Paula Ferreira Montoya is the firm’s Immigration Administrator, and manages and leads the immigration portion of the firm’s practice. She brings comprehensive immigration experience along with a multinational perspective on world cultures, politics, economics and business. She speaks four languages including English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French and has traveled throughout South Africa, Europe, North America, and Latin America.  

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Paula and her family were frequent U.S. west coast travelers during her early years. Eventually, her family decided to come to Central Florida and settle in Orlando, where she has been living since she was eight years old. She attended some of our local neighborhood schools: Dr. Phillips Elementary, Southwest Middle, and Dr. Phillips High. After graduating with honors, she became a student at Rollins College in Winter Park.

  As a result of her multi-cultural heritage and realizing that the growing international interdependence among nations makes a significant impact on the daily lives of U.S. residents, Paula decided to pursue a Bachelors degree in International Affairs. Her senior seminar focused in Latin America and she chose to write her thesis on the history and impacts of immigration in the United States.

  While attending college, she worked as a legal assistant, where she acquired the basis for understanding various immigration law matters and also became familiar with government institutions that regulate such affairs, through the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. She eventually became responsible for the preparation and research of a number of specialized cases.

  As a law student presently attending Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, in Orlando, Florida, Paula will continue to strengthen her skills and knowledge in becoming a practicing lawyer.

Education:

Rollins College, Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs, Magna Cum Laude.

Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law (JD Candidate 2013).

Accomplishments: Intern Researcher for the special assistant to the President at the Department of Global Perspectives - UCF, Listening Leader qualified (International Listening Leadership Institute) member of WOAMTEC.