstra University Pre-law Society. She worked as a peer volunteer for Hofstra University Career Center.

Ms. Lewis-Bonilla is an experienced trial attorney who graduated from the St. John’s University School of Law in Queens, New York, with a Juris Doctor in June 2010. While in law school, she received a Ronald Brown Academic Scholarship and made the Dean’s List. She received a CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Insurance Law, Professional Responsibility & Legal Writing Seminar. She was a finalist in the Edward Hart Civil Internal Trial Competition. She was a semi-finalist in the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition. She was a member of the Black Law Students Association, Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute, and an Advocate with the Courtroom Advocacy Project.

After law school she litigated various matters, gaining a strong understanding of how best to present cases and develop winning strategies. Among other things, she worked as an Associate in a Nursing Home Unit, litigating nursing home abuse, neglect, and medical malpractice claims on behalf of injured parties. She prosecuted wage and hour employment law claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and local law on behalf of plaintiffs. She litigated as an Assistant Special Prosecutor, working collaboratively with criminal and civil investigators to investigate allegations of neglect and abuse. She also gained valuable trial experience working for the Bronx County District Office as an Assistant District Attorney and conducting complex investigations, Grand Jury presentations, and felony hearings and trials.

Prior to joining Brooks & Berne PLLC, she practiced law in the Executive Division of the Office of the General Counsel of the New York State Office of the Attorney General. She served as in-house counsel working on legal matters in the daily administration of the agency. She worked independently conducting legal research and analysis to resolve complex legal matters. She also provided guidance and strategic responses to legal issues that arise, including labor and employment law matters. Additionally, she represented employees in federal employment discrimination matters, successfully negotiating settlements on behalf of her clients.

New York State, 2011

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Hofstra University, Honors College of Arts and Sciences

Hofstra University’s Honors College in Shanghai, China

St. John’s University School of Law in Queens, New York, 2010