Jorge L. Vasquez, Jr.
t. 212.752.8408 e. jorge@vsllplaw.com
Jorge L. Vasquez, Jr. is a founding partner at Vasquez Segarra LLP. He focuses his practice on government affairs, cannabis law, civil rights, complex litigation, election law and real estate. He has been recognized for his work as a national civil rights lawyer, policy influencer, and democracy expert. Jorge leverages more than a decade of advocacy and government experience, along with media expertise to advance the needs and goals of his clients.
Experience
Jorge has led advocacy campaigns and litigation in a variety of states, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana. Prior to starting Vasquez Segarra LLP, he led the Power and Democracy Program at Advancement Project a national civil rights movement organization based in D.C. Jorge has also served as an Associate Counsel with LatinoJustice PRLDEF, where he maintained a national civil rights litigation and advocacy portfolio focused on issues such as voting rights, the 2020 Census, including co-authoring an amicus brief to the Supreme Court of the United States challenging the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, and criminal justice reform, including marijuana legalization.
He was also an attorney with the New York City Commission on Human Rights and the New York State Unified Court System, Civil Court, and served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable Greta Gooden Brown, New Jersey Superior Court.
Notable cases include: Cabán Gonzalez v. Moore, et al., 1:19-cv-03035-TWT (N.D. GA); Amicus brief, in United States Department of Commerce v. State of New York et al., Docket No. 18-966 (SCOTUS); Amicus brief, in Michael P. Kearns v. Andrew M. Cuomo, et al., Docket 19-3769-cv (US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit).
He has been featured as a legal expert on national and local news networks including CNN, ABC Live, NPR, NBC Telemundo, Univision, Spectrum News 1, and he has been an opinion contributor to USA Today, The Hill and other digital and print news outlets.
Service Areas
Cannabis Law
Civil Rights Litigation
Complex Litigation
Election Law
Government Affairs
Real Estate
Education
L.L.M. in Trial and Advocacy, Basely School of Law, Temple University
J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law
B.A., M.A., University at Albany, State University of New York
Admissions
New York
Southern District of New York
Eastern District of New York
Western District of New York
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
New Jersey
District Court of New Jersey
Languages
Spanish
Professional Affiliations and Recognitions
Chair of the Lower East Side People’s Federal Credit Union
Chair of the Hispanic National Bar Association Voting Rights Section
Committee Member of the New York City Bar Association Election Law Section
Member of the American Bar Association’s Coalition on Racial and Ethnic Justice
Resident Fellow, Harvard Institute of Politics, Harvard Kennedy School
2020 Council of Urban Professionals Fellow
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Eastern Region Everyday Hero Social Service Award (2019)
Rising Star of the Bar for the New York County Lawyers Association (2015)
Presentations
Presenter, ACLU of New Jersey – Future of Cannabis Justice alongside U.S. Senator Cory Booker (April 2021)
Presenter, Cannabis 101 Forum hosted by then New York Assembly Member Tremaine Wright: Legalizing Marijuana: What It Could Mean for New Yorkers (October 2019)
Speaker, Cannabis Parade and Rally Founding Chapter of the Global Marijuana March (2019)
Testified before the United States House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties on the 2020 Census.
Testified before the New York Senate Elections Committee on New York States Election Reform
Testified before the New York City Council Black, Latino and Asian Caucus on the 2020 Census
Publications and Media
Community and Civic Activities
Board member, The Clement Center
Board member, Youth Sports Partnership
Board member, Returning Hope, Inc.
Elder, Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, New York, New York
Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.