“To bring together by association, communication, and organization lawyers who have an interest and commitment to matters affecting the Puerto Rican community; to provide for the exchange among the members of this Corporation such information and ideas related to the practice of law as are calculated to enhance the knowledge and improve the skills of its members; to provide resources and enhance opportunities for the education of future attorneys who demonstrate an interest in matters affecting the Puerto Rican community; to support and work for the improvement of the legal system as it exists in Florida and elsewhere; and to promote improvements in the administration of justice and to increase the quantity and quality of the services and contribution which the legal profession renders to the Puerto Rican community, the State of Florida and the United States of America.”
ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA, INC.
ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA, INC.
MISSION OF THE PUERTO RICAN BAR ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Joel A. Montilla
Joel A. Montilla is a sole practitioner at The Montilla Law Firm, P.A., serving key clients throughout Florida, the United States, and internationally focusing on strategic planning and risk management.
Joel focuses his practice primarily on strategic planning, asset protection, and estate planning which includes personal representation for key clients’ services ranging from small claims litigation to complex litigation including other areas of law that intertwine with one another for a holistic approach to his practice. He is fully bilingual in English and in Spanish.
Joel A. Montilla is a sole practitioner at The Montilla Law Firm, P.A., serving key clients throughout Florida, the United States, and internationally focusing on strategic planning and risk management.
Joel focuses his practice primarily on strategic planning, asset protection, and estate planning which includes personal representation for key clients’ services ranging from small claims litigation to complex litigation including other areas of law that intertwine with one another for a holistic approach to his practice. He is fully bilingual in English and in Spanish.
Joel received his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida in 2008. Joel first joined the Puerto Rican Bar Association in 2015 as a student member and thereafter as a regular member in 2016 before serving as Vice President for the 5th DCA (which encompasses Central Florida and the surrounding areas) between 2018 and 2020.
Joel has served on, and for, numerous non-profit organizations throughout Central Florida including Latino Leadership, Inc., IDEAS For Us, Inc., Diversity Chairman for Ad2 Orlando, and was Co-Founder and Co-Director of One Brick, Orlando. Joel currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Puerto Rican Research Hub at the University of Central Florida.
Joel is a graduate of the Central Florida Political Leadership Institute and is a current member of the Legislative Committee for the Florida Block Chain Association. Joel holds a Florida Real Estate agent license and Florida Health Insurance and Life (including annuities & Variable Contracts).
The Montilla Law Firm, P.A.
37 N. Orange Ave.
Suite 500
Orlando, Florida 32801
Phone: (407) 308 – 2378
E-mail: joel@montillalaw.com
Marie E. Masson
Ms. Masson is the current Treasurer of the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida, Inc. and was its President from 2018-2020. Over the last 18 years, she has served the organization’s Board of Directors in various roles, such as Secretary, Vice-President for the Fifth District, Judiciary Committee Member, and HNBA Liaison. In 2017 he was involved in the development and implementation of the Student Transfer and Relocation Program (S.T.A.R.) of the PRBAF, following hurricane Maria.
Ms. Masson is the current Treasurer of the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida, Inc. She previously served as its President from 2018 to 2020. Over the last 18 years, she has served the organization’s Board of Directors in various roles, such as Secretary, Vice-President for the Fifth District, Judiciary Committee Member, and HNBA Liaison. In 2017, she was involved in the development and implementation of the Student Transfer and Relocation Program (S.T.A.R.) of the PRBAF, following hurricane Maria. She was also instrumental in the development of the Legal Services Clinic of the Puerto Rican Community, which was the brainchild of former PRBAF President Anthony L. Suarez. Ms. Masson is an avid advocate for civil rights on issues affecting the Hispanic community. She wishes to continue her commitment to the PRBAF in the role of Treasurer.
Ms. Masson’s litigation practice involves workers’ compensation and labor & employment litigation. She was previously an adjunct professor at Florida A&M University College of Law in Orlando, FL, a law school that serves historically underrepresented communities. Ms. Masson was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She later attended Florida State University College of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor in 2000. She is fully bilingual in English and Spanish.
Masson Law Firm, P.A.
Clermont Office:
1230 Oakley Seaver Drive, Suite 101
Clermont, FL 34711
Orlando Office:
5401 S. Kirkman Road, Suite 310
Orlando, FL 32819
Phone: 352-777-9222
Fax: 877-737-5312
E-mail: mmasson@massonlawfirm.com
Website: massonlawfirm.com
Erika K. Ramos
Erica K. Ramos is the current Secretary of the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida, Inc. Ms. Ramos dedicates her practice to aviation law. She studied with the International Aviation Transportation Association and earned a diploma in April of 2021 in International Air Law.
Erica K. Ramos is the current Secretary of the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida, Inc. Ms. Ramos dedicates her practice to aviation law. She studied with the International Aviation Transportation Association and earned a diploma in April of 2021 in International Air Law. In her formative years, she spent time in Caldwell, NJ where she attended Caldwell University focusing her studies on Political Science and Marketing graduating with a B.A. in 2009. Mrs. Ramos attended law school at Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law where she graduated with a J.D. in 2017. Throughout law school, Mrs. Ramos competed in several Moot Court Competitions and was awarded “best brief” along with her partner at the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida’s Moot Court Competition. Erica was also President of the Hispanic Student Bar Association at Nova during her last year in law school.
Before working with Aviation Legal Counsel, Mrs. Ramos spent time with a government agency, Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel as an Assistant Regional Counsel where she worked with families defending parents in Court. During her time with Regional Counsel, she dealt with complex issues relating to Family law and Criminal law.
After her time with Regional Counsel, she worked in Civil Litigation where she worked representing major fortunate 500 insurance companies. Her practice focused on Vehicle Negligence, Fraud Litigation, Insurance Coverage and Carrier Representation, Personal Injury Protection (PIP), SIU Insurance Fraud Defense, General Liability Defense, including Premises Liability, Product Liability Defense, Negligent Security, Insurance Coverage Disputes, Breach of Contract Disputes and Bankruptcy issues.
Erica K. Ramos, Esq.
Aviation Legal Counsel
110 SE 6th St., 17th Floor
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: 1-888-6FLYLAW (1-888-635-9529)
E-mail: erica@aviationlegalcounsel.com
Delmarie Alicea
Delmarie Alicea – Ms. Alicea has over 10 years of experience in the housing and financial industries, which she acquired working for Fortune 500 companies. Lured by issues of justice, she made a career change and began working as a litigation paralegal for a large national firm. She later obtained a BA in Legal Studies from UCF with a certificate in litigation and advocacy. In 2018 she earned a JD from Barry University Law.
Delmarie Alicea – Ms. Alicea has over 10 years of experience in the housing and financial industries, which she acquired working for Fortune 500 companies. Lured by issues of justice, she made a career change and began working as a litigation paralegal for a large national firm. She later obtained a BA in Legal Studies from UCF with a certificate in litigation and advocacy. In 2018 she earned a JD from Barry University Law. While at Barry she helped create the Barry Law ACLU Chapter, for which she served as the secretary, and also represented immigrants at the Barry Law Immigration Legal Clinic.
Delmarie has previously worked as a fair housing advocate for Community Legal Services of MidFlorida. For the past year she has worked at Florida Legal Services as an Equal Justice Works disaster relief fellow assisting hurricane survivors and working on risk management policy. She is originally from Puerto Rico and speaks Spanish fluently.
Delmarie joined the PR Bar to continue promoting the great abilities of Puerto Rican attorneys and assist upcoming law students in order to continue diversifying our profession. As Florida’s Puerto Rican population continues to increase and flourish, it is more imperative than ever that our community has adequate representation in both the court and through legislation. It is Delmarie’s goal to be an advocate and supporter of this cause and her involvement with the PR Bar is a key tool in that effort.
Delma Law, PLLC
2462 E. Michigan Street
Orlando, FL 32806
Phone: 1-689-689-3355
E-mail: delma@delmalaw.com
Website: delmalaw.com
Rudwin “Rudy” Ayala
Rudy Ayala received his Bachelors from Quinnipiac University Magna Cum Laude in 2007 and his Juris Doctor as a Goodwin Scholar from Nova Southeastern University in 2010. He was admitted to the Florida Bar the same year and is licensed to practice in all state courts in Florida, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Rudy Ayala received his Bachelors from Quinnipiac University Magna Cum Laude in 2007 and his Juris Doctor as a Goodwin Scholar from Nova Southeastern University in 2010. He was admitted to the Florida Bar the same year and is licensed to practice in all state courts in Florida, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Rudy is a long-time member of the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida, having previously served on the Board of Directors as a Vice-President. His commitment to the issues affecting the Puerto Rican community and the Hispanic community as a whole manifests itself through his extensive history of service to the legal community. Rudy is also a member of various other voluntary bar organizations, including the Broward County Bar Association; Palm Beach County Bar Association (Professionalism Committee; Committee for Diversity and Inclusion); Broward County Hispanic Bar Association; and the Hispanic National Bar Association, where he currently serves as the Region VIII Representative for the Young Lawyers Division, which encompasses all of Florida. Rudy has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star (2015 – 2018), and 2019 Best Lawyers in America© for Personal Injury – Plaintiff. He is AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell®. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
Ft. Lauderdale Office:
100 SE 3rd Avenue, Ste. 1100
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33394
Phone: 954-449-8700
Fax: 954-763-6093
Orlando Office:
121 S. Orange Ave., Ste. 1500
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407-675-3590
Email: rayala@jaycohenlaw.com
Mark Berrios-Ayala
Mark Berrios-Ayala – Mr. Berrios-Ayala is currently In-House Counsel to Jefferson Capital Systems, LLC. Previously, Mark worked at two firms dealing with personal injury and bankruptcy while a student at the University of Central Florida.
Rudy Ayala received his Bachelors from Quinnipiac University Magna Cum Laude in 2007 and his Juris Doctor as a Goodwin Scholar from Nova Southeastern University in 2010. He was admitted to the Florida Bar the same year and is licensed to practice in all state courts in Florida, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Rudy is a long-time member of the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida, having previously served on the Board of Directors as a Vice-President. His commitment to the issues affecting the Puerto Rican community and the Hispanic community as a whole manifests itself through his extensive history of service to the legal community. Rudy is also a member of various other voluntary bar organizations, including the Broward County Bar Association; Palm Beach County Bar Association (Professionalism Committee; Committee for Diversity and Inclusion); Broward County Hispanic Bar Association; and the Hispanic National Bar Association, where he currently serves as the Region VIII Representative for the Young Lawyers Division, which encompasses all of Florida. Rudy has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star (2015 – 2018), and 2019 Best Lawyers in America© for Personal Injury – Plaintiff. He is AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell®. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
Ft. Lauderdale Office:
100 SE 3rd Avenue, Ste. 1100
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33394
Phone: 954-449-8700
Fax: 954-763-6093
Orlando Office:
121 S. Orange Ave., Ste. 1500
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407-675-3590
Email: rayala@jaycohenlaw.com
Arthur J. Jones
Arthur J. Jones is the current Regional Vice-President for the Tampa area, serving this region remotely from South Florida. Mr. Jones has been quite happily practicing law since 2004 after graduating from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He also holds a law degree from Eugene Dupuch Law School in Nassau, Bahamas.
Arthur J. Jones is the current Regional Vice-President for the Tampa area, serving this region remotely from South Florida. Mr. Jones has been quite happily practicing law since 2004 after graduating from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He also holds a law degree from Eugene Dupuch Law School in Nassau, Bahamas.
Arthur’s success in business litigation includes intense lawsuits between shareholders, members, or partners (whether direct or derivative suits), as well as threatening suits brought by employees or other businesses. He uses his healthy litigation experience to also protect his clients interests in their business transactions. Additionally, Arthur has an extensive practice in aggressively defending his clients against federal and state level criminal investigations and charges.
He has been a member of the Dade County Defense Bar Association, Dade County Bar Association, Puerto Rican Bar Association, Caribbean Bar Association, and has been featured in the New York Times, Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel, and on Fox News. He has also been awarded the AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell, membership in the National Black Lawyers Top 100 (Florida), membership in America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators, and has earned recognition as one of the 10 Best Attorneys (Criminal Law, Florida) for Client Satisfaction.
The Arthur Firm, PL
4770 Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 1250
Miami, FL 33137-3243
Office: 305-330-6696
Fax: 305-397-0315
E-mail: the.arthur.firm@gmail.com
