Shannon D. Sexton, Attorney at Law, PLLC

Attorney Shannon Sexton

Shannon Dean Sexton is the son of Floyd and Mary Sexton, both of Grayson, Kentucky. Shannon Sexton attended East Carter High School. He graduated from high school with a perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average, he lettered in three varsity sports, and was the Valedictorian of his graduating class. He was also selected as a Kentucky Governor's Scholar, and participated in the Governor's Scholar Program - one of the highest honors bestowed upon Kentucky high school students.

Shannon Sexton attended and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Kentucky College of Law. He developed and honed his courtroom skills, winning the Kentucky Mock Trial Championship as well as was involved in the Legal Clinic and was a Senior Staff Member of the Kentucky Law Review. Upon graduation, he was awarded the Faculty Cup and inducted into the Order of the Coif.

After graduating from the University of Kentucky College of Law, Shannon Sexton became a felony prosecutor, known in Kentucky as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney. He moved to Louisville while his wife attended the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. In Louisville, he served as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for three years. During these three years, Shannon Sexton prosecuted the entire range of crimes, from the lowest misdemeanor to felony murder. He developed an intricate knowledge of drug-related cases (Trafficking, Possession, etc.), prosecuting in the Narcotics Unit for two years. He next served in the General Trial unit, prosecuting the entire range of felonies. While in the General Trial unit, he handled multiple major cases, including Murder, Rape, Robbery, Burglary, etc. He also prosecuted "cold cases", and specifically prosecuted a case that was featured on national television, A&E's Cold Case Files.

Also while in Louisville, Shannon Sexton served as a trial instructor with University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. He led his Louisville students to the Kentucky Mock Trial Championship, and to winning the Best Overall Advocate Award. It was the first time in the school's history to win the competition.

Bar Admissions:

• Kentucky, 2001
• Ohio, 2008
• U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky, 2002
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 2007

Education:

• University of Kentucky College of Law, Lexington, Kentucky
  • J.D.
  • Honors: magna cum laude
  • Honors: Order of the Coif
  • Honors: Kentucky Mock Trial Championship
  • Honors: Faculty Cup Recipient
• Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky
  • B.A.
  • Honors: summa cum laude
  • Honors: Pre-Law Scholar of the Year
  • Honors: Government Scholar of the Year
  • Honors: Full Academic Scholarship Recipient
  • Honors: Dean's List every Semester
  • Major: Government
  • Minor: History

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Legislative Committee Member, 2007

Attorney Iversy Velez

Iversy Velez is an attorney originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a major in Economics, and obtained her Juris Doctor Degree at the Law School of the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico.

Iversy Velez began her practice of law in her native Puerto Rico in 1982. In 1987 she was appointed as the General Counsel of the Board of Trustees of the Retirement System Administration for the Government Employees and the Judiciary. As part as her duties she administered the agency's appellative process, reviewed the recommendations of the administrative adjudicators and drafted the final decisions in all cases appealed before the Board of Trustees. In 1994 she returned to private practice. In 1998 she was admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, and in 1999 she was admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

In October of 2005, Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher appointed Iversy Velez to the Commission of Public Advocacy where she served for four (4) years. She volunteers with several non-profit organizations that provide legal defense and interpretation services to the immigrant community. She is often called upon as a speaker upon diversity issues as it pertains to Hispanics. Her primary goal, in life and in her practice of law, is to continue giving her best to bridge gaps between immigrants and Americans.

Iversy Velez, for over a decade, has been intimately involved in activities and with organizations that develop programs specifically addressing the needs of the immigrant community. She has established a reputation for quality work and a compassionate spirit. Her practice focuses on the field of immigration law and the other multiple related legal needs of the immigrant community. She prides herself on providing the quality legal service her clients deserve.

Iversy Velez is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the National Immigration Project, the Kentucky Bar Association, and the District of Columbia Bar Association. She is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Bar Admissions:

• Puerto Rico, 1982
• Kentucky, 1999
• District of Columbia, 1998
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 2005

Education:

• Universidad Interamericana School of Law, San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • J.D. - 1982
• University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
  • B.A. - 1979
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Major: Economics

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• American Immigration Lawyers association, Member, 2007 to Present
• National Immigration Project, Member, 2007 to Present

Languages Spoken:

• English
• Spanish

Attorney Laura Ward

Laura A. Ward graduated from Eastern Kentucky University a member of two honor societies, Golden Key National Honor Society and Pi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society, and a member of the elite organization, Student Alumni Ambassadors.  After graduation, she worked for the Madison County Attorney as a child support caseworker for three years, cultivating an expertise in Kentucky family law.

Laura A. Ward left her position as a child support caseworker to attend Salmon P. Chase College of Law.  While in law school, she interned with the Commonwealth's Attorney for Campbell County , competed in Moot Court competitions, and participated in trial advocacy.

Upon graduation, Laura A. Ward became a criminal prosecutor, in Kentucky known as an Assistant Commonwealth 's Attorney.  During her tenure as a prosecutor, she worked for the Madison County Attorney and two Commonwealth's Attorneys, that included Kenton, Montgomery, Rowan, Bath and Menifee counties.  By handling misdemeanors and felonies, Laura A. Ward gained trial experience in everything from D.U.I. cases to rape and felony murder.  She also had the unique opportunity to gain experience in appellate work by successfully arguing a case to the Kentucky Court of Appeals.  Furthermore, as a felony prosecutor, Laura A. Ward was assigned to prosecute the sex offenses that occurred in the 16th judicial circuit, and she was appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney.  As a Special Assistant United States Attorney, she trained and participated with the federal government to prosecute cases involving child pornography.

Now as a private practitioner, Laura A. Ward's uses her experience in appellate, trial, and federal practice to advocate for her clients in all areas of law.  

Bar Admissions:

• Kentucky, 2005
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 2007

Education:

• Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Highland Heights, Kentucky
  • J.D. - 2005
• Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY
  • B.A. - 1997
  • Honors: Dean's List
  • Major: Political Science

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Golden Key National Honor Society
• Pi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society