About Derick C.
Derick C. Villanueva built a layered academic foundation before he entered practice. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and economics from Emory University in 1996. He returned to Syracuse for law school and received his J.D. in 2000. A year later he completed a master’s degree in economics at Syracuse University, adding a quantitative dimension to his legal training.
Early in his legal career Villanueva worked in the Cook County Circuit Court as a law clerk extern in 2003. That experience exposed him to courtroom procedures and the day-to-day workings of a busy state trial court. By 2004 he had moved into private practice in the area of real estate, handling both residential and commercial matters at The Moss Law Office, LLC.
Villanueva is admitted to practice in Georgia and New York. He later established his practice presence in New York City and currently maintains an office under the Villanueva Law Group banner. His record shows practical experience on transactional matters and in navigating the regulatory and title issues that often accompany property work.
Parallel to his civilian career, Villanueva has served in the U.S. Navy Reserve since 2011 and holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He also belongs to veteran organizations, holding membership in the American Legion since 2013 and in the Veterans of Foreign Wars since 2014. Those roles have kept him engaged with the veteran community while he has managed a law practice in an urban environment.
His academic background in economics informs how he approaches transactions and negotiations. He applies economic reasoning when assessing the financial contours of deals and when advising clients about cost, risk and potential outcomes. That analytical thread runs from his classroom work through his early real estate practice and into the matters he addresses today.
Colleagues describe him as someone who combines courtroom exposure, transactional experience and military service into a steady, pragmatic practice. He has handled a range of real estate assignments and moved his practice to New York to serve clients there. As of 2026 he continues to practice law in New York through the Villanueva Law Group, concentrating on real estate and related transactional matters.
