Who is Camille Vasquez? Johnny Depp’s lawyer in Amber Heard trial

The highly watched defamation case between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has been criticized as a media distraction that does not allow for a greater conversation over the complexity surrounding domestic violence.

After a week-long break, both sides returned to the court room for what is expected to be the last few days of the trial.

One of Depp’s lawyers, Camile Vasquez, has taken center stage this week as his team began their cross-examination of Amber Heard.

Who is Camille Vasquez?

Camille Vasquez, an attorney with Brown Rudnick, a major international law firm, has been leading the cross-examination.

According to the firm, her expertise is in “parallel reputation management and crisis communications issues arising from these engagements.” She was hired to form part of Depp’s team based on her experience in “plaintiff-side defamation suits” and contract litigation.

She received her undergraduate degree from the Univeristy of Southern California and her J.D. from Southwestern Law School in 2010.

She was selected to form part of Depp’s team based on her expereince representing indviduals through defamation suits that arose from ”highly-publicized accusations of criminal conduct.”

When will the trial end?

Many who have been following the trial believe that it will end this week, at which point, the jury will be released to come to a determination.

The frenzy surrounding the trial has not left much room for a coherent and productive discussion on domestic violence, and it is unclear if after a decision is reached, it will. In part, the case has cast light on male victims of domestic violence. However, to others, it seems that the relationship was unhealthy and that both parties acted wrongly.

To others on social media, the case appears very black and white, but many who support survivors of domestic abuse or have experienced spousal abuse, know that this is rarely the case.

The National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health provides a list of legal and medical resources and organizations that can support victims of domestic violence.