I wanted to be a lawyer since I was 13, and I began practicing law in 2011. I chose the profession to help people in meaningful and lasting ways. The work is challenging, but I believe anything worthwhile in life requires a fight. More than a decade later — with a husband and three daughters cheering me on—I love my career more than ever. I feel privileged to show my girls firsthand the impact that pursuing justice can have on people’s lives. I hope that by sharing my story, you’ll get a better sense of who I am and why I do this work.
Leydyluz “Luz” Symphorien-Restrepo
Attorney
Background & Motivation
My name is “Leydyluz”, pronounced “Lay-thee-loose”, but I go by “Luz.” My family immigrated to the United States when I was nine, in search of a better future and greater opportunities. My parents never attended college, but they were people of faith and led a small congregation as pastors throughout much of my childhood. When they weren’t pastoring, my mom worked two jobs—cleaning offices or working in a laundromat—and my dad drove a New York City taxicab or worked in construction. I spent my summers at church or helping my parents with side jobs, such as distributing newspapers or cleaning offices alongside my four siblings. We didn’t have a lot, but we were rich in lessons from our parents about the importance of hard work, diligence, and service to others.
Ironically, growing up, I was also torn between my vanity—I wanted to be a supermodel at the age of seven—and my desire to help vulnerable people in need as a social worker. By my teenage years, middle school had firmly cured me of most of my vanity, and my love for reading, writing, and advocacy had taken center stage. I often found myself defending others—even when it got me into trouble—so law became a natural choice for me. My older brother, who also pursued a career in law despite our lack of role models in the field, bravely paved the way for me in ways our parents couldn’t.
In 2007, I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and went on to graduate with honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, earning top marks in several courses. I began my legal career as a criminal prosecutor in Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit, where I tried more than 25 cases to verdict for drug trafficking and other felony-level offenses. My work as a prosecutor taught me how to present a case to a jury and sharpened my courtroom skills.
Seeking to expand my skills, I transitioned into civil litigation, representing individuals injured in car accidents and slip-and-fall incidents. While the work was valuable and rewarding, I continued searching for an area of practice that resonated more deeply with my childhood dreams of the type of lawyer I wanted to be. In 2017, I found it. I joined a nationally renowned firm focused on asbestos litigation, representing critically ill plaintiffs diagnosed with mesothelioma. We held corporations accountable for knowingly exposing people to toxic substances that wreaked unimaginable havoc in our clients’ lives.
Today, I devote my practice entirely to representing innocent clients who are suffering devastating illnesses and losses as a result of exposure to toxic substances. The work is complex, demanding, and at times emotionally heavy—but it’s deeply rewarding. On both the best and toughest days, I strive to embody the values my parents instilled in me, for the benefit of my clients and as an example to my children. I love my work and I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Education
University of Florida, Levin College of Law, Juris Doctorate, 2011 cum laude
University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, Bachelor of Science in Public Relations, 2007
Admissions
State Bar of Florida, 2011
State Bar of Texas, 2017
State Bar of New Jersey, 2019
Honors & Professional Affiliations
American Association for Justice
Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Association
Best Lawyers in America, “Ones to Watch,” 2024
Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation, 2023
National Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, 2022, 2023