Manuel Perez-Leiva, J.D., LL.L

A graduate of Yale University, and after many successful years in the corporate world, Mr. Pérez-Leiva decided to change careers and attend law school, receiving his Juris Doctor degree with International Law Concentration and Civil Law Certification from the Nova Southeastern University Law Center, having completed a study-abroad International Law Program at San José, Costa Rica, and achieving Dean's List. He was also trained in mediation, arbitration, and as a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL), and received the honor of Silver Medal for his pro bono work while a law student. Additionally, he helped form and was Vice President of the Human Rights Law Students Association, the first of its kind at Nova Law. After obtaining his J.D., Mr. Pérez-Leiva went to Spain as part of Nova Law's Dual-Degree Program, and obtained a second law degree, a Licentiate of Laws, from the University of Barcelona School of Law, with training in European Union Law and International Diplomatic Law. He is thus qualified to practice in European and South American civil law systems, as well as our own English-based common law system.

Mr. Pérez-Leiva is also certified in International Business Acumen by the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, Michigan State University, bringing to his legal and mediation practice over fifteen years of prior award-winning business development and management experience in such industries as International Cargo & Transportation, Telecommunications, Aviation e-Commerce, and Financial Services & Insurance.

As an attorney, Mr. Pérez-Leiva began his career as a Volunteer Attorney with the Miami Public Defender’s Office, in the Felony Defense Division. He went on to work at law firms, honing his skills and gaining invaluable experience. Today, he primarily handles civil and commercial litigation and mediation with his solo firm, MPL Law & Mediation, and serves as In-house Counsel for a nationwide consumer debt collection agency, and as Of Counsel for a DC-based law firm specializing in FHA/ADA claims.

Mr. Pérez-Leiva is additionally a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit and County Civil Mediator and is trained and certified in Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation, and has successfully conducted many mediations throughout Florida, from Pensacola to Key West. He is a court-appointed Attorney Ad Litem and Mediator in Florida's 11th Judicial Circuit Court in and for Miami-Dade County. Finally, he is multilingual, being fluent in Spanish, proficient in French, and having a basic knowledge of Portuguese and Catalan.

EDUCATION:                                                                                                                                                                                      

                 University of Barcelona, School of Law, Barcelona, Catalunya, España, Licentiate of Laws (Spanish Law Degree),
                 September 2005 (European Union Civil Law)

                 Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 
                 Juris Doctor (May 2004) International Law Concentration & Civil Law Certification

                 Michigan State University, Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, Louisville, KY,
                 Certificate of Accomplishment (January 2001) International Business Acumen

                 Yale University, Yale College of Arts & Sciences, New Haven, CT,
                 Bachelor of Arts with Distinction (Intensive Major), Sociology (May 2000) Focus on Law

ATTORNEY ADMISSIONS:

                The Florida Bar, 2005

                U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, 2006

                U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, 2006

                U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 2009

MEDIATOR ADMISSIONS:

               American Arbitration Association, 2010

               Florida Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Center 2010

                Collins Center for Public Policy, 2010

 
 BAR, COURT, & PROFESSIONAL  MEMBERSHIPS                                                                               

              Dade County Bar Association, Professionalism Committee (2017)

              Florida Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Center (2010)

              American Arbitration Association, Mediation Services

              Collins Center for Public Policy, Mediation Services

              U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (2009)

              U.S. Court of International Trade, New York, NY (2006)

              U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5^th Circuit, New Orleans, LA

              Miami Beach Bar Association, Board of Directors

              The Florida Bar (2005)

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY:

                 Civil Litigator of hundreds of cases, with Spanish Law degree and International Law Certification

                 Certified Mediator facilitating Alternative Dispute Resolution and effective settlement negotiations

                 Award-Winning Corporate Business Development Executive with over 15 years of prior experience

PROFESSIONAL LEGAL EXPERIENCE:

Attorney at Law & Mediator, MPL Law & Mediation, Miami Beach, FL (02/2010 – Present)  

               Civil Litigation; Legal Counseling; Attorney/Guardian Ad Litem

               Florida Supreme Court Certified Civil Circuit & County Mediator

Of Counsel, Portell Law Group, Washington, DC - Miami, FL (04/2020 – Present)

                FHA/ADA litigation on behalf of the visually impaired

In-House Counsel (p/t), Encircle Collections, Inc., Doral, FL (11/2019 – Present)

               Legal management of debt collections activities

Contract Mediator, 11^th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Miami, FL (05/2019 - 11/2019)

              Retained for County Court-ordered and pre-trial mediations

Senior Litigation Attorney, Ben-Ezra & Katz, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (06/2009 - 11/2009)

               Litigated and managed hundreds of plaintiff’s Foreclosure cases

               Managed two paralegals and team of junior lawyers

Attorney at Law, Solo Private Practice, Miami Beach, FL (06/2008 - 5/2009)

               Civil Litigation; Foreclosure Defense. Labor & Employment Law

Associate Attorney, Richard S. Gendler & Associates, Miami, FL (09/2006 - 5/2008

              Successfully litigated and managed hundreds of civil cases

              Foreclosure and Criminal Defense; Probate Litigation

Volunteer Attorney, Miami Public Defender's Office, Miami, FL (01/2006 - 8/2006

             Felony Defense client intake, depositions, and trial preparation

Innovative Legal & Business Solutions:

             Multi-literate E-Discovery Specialist: QC & Team Lead (French, Portuguese, & Spanish)

             Legal & Business Dispute Negotiations. Certified International Business Acumen

LANGUAGES, RESEARCH & COMPUTER SKILLS                                                                                 

            Spanish (Professional fluency)

           French & Portuguese (Reading fluency; basic oral and written)

LexisNexis & WestLaw, Advanced Certification. Adept with all Microsoft programs

8233 Harding Avenue, #402

Miami Beach, FL. 33141

Phone:  305-299-2681

Fax:      806-398-6427

Email:   [email protected]