Jessica K. Velez

Jessica K. Velez concentrates her practice in construction law, focusing on premises liability and general negligence cases. In addition, Ms. Velez defends public utilities in a wide range of matters involving serious bodily injury. She has extensive experience in all stages of personal injury litigation, including voir dire, motions in limine, cross and direct examination of fact witnesses, open and closing statements, and jury instructions. She has also tried a jury trial to verdict in favor of her client.

Ms. Velez is co-chair of Johnson & Bell’s Diversity Committee.  She also is a member of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) and was recently appointed as a Commissioner of the HNBA’s 2019-2020 Latina Commission.  The Commission explores ways to attract more Latinas to the practice of law. She also was a featured speaker at The Latinos in the Law Symposium hosted by Chief Judge Ruben Castillo.  In 2021, Jessica was recognized by HNBA as one of the Top Lawyers Under 40.  Ms. Velez also has been recognized by Illinois Super Lawyers as a Rising Star each year since 2019.  In 2023, she was recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Ms. Velez is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois. In addition, she is a coach for the Chicago-Kent Trial Team and was a member of the trial team while in law school.

Prior to joining Johnson & Bell, she worked at a defense firm in Chicago, handling and managing cases that involved premises liability and construction defect issues. She earned her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law. While in law school, she was a judicial extern for the Honorable Ruben Castillo in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.