I am from Lima-Peru. Prior to my legal career, I was a consecrated lay in a conservative (now dissolved) organization, part of the Catholic Church, where I held positions of leadership. In it, I studied theology and philosophy, but I did not complete a degree.

In late 2001, on my 25th birthday, I decided that a monastic life in an institution with radical religious views was not a viable path for me. The exit process was a bit traumatic. Radical as this institution was, it fought hard to keep me in. Thankfully, I was able to fight off the weeks-long efforts to retain me, including strong psychological tactics and “reminders” that I would go to hell if I left what they judged was my “vocation.” I left then the only life I had known since I was 16 years old, and jumped into this unknown thing called the world.

Things did not work out very well. Just turned 25, without a degree, connections, and coming from a low income family, I could not find a basic job in Peru. After six months of countless interviews, rejections, and frustration, I decided to immigrate to the United States.

In 2002, I arrived with 400 dollars to my name and a lot of dreams. I was not afraid though. I always admired the possibilities this country had to offer. During my initial years, I worked (undocumented) in the restaurant industry as a waiter, driver, cook, and restaurant manager.

Tired of being constantly fired for not having papers, I realized that in this broken immigration system it was simpler to own a business than to work for one. When you own a business, nobody can fire you; and the legal obstacles are much more manageable. Anybody can incorporate a business, with or without a green card. I managed to save enough by working 100-hour weeks for three years (and living economically) to purchase the small breakfast and lunch restaurant I was working for.

Things did not work out as well here either. The 2007 recession, my inexperience in business, and new competition in the area, made our sales go down a lot. Eventually, I ended up losing my restaurant.

Tired of starting over, and having just obtained my first work permit, I decided to go back to school. I did not know what to study though. The only thing I liked back then was philosophy where I knew I would not make any money. At the time, right after I lost my restaurant, I was working for a personal injury firm scanning documents. The job was so boring that I would read the documents out of boredom. Reading them, I thought “I could do this.” Thus, I embarked in the law school application process.

To my surprise, (at 29) I needed a bachelor’s degree in order to get into law school. The fastest way to a bachelor’s degree was to validate some of my philosophy credits from Peru. In about a year and a half, I was able to complete a bachelor’s degree. Around this time is also when I was able to mature more intellectually. I was fascinated by existentialism and modern philosophy–things that were forbidden reads at my religious community. I became an atheist and a believer in more universal values like love, kindness, compassion, justice, generosity, and beauty.

In 2008, I went to FIU College of Law where I did well as a student. I graduated at the top of my class (while working full-time as a locksmith) and was included in the dean’s list four out of six semesters. I also received the CALI Excellence Award in my Law and Politics in Latin America class for my research on the Mexican Constitution.

I started developing my advocacy skills working as a certified Legal Intern for Legal Services of Greater Miami. In Legal Services, I represented low-income people in landlord-tenant disputes. Later, I worked for the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic at FIU where I tried several cases in Immigration Court obtaining Asylum, Cancelation of Removal or relief under the Convention Against Torture for my clients.

In May 2011, after graduation from law school, I worked for a medium size commercial litigation firm for one year as a temporary attorney. I really disliked the work, the culture and (now I know more clearly) their litigation philosophy. Papers would go through a million edits, regardless of effectiveness or budget; strategy-free. I could not think of a more inefficient way to practice law. Seeing that, after a year, they would not offer me a full-time, permanent position, I found a job at a 100-lawyer insurance defense firm. I lasted two months before I was fired for confronting my boss for forcing me into unethical billing practices and bogus motion filing. By then, I had already decided that I would never represent the insurance industry anyway. It is simply too corrupt.

In January 2013, I decided to start Ayala Law with the goal of providing competent, valuable legal representation to immigrants and small businesses, especially from South America. I am passionate about entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. I love to hear my clients’ stories. I love growing with them. I love protecting them. I love seeing their businesses thrive along our with legal support. I don’t just represent any person or business owner. I’ve turned down large retainers because I simply did not agree (or believe) with the story in front of me.

My practice areas include Business Litigation, Real Estate litigation, Construction Litigation, Class Actions, and Business Immigration.

I enjoy trial work and oral arguments, though I’ve been exposed to a lot of transactional work as well.

Outside the law, I enjoy learning physics, mathematics, business, cognitive psychology, and philosophy. I also love physical activity. I regularly practice tennis, crossfit, and running.

I am a native Spanish speaker, English is my second language. I also speak Portuguese and understand Italian.

• Class Actions
• Immigration
• Commercial Litigation
• Consumer Litigation
• Real Estate Transactions
• Business Transactions

• 2011
  Juris Doctor, Florida International University College of Law, Miami, FL
• 2008
  Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy, Florida International University, Miami, FL
  Cum Laude

Verdicts

• Pullu v. Boris Kingdom Barbershop, 2021-013376-CA-01 (11th Circuit of Florida, 2025).
  Business dispute over the ownership of a barbershop. Verdict for the Defendant on all counts.
• Malaga. v. Millennium World Trade Business, LLC. No. 2023-001445-CA-01 (11th Circuit of Florida, 2024).
  Breach of Contract involving a 3-million dollar land. Represented the Defendant. Verdict for the Defendant on all counts.
• Gabvac Inc. v. Eli Towing and Transport Inc. No. 2020-CA-002456 (10th Circuit of Florida, 2023).
  Wrongful Tow and sale of a vehicle. Represented the Plaintiff. Verdict for the Plaintiff for the value of the vehicle ($32,650).
• Pawana Tan v. Audubon Villas at Hunter’s Creek, et at. No. 2019-CA-003615-O (9th Circuit of Florida, 2022).
  Wrongful Towing. Represented the Plaintiffs. Verdict for the Plaintiff for value of the Car ($5,500). Prevailing Party fees under F.S. §715.07.
• Agricola Cuyuma SA v. Corona Seeds, Inc. No. CV 17-8220—DMG, (U.S. Central District of California 2021).
  Products Liability case. Represented the Plaintiffs. Verdict for the Plaintiffs. Verdict value: $300,000 approx.
• Cook Commercial Realty, Inc., v. Luis Sosa., 2017-021863-CA (11th Circuit of Florida, 2019).
  Contract Dispute. Represented the Defendant. Verdict for the Defendants. No liability plus attorneys fees for Ayala’s client.
• Orfeka Group LLC v. B&W Heavy Equipment, Inc., 2016-015180-CA (11th Circuit of Florida, 2018).
  Real Estate Dispute. Represented the Plaintiffs. Verdict for the Plaintiffs. Verdict value: $600,000 approx. Includes trust over a large land.

Appeals

• Frank De La Oliva, Et Al. v. Nw 32nd Ave Holdings Group LLC, 3D2024-2020 (Fla. 3d DCA 2024).
  Read the opinion.
• S.U.R., LLC v. Fondo de Inversion Stella, 3D24-0103, 3D24-0105 (Fla. 3d DCA 2024).
  Read the opinion.
• SC Mota Associates Ltd. P’ship v. Mota Pizza Rustica Corp., 358 So. 3d 823, 826 (Fla. 3d DCA 2023).
  Read the opinion.
• Peaceful Paws Memorial Services LLC, v. Karen Tarves, 3d23-348, 2023 WL 4916055 (3rd DCA Aug. 2, 2023).
  Read the opinion.
• Forte v. All Cty. Towing Inc., No. 4D21-1379, 2022 Fla. App. LEXIS 2049 (4th DCA Mar. 23, 2022).
  Read the opinion.

• Florida Bar
• District of Columbia Bar
• United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
• United States Court of Appeal for the Eleventh Circuit

• The Latin Builders Association (LBA)
• Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund
• The Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar
• Catholic Legal Services (Member of the Board of Directors)

Books:

• “How I did It, Building a Law Practice That Works For You,” Self Published, August 2023

Articles:

• “The Unglamorous World of Towing Litigation: Florida Law is Rewritten,” 11 Stetson J. Advoc. & L. 300, (2024)
• “Fla. Courts’ Twist On Towing Law Leaves Consumers Stranded,” Law360, December 14, 2022
• “Understanding Unliquidated Securities Claims Under §523(a)(19) in Chapter 7 Cases,” Florida Bar Journal, December 2021
• “Bridging the Gap: Teaching Law Students What They Will Practice,” Jurist, September 21, 2020.
• “The Double Hyperlink Quandary In User Agreement Litigation,” Law360, August 31, 2020.
• “The Ever Thinning Right of Privacy at the Border—A Warning for Attorney Travelers,” The National Law Review, April 28, 2020.
• “Ventajas y Desventajas de Una Sede Legal en Estados Unidos,” LexLatin, February 21, 2020.
• “El Sistema Judicial Estadounidense” Clave de su Exito Democrático y Económico,” LexLatin, August 15, 2019.
• “Substantial Compliance? Strict Compliance? —How to Tell Opposing Counsel You’ll be Seeking Fees,” Daily Business Review, September 12, 2018.
• “Estados Unidos y Peru: Breve Comparación Desde el Punto de Vista de un Peruano-Americano,” Lampadia, May 12, 2015.

• 2024 Best Lawyer for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs.