Welcome to another edition of “Meet the Ginarte Staff!” Last month we showcased an integral part of our Workers Compensation department, Madeline Thurman. This month we are heading across the Hudson to our Manhattan office. The staff member this month is New York Branch manager, Giselle Velez.

Giselle is a Newark, New Jersey native from Puerto Rican descent. She has been with the Ginarte law firm for eleven years now, embracing the opportunity to work with and watch the firm’s growth, especially in New York. She has had the chance to witness the immense growth of the New York office from just three employees to a strong, knowledgeable legal team of 35 in a short period of time. Seeing this growth as well as becoming a manager of a branch office early in her career have been two of her proudest moments at Ginarte.

Founding partner Joseph Ginarte shared a quote with Giselle that has stuck with her and helped mold her into the manager that she is today; “Life is not a sprint. It’s a marathon.” She has taken this guidance and intertwined it in her role of branch manager. This task is not an easy one by any means; however Giselle uses her drive, compassion and positive mindset to oversee operations on a daily basis.

NY Office Manager Giselle Velez

Giselle’s experience in the legal field has helped her provide clients with the necessary legal assistance they need and deserve. Through the dedication she has to assisting the Ginarte clients, she is able to refine and help build up the staff, which is the most gratifying aspect of her job. Watching the staff excel and grow in their respective fields is a reward unlike any other. It is something that makes enforcing the procedures and protocols on a daily basis a task that is well worth it.

Spontaneous moments and finding the silver lining in every situation are just some of the personal rules Giselle lives by. She considers herself funny; however she has not received any confirmation or denial of this fact. She has stated she will continue to explore this to determine her true comical status.

When Giselle isn’t assisting the Ginarte clients, she enjoys finding ways to advance herself through self-help and career oriented books. Although times are tough in the New York sports world she is still a passionate fan of the Knicks, she might be the only one left, but still believes the good times are yet to come. Her go-to stress relievers consist of Zumba, tennis and volleyball. She has a few epic spikes that she is very proud of. These spikes are on video, continually replaying them for her closest friends or anyone else who will watch. When she is not active in the fitness world she also likes to donate her time to some great non-profit organizations. Giselle is actively involved in PAWS an organization built to be advocates for animals through the operation of a companion animal shelter, a wildlife center and an advocacy department. Along with PAWS she is also involved with bluevoice.org, an ocean conservation organization which helps protect the oceans while saving dolphins and whales.

Giselle Velez and Lauren Ginarte at the Ginarte Firm Christmas Party 2014

Family and close friends are held very near and dear to Giselle. They have always made it a point to support her throughout her life. They have respected the decisions she has made in her life, even during times they did not entirely agree, which means everything to her. A close second to what she can’t live without is Buffalo wings, which we are sure most people will agree with. As of late she has developed a hobby/hidden talent of creating figures and designs out of fruits and vegetables. She creates these designs in seasonal themes for birthdays and holidays for family and friends.

For her ultimate celebrity dinner party she provided a thought-provoking guest list. First on the list was Carl Sagan, mainly for her love of how he incorporates philosophy into his views of the physical universe. She is both captivated and blown away by his abilities. Next on the list is Mark Zuckerberg because of the work that he has done at such an early age and would love to hear his story in person. The final guest on the list would be Sigmund Freud. His crazy yet logical mindset is something that fascinates Giselle.

This bring this edition of “Meet the Ginarte Staff” to a close. Giselle is a major asset to the Ginarte team and has help build the New York team into what it is today. Her passion for helping and guiding is shown on a daily basis. We hope you enjoyed getting to know our New York branch manager Giselle Velez a little better.