Stephanie Garcia Avelar
Associate
Stephanie Garcia Avelar
Associate
Stephanie finds fulfillment working on issues that change and evolve over time, and values exploring different practice areas to acquire new knowledge. Her prior experience as a law clerk equipped her with the essential skills needed for her current role and also honed her attention to detail.
Stephanie is an associate in the firm’s Insurance Fraud Practice Group. She assists private insurers in prosecuting civil lawsuits under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, including affirmative actions to recover insurer claim payments to those involved in complex, large-scale schemes premised on, among other unlawful activities, illicit financial arrangements and prescriptions or referrals for durable medical equipment, orthotic devices, pharmaceuticals, and various tests and procedures issued pursuant to fraudulent, pre-determined protocols.
Stephanie previously served as a law clerk to Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo and Hon. John L. Sinatra, Jr. with the Western District of New York. During this time, Stephanie gained significant experience working on a range of complex issues. Her role involved drafting judicial opinions, reviewing case records, and analyzing legal arguments. She also supervised law student interns in analyzing case law and guided them in drafting opinions.
Stephanie received her J.D. from Notre Dame Law School in 2023. She served as executive editor of the Journal on Emerging Technologies, President of the Intellectual Property Law Society, and interned with the Intellectual Property & Entrepreneurship Clinic. Throughout her law school career, Stephanie gained valuable experience in several areas of the law. After her first year, she worked with Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts as a summer associate where she worked with pro bono attorneys on client matters involving contract disputes, publicity rights, and trademark denials. The following summer, Stephanie served as a legal intern at Canon where she gained experience in employment, advertising, and data privacy law. During law school, Stephanie served on numerous student affinity groups and interned with Whirlpool, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance, and the New York State Attorney General’s Harlem Regional Office.
Stephanie graduated magna cum laude from John Jay College with a Bachelor of Arts in Law & Society with minors in Political Science and History. During her undergraduate studies, she was nominated as one of ten students in her graduating class to present her capstone thesis findings to faculty, staff, and students.
In her free time, Stephanie enjoys kayaking, photography, and traveling.
She is a member of the firm’s AI Committee and part of the Women’s Initiative Committee.
COURT ADMISSIONS
U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
EDUCATION
Notre Dame Law School Notre Dame, J.D.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, B.A.
News & Publications
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Rivkin Radler Welcomes 6 Attorneys
November 12 | 2025