Our Staff

Mr. Castillo has served as Florida International University’s (FIU) General Counsel since May of 2016.  As General Counsel, Mr. Castillo oversees the FIU’s in-house legal team and serves on FIU’s Executive Committee.  Prior to joining FIU, Mr. Castillo had more than 25 years of litigation and dispute resolution experience.  His practice areas included general and complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts and in arbitration proceedings. Mr. Castillo also represented clients in white collar matters, including federal and state government investigations. Mr. Castillo assisted clients in a variety of different contexts, including contractual and partnership disputes, and industries, such as banking, real estate, employment, and telecommunications.

Mr. Castillo served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office in Miami, Florida (USAO), where he prosecuted and tried criminal cases. While at the USAO, Mr. Castillo served on the executive team as a Special Counsel.  Prior to his tenure at the USAO, Mr. Castillo was nearly ten years with the international law firm of White & Case LLP, where he handled complex litigation matters.

Mr. Castillo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from FIU in 1988.  He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law in 1991, graduating magna cum laude.

Mr. Castillo was selected as Florida’s Legal Elite, by Florida Trend, for the years 2012 and 2013. He also received the FIU Torch Award for Service in 2000, after working to promote the FIU College of Law.  Prior to becoming General Counsel, Mr. Castillo served as a Director and Secretary on the FIU Foundation Board of Directors.

Prior to joining FIU, Liz worked for ADP TotalSource, Inc., a local company that outsources human resources to small to medium sized companies. Drawing on her in-depth background in employment law, she served in various capacities during her twelve-year tenure at ADP TotalSource including leading the human resources and training functions and serving as the General Counsel before the company was acquired by ADP and then as the Division Counsel afterward. Prior to working for ADP TotalSource, Liz was a partner in the Labor Department of Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson focusing on employment and immigration law. Liz also served as a judicial law clerk for the Third District Court of Appeal.

Liz received her J.D. from Nova University in 1985 (cum laude) and a B.A. in English Literature from Guam University in 1976. She received a Masters in Liberal Arts from the University of Miami in 2007. She also holds an Associate of Arts degree from the University of West Florida in Paralegal Studies.

Liz is a member of the Florida Bar.

Vilma’s prior legal experience includes her work as a transactional lawyer at the civil notary office in Lithuania, where she worked on a wide range of legal matters, including: drafting residential and commercial property deeds and other contracts, preparing pledge or mortgage bonds, preparing and reviewing documents for incorporation of legal persons, and handling probate and estate planning matters.

Vilma received her J.D. from the Florida International University College of Law, her L.L.M in International and European Business Law from Leiden University, the Netherlands, and her Professional Qualification Master’s Degree in Law (one-stage legal university education) from Vilnius University, Lithuania. Vilma is a member of the Florida Bar.