Our Team

The Domestic Violence Project (DVP) is a passionate group of attorneys and advocates coming together to provide holistic, comprehensive services to survivors of intimate partner violence.

DVP Management

Madeline Garcia Bigelow, Esq.

Associate Director, Urban Justice Center
Founder & Managing Director, Domestic Violence Project

Madeline is the Associate Director of the Urban Justice Center and Managing Director of the Domestic Violence Project.  Ms. Garcia Bigelow founded the Project in 2003 after having served six years at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office in the Domestic Violence/ Sex Crimes Bureau, first as an Assistant District Attorney, then as Acting Supervisor of its 2221 Unit. Prior to founding the DVP, she served as Co-Director of Sanctuary for Families’ Bronx Community Office.  Ms. Garcia Bigelow’s unique skills allows her to recognize obstacles from both a prosecutorial and civil vantage point so that she can effectively advocate for client concerns from a position of power among all stakeholders. These boundary spanning skills have led to Ms. Garcia Bigelow training lawyers nationally in the American Bar Association and as a Harvard Wasserstein Law Fellow where she educated and mentored first year law students on public interests careers. 

Maria Martinez

Director of Client Services 

Maria Martinez is DVP’s Director of Client Services, bringing over 28 years of experience as a staunch leader and advocate in the movement against domestic violence. She believes that the potential for a survivor to succeed past the abuse is directly influenced by the collaborative strength found within the community of providers, and her tireless commitment for change is demonstrated through her engagement in trainings, conferences, and community events in NYC.  Ms. Martinez has served as advisor to the Bronx Borough President’s Office; thought leader in effective approaches for financial empowerment; on-site technical assistance trainer throughout NYC; participation and partnering with the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence; and leader on numerous large and small scale events to educate and raise awareness on the impact of domestic violence.  

Kristen McGuire

Director of Development

As Director of Development, Kristen McGuire (she/her/hers) leads fundraising efforts for the Domestic Violence Project. Kristen brings a decade of nonprofit experience designing, implementing, and growing individual and institutional giving portfolios for diverse missions ranging from ballet education to financial security. A lifelong New Yorker, she is dedicated to helping empower underserved community members to gain the tools they need to thrive.

To learn more about supporting DVP, contact Kristen at [email protected]

Heather Lothrop, Esq. 

Director of Legal Services

As the Director of Legal Services, Heather leads the family law and immigration law teams providing a full suite of legal services to survivors of intimate partner violence. Since starting at DVP in 2014, Heather has represented DVP clients in family offense, custody and visitation, guardianship, divorce, and child support cases. Leveraging this experience, Heather delivers trainings to government and social services partners on emerging issues in family law. Through her work as a practicing attorney and a manager, Heather is committed to realizing DVP’s mission of ensuring survivors and children live free of violence.

Heather holds a JD from American University’s Washington College of Law and a BA from Fordham University. She is a Co-Chair of New York City Bar Association’s Domestic Violence Committee and Co-Chair of the Lawyer’s Committee Against Domestic Violence.

Allison Bruel, LMSW

Supervisor of Client Services

Allison Bruel is the Supervisor of Client Services at the Domestic Violence Project. She is a graduate of the Columbia University School of Social Work and a licensed social worker. She has dedicated her career to serving survivors of crime and abuse and has developed tremendous expertise in intimate partner violence and the New York’s Criminal Justice System. She came to DVP after almost 10 years at Safe Horizon, 5 years of which were spent as Program Director leading their Bronx Family Court program. There, Allison worked in close collaboration with the Court Administration, District Attorney’s Office and the NYPD. She frequently trains on Orders of Protection and trauma informed approaches to interviewing survivors.

Konstantin Dukhovnyy, Esq.

Supervising Attorney, Family Law

Konstantin graduated from St. John’s University School of Law in 2019 and spent two years working for the New York City Administration for Children’s Services, working primarily on child abuse and neglect cases in Kings County Family Court, where one of the primary cases he filed were domestic violence cases. His interest in family law and public advocacy began in the Child Advocacy Clinic in law school where he represented undocumented children in immigration and family court seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, as well as representing children in neglect cases in Queens County Family Court. Today, Konstantin continues to advocate for those in need as part of the Domestic Violence Project. Konstantin also obtained his BA in Political Science and Psychology from Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, Baruch in 2016.

Elitsa Encheva, Esq.

Supervising Attorney, Immigration Law

Elitsa Encheva graduated from New York Law School and holds a Master of Science in Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She served as Supervising Attorney at the NYC Asylum Application Help Center, an initiative that received the American Bar Association’s 2024 Hodson Award for Distinguished Public Service. Prior to her work at the Center, she managed her own immigration practice and held legal and compliance roles at investment management companies.

Elitsa is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and brings over eight years of experience serving immigrants in connection with asylum applications, removal proceedings, and U visas, with a strong record of successful case outcomes.

Aidan Keefer

Marketing & Communications Supervisor

Aidan Keefer is a communications specialist with over a decade of experience in marketing and advertising. He has worked for global firms including TBWA Chiat\Day and Arnold Worldwide while helping to lead award-winning national campaigns for nonprofit organizations like the Aspen Institute and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. He has a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University in Music and Business and is a lifelong tri-stater splitting his time between New York and New Jersey.

DVP Staff

Laiba Asad

Law Graduate, Family Law

Laiba is a law graduate working with the family law team at the Domestic Violence Project. She graduated from McGill University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) and a Juris Doctor (JD). During law school, she served as the Executive Online Editor for the McGill Journal of Law and Health, Co-VP Events of the McGill International Law Society, and a research assistant in the fields of data privacy and human trafficking. She has gained experience working at firms specializing in commercial litigation and workplace harassment investigations. She speaks English, French, and Bangla.

Jaritza Ayala

Operations & Grants Coordinator

Jaritza is DVP’s Operations & Grants Coordinator. She graduated in 2017 from Bronx Community College with an Associate’s degree in Medical Office Assistant. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Julissa Ayala 

Senior Legal Advocate 

Julissa is a legal advocate working on immigration cases at DVP. She graduated from Brooklyn College in 2013 with a degree in Sociology and has since dedicated a decade to working with victims/survivors of domestic violence in NYC. Julissa is bi-lingual, English/Spanish speaking and has worked as both a DV Hotline counselor and a DV Hotline Program Coordinator.

Arthur Escobar

Legal Advocate

Arthur is a legal advocate at DVP. He graduated in 2022 from the University of Scranton with a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Samuel Esclavon, Esq.

Family Law Staff Attorney

Sam is a Staff Attorney working with the family law team at the Domestic Violence Project. Sam graduated from CUNY Hunter with a Bachelor of Arts specializing in Urban Geography and from Cornell Law School with a Juris Doctor (JD). During law school, he served as the President of the Environmental Law Society, as treasurer of the Entertainment and Sports Law Society and as a representative of LAMDA (LGBTQIA+) Legal. He also participated as a Notes Editor for the International Law Journal. Sam has prior experience working at firms specializing in corporate law.

Hanna Franz

Law Graduate, Family Law

Hanna Franz is a Law Graduate working with the family law unit of the Urban Justice Center’s Domestic Violence Project. She graduated from Florida State University in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. During undergraduate studies, Hanna interned at the Florida State Capital, where she helped a State House Representative draft and research legislation and guided constituents to help them receive unemployment benefits. Hanna graduated from CUNY Law in 2025 after receiving a legal education that truly emphasized and valued the public interest. During law school, she served as an executive board member of her school’s Environmental Justice Coalition and as a staff editor for law review. Hanna gained experience in family law through an internship with Sanctuary for Families’ Family Law Project, as well as in other legal areas through internships with Climate Defense Project and the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Josephine J. Gonzalez

Law Graduate, Family Law

Josephine Gonzalez (she/her) is a Law Graduate with the Family Law team at the Domestic Violence Project. She earned her Juris Doctor from the City University of New York School of Law in 2024. During her time at CUNY Law, she gained experience providing trauma‑informed and culturally responsive family law services through her externship at Manhattan Legal Services in the Domestic Violence & Family Law Unit. She later completed mediation training through the SDNY Mediation Program and the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation, focusing on restorative justice principles to support families in resolving conflict and making informed, family‑centered decisions.

Raised by a single mother, Josephine witnessed how isolating and overwhelming legal and social systems can be without support. That experience drives her commitment to ensuring survivors do not face complex court processes alone. She believes every survivor, regardless of background or circumstances, deserves dignity, respect, and legal advocacy that centers their humanity.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Gender & Women’s Studies from SUNY Plattsburgh, a Master of Education from the University of Vermont, and a certificate in restorative justice from the NYU Silver School of Social Work. She speaks English and Spanish.

Noelle Gulick

Law Graduate, Family Law

Noelle is a law graduate with the family law team at Urban Justice Center’s Domestic Violence Project. She graduated from University of Pittsburgh with a BA in Anthropology & Global Studies with minors in Legal Studies & Spanish and from Northeastern University School of Law with a Juris Doctor (JD) in 2024. During law school, Noelle completed work with capital clients on appeal in New Orleans, refugee and asylum seekers in Lesvos, human rights research in Boston, and legal clinics including the Immigrant Justice Clinic and the Civil Rights & Restorative Justice Clinic. After law school, she was a Fulbright Scholar in Sarajevo. Noelle has professional experience in The Netherlands, Greece, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Croatia.

Angelis Harvey

Intake Coordinator

Angelis Harvey is the Intake Coordinator for the Domestic Violence Project, helping connect survivors with services by conducting intakes for individuals calling the DVP warmline. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degree in forensic psychology and holds a Spanish Legal Translating and Interpreting Certificate from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. Angelis has worked with individuals who have been incarcerated and need mental health services as a condition to their release and whose competency to assist in their own defense needs to be evaluated at a private forensic psychiatry practice; and has worked with undergraduate students in a Hispanic-serving institution who were not aware of the opportunities and resources available to achieve their academic and career goals. Her interest in working with survivors of intimate partner violence comes from her education and work experiences with populations that have had limited access to community resources as well as negative experiences with systems that were meant to protect and serve them. Angelis is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Kerry Clingenpeel

Law Graduate, Immigration Law

Kerry Clingenpeel is an Immigration Law Graduate with the Urban Justice Center’s Domestic Violence Project.  She graduated from Christopher Newport University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a concentration in Anthropology. There, she also double-minored in Spanish and Middle East and North Africa Studies. In 2025, Kerry graduated from the City University of New York School of Law with her Juris Doctor where she received a specialized public interest legal education. During her time at CUNY Law, she studied gender-based violence, LGBTQ+ advocacy, Indigenous sovereignty, and international human rights law. Kerry has worked on immigration legal teams with both Catholic Migration Services and Manhattan Legal Services. She has also worked in family law as a part of Sanctuary for Families’ Family Law Project. Kerry is deeply passionate about serving communities who navigate the intersection of immigration law and gender-based violence. Kerry speaks both English and Spanish.

Lila Murphy

Development & Communications Assistant

Lila Murphy (she/her) graduated from Pomona College in December 2024 with a degree in Politics. Born and raised in Brooklyn, her passion and work experience lie at the intersection of criminal and gender justice: building a world free from state and gender-based violence. She has experience in anti-carceral organizing, reproductive justice advocacy, and direct support for survivors of gender-based violence through organizations including Dignity and Power Now, Pregnancy Justice, Californians United for a Responsible Budget, and the Claremont Intercollegiate Feminist Center.

Lila’s background spans digital media advocacy, campaign communications, policy research, and grassroots organizing, with a consistent focus on centering directly impacted communities and driving meaningful, measurable change. She is grounded in the belief that advocacy must bridge immediate needs and structural transformation. She is firmly committed to comprehensive survivor and migrant justice.

Kathryn O’Brien

Social Work Intern

Kathryn O’Brien is a second year master’s student at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Kathryn received her Bachelors of Science from Gonzaga University in 2018 and has since worked in the field of education in various positions including as a teacher of English as a Second Language (TESL). Kathryn formerly served as an AmeriCorps member at a free food pantry in Watsonville, California under Notre Dame Mission Volunteers – AmeriCorps, an education-focused nonprofit, and later as the Watsonville Site Director for two years, recruiting and training AmeriCorps members to serve in schools and food banks. In pursuing her Master’s of Social Work (MSW), she has focused her research on topics related to gender based violence, reproductive justice, and the social safety net. At DVP, Kathryn provides weekly one-on-one counseling to our clients and leads weekly psychoeducational support groups on the subjects of domestic abuse, trauma, and healing.

Minerva Pallet  

Senior Legal Advocate 

Minerva is DVP’s Senior Legal Advocate. She graduated from Touro College with a Bachelor  Degree in Human Service. She is bilingual English and Spanish. Minerva has dedicated several years working with victims and survivors of domestic, specializing in the field of housing. 

Melissa Portillo

Legal Advocate

Melissa is a Legal Advocate working on immigration cases at DVP. She graduated from Baruch College at CUNY with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 2015.  She is bilingual in English and Spanish. Prior to joining DVP, Melissa has dedicated several years working with immigrant families in various capacities such as legal immigration assistance, community outreach and city-wide projects.

Kuldeep Solanki

Law Graduate, Immigration Law

Kuldeep Solanki is an Immigration Law Graduate with the Urban Justice Center’s Domestic Violence Project. He graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and from New York Law School with a Juris Doctor (JD). During law school Kuldeep was immersed in immigration law: he served as the secretary for the Immigration Law Student’s Association (ILSA) and worked as a research assistant to Professor Lenni B. Benson. Kuldeep also spent 2 years in the NYLS Asylum Clinic serving clients fleeing persecution on account of political opinion. Kuldeep speaks English, Gujarati, Hindi, and Urdu.