Maura Eduardo Ayala

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. 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, or money, 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 it was simpler to own a business than to work for one. Anybody can incorporate a business, with or without a green card. I managed to save enough 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 bachelors degree in order to get into law school. The fastest way to a bachelors degree was to validate some of my philosophy credits from Peru. In about a year and a half, I was able to complete a bachelors 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 deans 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 dont just represent any person or business owner. Ive 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 Ive 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.