Attorney & Staff

Sergio Villaverde, Esquire

attorney at law

sergio@villaverde-law.com

Professional Associations & Memberships

• Association of Naval Service Officers, National Board Member
• Bronx County Bar Association, Executive Board member
• New York State Bar Association, Regional Representative
• Puerto Rican Bar Association, Board Member
• New York County Lawyer’s Association
• Chairman & Co-Chairman of Family & Matrimonial Committee of Bronx County Bar Association
• Former member of Local DC 37
• Former Member NYC PBA

Sergio Villaverde, Esq. is the founder of the Law Offices of Sergio Villaverde; a community based matrimonial family law and mediation practice.

Born and raised in New York City, and presently residing in New York City. Sergio has dedicated his adult life to service others and his community. In addition to being a sought after attorney Mr. Villaverde is also Certified Mediator.

Upon graduating from John F. Kennedy H.S., in The Bronx, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, while serving as an Emergency Medical Technician in NYC, a Community Police Officer in the New York City Police Department, and obtaining an Associate of Arts degree from LaGuardia Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science- with honors from The City College of New York, and ultimately, a Juris Doctor from Fordham University school of Law.

Commander Villaverde retired with 32 years of experience in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, Mr. Villaverde has served in military, legal, law enforcement, and Senior Leadership and roles. He has received commendations for service in numerous operations and served as a reservist during the Gulf war- was activated to service September 11, 2001, National Security Response to Persian Gulf Hostilities, and the 2010 Response to the Deep Water Horizon oil spill.

Mr. Villaverde is a retired New York City Police Officer, and while a member of the NYPD, he served the neighborhoods of mid-west, The Bronx. His assignments included: Patrol, Community Policing, plain-clothes detail, and training officer. As an active Police Officer in service of the community, Sergio made arrests ranging from domestic violence, armed robbery to child abuse. He received various awards for meritorious service, and three integrity awards for arresting criminals who attempted to bribe him.

Mr. Villaverde has always maintained a direct link to the community, which he has proudly and continuously served. He has been a volunteer baseball coach, mentor, Chairman of a local youth services corporation, and a volunteer attorney for battered women, member of Community Planning Board and is past Chair of its Economic Development Committee. Mr. Villaverde was appointed by the Governor to the New York State Veteran’s Cemetery Commission as well as being an appointed member of the New York State Interest on Lawyers Account Board.

Naeema Livingston

attorney at law

sergio@villaverde-law.com

Of Counsel to the Law Offices of Sergio Villaverde, PLLC. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Naeema Livingston completed undergraduate studies at South Carolina State University. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Naeema Livingston enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. She earned numerous awards including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Ms. Livingston later earned her Juris Doctor from Pace University School of Law. She currently practices family law in New York City where she specializes in cases involving special needs children. Ms. Livingston serves on the Board of Trustees for the New York City Autism Charter School. She is also a Trustee of Homes with Hope, a Westport-based organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Attorney Livingston is also passionate about alternate dispute resolution. She is a Part 146 Certified Mediator and has completed extensive mediation training with New York Peace Institute, as well and the Center for Divorce Mediation in New York City.

Her professional memberships include New York State Bar Association, Bronx County Bar Association, as well as the Academy of Professional Mediators and The New York State Council on Divorce Mediation.

Jessica Torruella

paralegal

sergio@villaverde-law.com

Jessica Torruella graduated with an Associates degree in Paralegal Studies from Laguardia Community College in 2009. Ms. Torruella has decade of experience in dealings with Family Law Litigation, Matrimonial Actions, Contested and Uncontested Divorces. She serves as the Administrator of initial client in-take, scheduling of consultations, drafting child support, custody/visitation, petitions, preparing pleadings, correspondence, reviewing legal documents for ultimate approval, and assisting with discovery responses and production. Jessica also assists the firm with trial preparation, including preparing trial notebooks, exhibits and subpoenas, maintaining the order of complex and confidential files, recruiting, delegating and supervising all support staff.

Josie Frias

sergio@villaverde-law.com

Highly experienced billing contractor with over a decade of experience. Ms. Frias serves as consultant in Surrogate Court, Article 81 Guardianship matters, and assists with report preparations for Guardianship cases. Ms. Frias maintains complex confidential files. Josie has relevant experience as a Case Worker for a Major Social Service Agency in New York City, an insurance company representative and employment in the medical field. Josie also has extensive experience in the field of Special Needs services for children. She is a native of Harlem, NY, maintains deep ties to the community, and is fluent in Spanish.