Consumer Law Group

Attorney Adam Dayan

Esquire | Founding Partner | CEO & President

Adam Dayan is a native of Chicago, Illinois. After graduating with a BA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, he attended and received his law degree from Chicago Kent College of Law in 2001. In 2002, Mr. Dayan joined the law firm formerly known as Harris Kessler and Goldstein where he practiced real estate and banking law. In early 2004 Mr. Dayan founded and was President and CEO of Pan American Mortgage, LLC, a nationwide mortgage company. After merging Pan American Mortgage with Pan American Bank, an Illinois State Chartered Bank, he served as a Director for Pan American Bank from 2005 through early 2010. Since beginning his career, Mr. Dayan has had a clear and defined mission: to assist consumers with their legal needs and/or debt relief matters as well as to provide access to working capital for small businesses throughout the United States.

In early 2010 Mr. Dayan co-founded Community Tax, LLC (www.communitytax.com) a nationwide full service tax defense company which is instrumental in resolving federal and state tax debt for thousands of clients across the country. Community Tax is among the largest and most recognized tax defense and tax preparation firms in the country and is well recognized by its peers as an industry leader. Community Tax, together with its team of attorney practitioners, enrolled agents and CPA’S, prides itself on delivering a superior service and extraordinary results which set the bar for the tax industry to follow.

In early 2010 Mr. Dayan founded and currently serves as President of Consumer Law Group, LLC (“CLG”) (www.consumerlaw.com) an Illinois based law firm which represents its clients in matters ranging from Immigration Law, Criminal Law, Employment/Labor Law, Family Law, Bankruptcy Law and Foreclosure Litigation. CLG is a consumer service based law firm whose core mission is to advance the interests of the Consumer through any and all legal means possible.

Having a long-term affiliation and intimate involvement with an FDIC insured banking institution, Dayan came to recognize some of the shortcomings of commercial banking, specifically as it relates to the small business. With this in mind, in late 2013 Mr. Dayan co-founded and currently serves and Chairman and CEO of National Funding Group, LLC (“NFG”) (www.natfg.com). NFG provides access to working capital and small business loans for companies throughout the United States. NFG was created with the purpose of helping business owners obtain the financing needed to help maintain and grow one’s business without the lengthy and burdensome application process typically associated with a traditional bank loan. Mr. Dayan’s core mission at NFG is clear: to provide access to capital for those businesses that otherwise struggle to obtain it through traditional banking means and/or to those that simply have an immediate need for capital and cannot withstand the lengthy delays often times associated with a traditional bank.

Attorney Jacob Dayan

Jacob Dayan was born and grew up in the Chicago suburbs. He graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He began his career as a financial analyst at Bear Stearns’ industry leading Financial Analytics and Structured Transactions group. Within months of joining Bear, Jacob was responsible for managing a team of analysts modeling and securitizing new issue mortgage and asset backed securities. In early 2009, Jacob returned to Chicago where he co-founded Community Tax LLC (“CTax”) (www.communitytax.com), a full-service tax company. CTax has emerged as a nationwide leader in the tax resolution industry, and has helped tens of thousands of customers resolve over half a billion dollars in IRS and state tax delinquencies. As CEO, Jacob has led CTax to year over year double digit growth. CTax has set the standard for customer service in the tax resolution industry, and is widely recognized by as an industry leader by its peers. Jacob manages all day-to-day marketing efforts, and business operations of Community Tax.

Jacob was involved in the launch of Consumer Law Group, in a consultancy capacity, where he assisted in the development of the human resources, marketing, and information technology departments. Jacob’s involvement at Consumer Law, inspired his return to law school at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and received his Juris Doctor degree. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois. Jacob joined Consumer Law as a partner in 2018.

Attorney Rafael Castillo

Attorney Rafael Castillo was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. He came to the United States with his parents at the age of 5 and grew up in the Chicagoland area. Rafael completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at the University of Illinois – Chicago in 2007, graduating with Cum Laude honors. During college he was a volunteer of the New Americans Initiative and a member of the UIC Honors College. After graduating from UIC, Rafael attended law school at the DePaul University College of Law. While at DePaul, Rafael was a member of the Latino Law Students Association and an active participant with the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois. He obtained his Juris Doctor from DePaul in May 2010. Since graduating from law school, Rafael has worked extensively in Immigration Law including asylum, naturalization, adjustment of status, and deportation defense matters. Rafael has handled Employment and Labor Law issues and has been a prosecutor for the Villages of Bridgeview and Lyons in the State of Illinois. Rafael is an active member of the Illinois State Bar and the American Bar Association.

Attorney Kirk Ellsworth

Kirk Ellsworth joined Consumer Law Group in 2015, where he has focused his areas of practice on criminal defense and family based immigration relief. Kirk believes that criminal defense and immigration law go hand in hand, and that experience in both areas is essential to provide a full legal analysis for either area of law. Kirk received his law degree from Western Michigan Cooley Law School where he graduated magna cum laude. During law school, Kirk served as a law clerk for Michigan Appellate Court Justice Stephen Borrello. He received his bachelor of arts from the University of Chicago where he earned the Joseph M. Stampf award, which is presented to the senior athlete with “the highest degree of values and integrity.” Since joining Consumer Law Group, Kirk has extensive trial experience in all aspects of criminal defense from petty traffic tickets to first degree murder cases. Kirk has served as first-chair on well over a hundred criminal trials, many of which returned not-guilty verdicts. Moreover, Kirk has consulted and provided legal analysis to thousands of immigration clients to determine the potential for immigration relief. Kirk is licensed to practice law in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Washington, and New Mexico.

Attorney Bryan Pacheco

Bryan Pacheco is from the greatest city in the world: Chicago, Illinois. The proud son of immigrant parents from Mexico, Bryan earned his B.A. in Political Science from American University. Bryan worked for Obama for America, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP prior to law school. He earned his J.D. from American University Washington College of Law and is admitted to practice in Illinois and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Bryan focuses on labor, employment, and discrimination law at Consumer Law Group.

Attorney Julia Strehl

Attorney Julia Strehl has been an active member of the Illinois Bar since 2012. She received her undergraduate degree from Grand Valley State University in 2008 and received her Juris Doctorate from the John Marshall Law School in 2012. While attending law school, Julia served as Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper and as a columnist for Chicago Lawyer Magazine. In addition, Julia actively worked and volunteered during law school, and gained valuable experience in the areas of foreclosure, personal injury, and medical malpractice. Since graduating from law school, Julia has dedicated her career to matrimonial law, and has secured favorable results for her clients through litigation and negotiation.

Attorney Andres Ybarra

Andy Ybarra is a trial attorney and litigator for both criminal and civil matters. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and a member of the Federal Trial Bar. Additionally, attorney Ybarra has experience in Immigration court and immigration matters, which he values since he is the proud product of two immigrant parents himself.

Andy attended Illinois State University, where he completed his bachelors degree in politics and government. He received his masters degree in Political Science from Northeastern Illinois University. He then attended law school at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota where he completed his juris doctorate. Upon graduation, Ybarra became a member of the Illinois bar in November 2008. Andy was born and raised in Chicago and then the suburbs, he loves practicing law in the Chicagoland area.

Attorney Ybarra has over 10 years of experience and has handled hundreds, if not thousands of matters. As a criminal defense attorney, he has handled matters such as first-degree murder, attempted murder, driving under the influence, drug possession and distribution, battery, assault, unlawful use of a weapon, to simple petty traffic offenses. As a civil litigation attorney, Ybarra has worked on cases involving breach of contract, personal injury and property damage torts, consumer fraud, mortgage foreclosure, evictions, suits for partition, administrative hearings, and real estate closings.

Aside from being an attorney, Andy has ran and been elected twice as trustee for the Village of Franklin Park, his current term runs until May, 2021. As a trustee, Andy oversees a multi-million dollar budget, is head of the Streets and Fleet committee for the Village, and votes on all matters involving the municipality. Prior to that, he was elected as member of the Library board. Ybarra enjoys being able to help people in his dual role as an attorney and as an elected official.

Attorney Michael Cooper

Michael Cooper is a trial attorney and litigator for both criminal and civil matter. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and the U.S. District court for the Northern District of Illinois. Additionally, attorney Cooper has experience in Bankruptcy and family law matters. Mr. Cooper can help any client through a tough period of their life.

Michael attended The University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where he completed his bachelors degree in political science and speech communication. He then attended the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Upon graduation, Michael became a member of the Illinois bar in November of 2008. Michael was born and raised in Chicago and loves practicing law in the Chicagoland area.

Attorney Cooper has over 10 years experience and has handled hundreds, if not thousands of clients. As a criminal defense attorney, he has handled everything from first degree murders, driving under the influence, to drug matters, to traffic offenses. As a civil attorney, Michael has represented countless clients in Bankruptcy and divorce matters.

Attorney Amjad Abukhdeir

Amjad Abukhdeir joined Consumer Law Group in 2021. He has been practicing law in Chicago and the surrounding counties since 2009. Amjad obtained his Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign where he participated in moot court, the appellate defender program, and earned the distinction of honor for legal writing and analysis. The University of Illinois is also where Amjad earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology. Prior to joining Consumer Law Group, Amjad attained extensive experience in all areas of criminal defense, traffic and DUI matters. He’s had the opportunity to represent thousands of clients throughout the Chicago and suburban court systems and will utilize his vast knowledge and experience to provide our clients with the highest standard of legal services. Consumer Law Group is honored to have Amjad join our team!

Attorney Celia I. Canel-Aviles

Attorney Celia I. Canel-Aviles was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is an Attorney at Law graduate from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law in 2010, where she obtained her Juris Doctor degree with Cum Laude honors. Following her graduation, she passed both, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Bar as well as the Notarial Bar.

Celia Also has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a Major in Management, and a Master's Degree in Human Resources.

Once Celia obtained her Attorney License, she became a member of the Puerto Rico Bar Association, and since then has been providing voluntary legal services through ProBono, Inc. as well as through Legal Services Corp, while managing her private legal practice. Throughout her career, Celia has had the opportunity to accomplish her vision to make a difference in assisting others in areas of Family and Immigration Law with empathy, and sensibility. She has also managed notarial, contracts, torts and inheritance cases, among others.

Attorney Ninotchka Figueroa Rosado

Ms. Ninotchka Figueroa Rosado, Esq. joined Consumer Law Group, LLC in January 2023 as an Immigration Attorney. Before joining CLG, Ms. Figueroa Rosado worked at Puerto Rico's Department of Labor as an arbitrator under the Appellate Division. Ms. Figueroa Rosado obtained her Juris Doctor at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law. During her law school years, she was an active member of the Enlace con Escuelas Públicas Pro Bono Program, and the Federal Bar Association. Furthermore, Ms. Figueroa Rosado participated as a student attorney in the Immigration Legal Aid Clinic of the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.

Attorney Godfrey Gillett

Attorney Godfrey Gillett has been a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois since 2006. He received his undergraduate degree in Sociology from Brooklyn College in 1998. Godfrey graduated from City University if New York School of Law in 2005 where he did his legal clinical work in the Health Law Concentration. While in law school Godfrey volunteered for the domestic violence clinic, immigration clinic, was a member of student government, and chairman of the Law School Association budget committee. During his second year Godfrey served as President of the Black Law Students Association. As a practicing attorney, Godfrey has received appointments as a Guardian Ad Litem on abuse and neglect, estate of minors, and guardianships for disabled adults. Godfrey maintains active membership in various local bar associations and is on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys.

Attorney Roberto H. Lizarra Padua

Roberto H. Lizarra Padua is an Attorney focused on immigration laws, policies and procedures. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology, he decided to pursue a Juris Doctor. Afterward, he was admitted as an Attorney, and Notary Public, by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. Throughout his career, Roberto has been trusted with a broad variety of matters, which include estate planning; local and international distribution of orthopedic implants and surgical instruments; strategic corporate governance in multiple business sectors; litigation; public administration, governmental 
affairs; real estate; and deeds. Consumer Law Group ignited his desire to assist the immigrant community. Roberto strongly believes his purpose is to help individuals and families interested in making the United States their home navigate through the complex processes before all immigration agencies and courts across the country; and is committed to identify and chase opportunities for residencies, citizenships and life-changing relief for our clients, so they can aspire to live free from the fears and effects of illegal status, deportation and family separation.

Attorney Teddy Alfonso

Teddy Alfonso was born and raised in Puerto Rico. In 2014 completed a bachelor’s degree in history at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras campus and in 2017 obtained his Juris Doctor from the Interamerican School of Law. He is proudly admitted to practice law by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. Has experience in Tax and Corporate Law that was gained through experience at the Department of Economic Development. Currently, at Consumer Law Group he is dedicated to assist individuals and families in their journey to obtain immigration relief.

Attorney Gwendolyn Moyer

Gwendolyn has been providing legal advice for over 20 years in diverse areas of her legal practice, both in the private and public sectors. She directed the Foreclosure Bankruptcy Division at Latimer, Biaggi, Rachid & Godreau Law Firm. While doing so, she acquired vast experience as a Notary, most notably with complex commercial transactions, Banking, Real Estate, Housing, Lending, Business and Corporate affairs, Estate Planning and Probate. 

She provided superlative legal advice to clients (Individuals as well as businesses and companies) in legal practice areas such as Business Startups, internal regulations and procedures for businesses, Government Law (contracts, compliance, Administrative and legislative affairs), Real Estate Transactions, and other types of acquisitions.

In her law practice in the public sector, she provided her services as an Attorney for the Contracts Division of the Municipality of San Juan, and later as Legal Advisor to the President of COSSEC (Cooperatives Supervision and Insurance Corporation), as well presiding administrative hearings for the Office of the Ombudsman for Patients (Puerto Rico’s Patient Advocacy Agency), where she also advised the Ombudsman on Government Affairs and Public Policy. These latter responsibilities included preparing bills for consideration before the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly, which required research in Internal Public Rules and Regulations and dealing with sensitive issues as they arose, achieving notable results in such endeavors.

Gwendolyn has dedicated part of her legal practice to pro bono work, for the benefit of underprivileged communities or sectors, providing them with free or reduced cost legal services and free workshops.

Attorney Gavin E. Moats

Gavin E. Moats attended Loyola University Chicago for his undergraduate studies and obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Arts (B.A.) History in 2013. Gavin subsequently attended Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School and obtained his Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 2018. Gavin is licensed to practice law in Illinois. Gavin is authorized to practice law in the Federal Courts, through the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Gavin is authorized to practice immigration law in the United States of America through the Executive Office for Immigration Review “EOIR” including the immigration courts and Board of Immigration Appeals.

Gavin became an attorney for the sole purpose to help people. Gavin is a zealous advocate for all of his clients and believes in fighting diligently for justice on behalf of his clients who have suffered injustices. Gavin focuses his practice solely on personal injury litigation and enjoys his work. Gavin, unfortunately, realizes that personal injury litigation often comes with his clients sustaining traumatic life-long injuries which will drastically impact and possibly change their lives forever. Gavin truly cares about his clients, his client’s pain and suffering become his personal pain and suffering, as he dedicates his life to helping his clients who have been wrongfully injured. Gavin has trial experience and is not afraid to take a case all the way to a jury verdict if it is necessary under the circumstances. 

Attorney Luis Oscar Nieves Perez

Attorney Luis Oscar Nieves Perez was born in Bayamon Puerto Rico. He was raised in Naranjito, Puerto Rico. Nieves earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus. Then, he entered to the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico's Law School where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. In his private practice, he worked as a criminal defense attorney and a family case attorney. He is a licensed Attorney who completed the Puerto Rico bar exam. As part of Consumer Law Group, Luis Oscar Nieves is actively giving legal analysis and consulting immigration cases with hundreds if not thousands of clients.

Attorney Ana Reyes

Attorney Ana Reyes was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is an Attorney at Law graduate with a Juris Doctor degree from the School of Law of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. She graduated with honors (Cum Laude) and received the award of academic excellence above all those in her class in Probative (Evidence) Law.

In 2003, she obtained her license as a lawyer in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, where she began her legal career: first in areas related to mortgage banking and contracts, and, later, in areas related to government, public policy, legislation and grants.

In 2014, she relocated to the Houston-Galveston metropolitan area in Texas, where she started in the immigration field by voluntarily providing legal services to the immigrant community through a recognized non-profit organization in the city. In August 2016, she was admitted as an attorney in the state of Texas, and since then she has worked exclusively in immigration and naturalization matters.

Attorney Reyes is admitted to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the state of Texas Bars, is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and an active lawyer of the Immigration and Naturalization Law section at the Texas Bar Association.

Attorney Matthew Velazquez

Attorney Matthew Velazquez was born and raised in Hialeah, Florida. As the son of immigrants from both Cuba and Nicaragua, he knows the struggle of families who want nothing more than to become Americans and make the United States their true home. After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy with Summa Cum Laude honors at Florida International University, Matthew obtained his Juris Doctor from FIU’s College of Law in 2017. Since then, his focus as an attorney has been assisting clients navigate the complexities of immigration law. Matthew is an active member of the Florida State Bar and the American Bar Association, having had the privilege of representing both individuals and families in all manner of cases before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, Executive Office of Immigration Review, and the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Attorney Marinelly Lopez

Attorney Marinelly López Liborio is a mix of Puerto Rican and Portuguese heritage. She was born and raised in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and all her family from her maternal grandfather is from Portugal. Marinelly has always felt strongly for those marginalized by society and takes pride in helping them in any way that she can. She completed her Bachelor of Social Sciences in Criminal Justice with a major in Law and Society degree in the University of Puerto Rico at Carolina. During her practice, Marinelly had the opportunity to work in the Puerto Rico’s Civil Rights Commission, where she provided orientation about civil rights to people that did not have the economic means to hire a lawyer, and to prisoners. Marinelly completed her Juris Doctor in the University of Puerto Rico Law School, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. There she was an active member and spokesperson for the Human Trafficking Pro Bono and participated as a student attorney in the Immigration Legal Aid Clinic of the University of Puerto Rico. Before joining Consumer Law Group, she was a pro bono attorney at the Dominican Women Center of Puerto Rico, where she provided legal assistance with VAWA petitions and U Visas.

Attorney Xiomara Lezcano

Attorney Xiomara Lezcano was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with a minor in Public Relations at the University of the Sacred Heart – San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 2001, graduating with Cum Laude honors. After graduating from USH, Xiomara started working in the field of public relations for several years. Working in public relations, she realized that her true passion in life was helping others, so she decided to start a new career in law. In 2011, Xiomara attended law school at the Interamerican University School of Law in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. While at law school she was an active member of the Association of Litigation (ALUI) and the Organization for Female Law Students (OMED) for its acronym in Spanish. Xiomara obtained her Juris Doctor from IUSL in June 2015. She has vast experience in Immigration Law including removal proceedings, naturalizations, adjustment of status and deportation defense matters. She has handled Family Law, Will & Estate, Labor & Employment and other civil law related matters. Xiomara is an active member of the Puerto Rico State Bar, the American Bar Association, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Attorney Rafael Taylor

Rafael Taylor has been a family law attorney for the past twenty years. Born-and-raised in Chicago, he earned his 
Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his Juris Doctor from the Valparaiso 
University School of Law. Rafael has negotiated many settlement agreements between spouses, parents, and parties. He 
has represented individuals, not-for-profit organizations, and a municipality in hearings and trials. His understanding of 
each case from a personal and legal standpoint, coupled with his methodical approach to handling the process, allows 
Rafael the ability to render successful results. Rafael’s wealth of experience, legal understanding, and knowledge of 
judges give him insight into what will happen in cases, every step of the way, from the first time you meet until your case 
is fully resolved.