About Keli
Keli Iles-Hernandez earned her J.D. from SUNY Buffalo Law School in 2016, where she concentrated in family law. Before law school she completed coursework and certification that led to a New York State Special Education Teaching Certification. That combination of classroom and courtroom training shapes how she approaches cases that touch on families and children.
Her legal career began in 2015 at Hoppe & Associates, where she worked as a lawyer and learned the practical rhythms of client work. She moved to HoganWillig, PLLC in 2018 and then joined Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham, LLC in 2020. Those positions offered experience across day-to-day litigation tasks, drafting, and courtroom procedures. Colleagues describe her as methodical and steady in handling case work.
She is admitted to practice in New York. Her earlier experience in education gives her additional perspective on matters that involve school systems, individualized education plans, and the needs of children. That background is useful when factual disputes involve educational placements or when legal questions intersect with special education services.
Outside the office she holds membership in the Erie County Bar Association. Participation in local bar activities has kept her connected to practice developments and local court practices. She has not been publicly noted for academic postings or widely reported appellate rulings, but she has continued to build practical experience through firm work and client representation.
At Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham, LLC she maintains a caseload that draws on her family law training and her grounding in educational issues. She handles client communications, prepares pleadings, and appears in court as required. The work requires attention to detail and steady procedural handling.
Her professional path shows a steady progression through regional firms, supported by formal training in family law and special education. That mix informs how she evaluates matters that affect children and families. She currently practices at Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham, LLC, concentrating on family law and related matters.
