“I didn’t move here to practice law. I came to retire. But after nine years as a resident, navigating property purchases, residency applications, and the particular bureaucratic texture of life in Ecuador, I’ve encountered many of the obstacles new arrivals run into, worked through them firsthand, and now have the legal credentials to help others do the same.”
Ecuador
I’ve called Ecuador home since June 2017, when I left Vermont after shutting down a business I’d spent eight years building. A long story for another day. I purchased my home in Malacatos later that year, became a permanent resident in 2019, and have been embedded in this community long enough to know its rhythms, its bureaucracy (extensive as it may be), and its law.
Legal Education
My first encounter with the legal system came at 25, when I was dragged into a proceeding that taught me firsthand how important it is to understand the system within which you’re operating. I researched the law on my own for that case and, in so doing, discovered a calling and returned to university.
I earned a Bachelors in Legal Studies from Woodbury College of Vermont in 2006, then went on to earn my Doctorate in Law from Temple University of Philadelphia in 2010, where I focused on international, business, and juvenile law.
Licensure in Ecuador
In early 2025, I considered the posibility of practicing law here. The accepted answer was discouraging: U.S. legal degrees weren’t recognized. I was initially resigned to studying law again from scratch at an Ecuadorian university.
With some sound advice, I found a different path. I petitioned the judiciary to have my degree recognized under the law in effect in 2010; the year I graduated. Months passed without a word. Then, with less than a week left to apply for my required legal internship, I received notice of approval in September of 2025. I completed the internship (500 hours of pre-professional practice) and was formally inscribed into the Foro de Abogados del Ecuador on January 22nd, 2026.
Background
I grew up in poverty, including periods of homelessness. Born while my parents were traveling cross country on horeseback, my first job was washing dishes at 12 years old in the local diner. Since then I have worked as everything from a dance instructor to a telecommunications technician to the president of a company serving customers and businesses worldwide. I was certified to teach ITF style Taekwondo at age 15 and Hung Gar kung fu at age 18. As a dancer, I performed around the USA, in Russia, England and Newfoundland.
Growing up as a smart kid in poverty, I had more than my fair share of frustrations. I found myself constantly in conflict with those adults who exerted disproportionate control over my life. This stirred in me a strong hatred of bigotry, especially in regards to age, an inherent distrust of authority and yearning for an unrestricted life.
I understand contracts, business formation, and the fine print that trips people up - not just in theory, but from years of signing them and occasionally regretting that decision. I also know what it means to navigate a foreign legal system without a guide. That’s the gap ExpatLegal exists to close.
How I Practice
My practice is kept deliberately small. I work with a small number of clients so that I can give each matter the attention it deserves while still enjoying my quasi-retirement in my beautiful little corner of Ecuador.
ExpatLegal S.A.S. reserves the right to refuse any client or case. Although rare, ExpatLegal S.A.S. may offer pro bono legal services where some particular element of the case is of interest.