Angel E. Reyes

I became a consumer protection attorney because I know what it’s like being on the losing side of a rigged system. During the 2008 housing crisis, my family lost our home to foreclosure. That moment changed everything. I didn’t have money or connections. I was a line cook and a community college student. And I wondered why families like mine lost everything while banks got bailed out.

I began studying economics and law. I wanted to learn how the system works and how to change it. I earned my economics degree at Flagler College, graduating in the top tier of my class. Then, I received my legal training at the University of Chicago Law School, which is one of the best in the country.

After law school, I worked at a big D.C. law firm and saw how powerful companies operate behind closed doors. I wanted to use that knowledge for good. So I joined the Federal Trade Commission. After that, I went to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. While in public service, I led cases against companies that exploited people. People were charged after saying “no.” They were discriminated against for being a veteran or having a disability. Others were tricked into taking an unfair loan.

When I’m not in the fight, I’m raising my two kids or training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Parenting and jiu-jitsu teach a key lesson that’s seen daily in court: with the right leverage, even a smaller opponent can win.