In this blog, we highlight how Dallas-based personal injury attorney Angel Reyes partnered with Esquire Bank and overcame the capital limitations of traditional, commercial banks, unleashing law firm growth.

Watch the video above featuring Angel Reyes.

A Law Firm Founded on Becoming a Voice for the Underrepresented

In the competitive landscape of contingency fee law firms, the story of Angel Reyes & Associates stands out as a beacon of strategic growth and client advocacy. Founded by Angel Reyes in response to the need for more Spanish-speaking trial lawyers, the law firm has rapidly become a pillar of justice, especially for those involved in auto accidents.

As a young attorney working in New York City, Angel experienced a pivotal moment. “One night in my office, a janitor came in and asked me if I spoke Spanish,” recalled Angel. “My family’s from Puerto Rico, so I actually do. She then told me that her son had been in a terrible accident [after hitting a bull on a ranch].” After visiting the man in the hospital, Angel saw how severe his injuries were. “I went back to my firm wanting to represent this family…and they looked at me like I had a third eye,” said Angel. “So, I thought, maybe I’ll just do it for free. And as I got into the case, I realized I’d rather do this than answer to [corporate] folks.”

For Angel, that case became the impetus to transition from Wall Street to Main Street, representing individuals in need, especially those who primarily spoke Spanish.  “Most of our clients tend to come from a lower socioeconomic strata in the country, and as a result, they’re the voiceless,” said Angel. “They literally wouldn’t have a voice without firms like ours stepping in.”

Facing the Familiar Challenge of Capital Limitations

As a self-financed, contingency fee law firm that’s based in Dallas, Texas, Angel Reyes & Associates has thrived for many years, focusing primarily on personal injury cases. “We represent victims of auto and truck wrecks and that’s it. That’s all we do,” noted Angel.

According to Angel, his law firm doesn’t like to borrow, but 95% of what they have borrowed has been directly case related. Before switching to Esquire Bank, Angel’s law firm faced financial constraints from traditional, commercial banks that limited the firm’s ability to expand. The firm’s previous line of credit was insufficient because it was capped, hindering their plans to scale operations and enhance client services. This financial bottleneck was a critical challenge, stifling the firm’s growth aspirations.

“Over the years, it became pretty obvious to me that if we were going to grow like we wanted to, we needed access to capital and they [traditional banks] weren’t going to do it,” Angel remarked.

Partnering with Esquire Bank

The turning point came when Angel Reyes decided to partner with Esquire Bank. Recognizing the unique needs of contingency fee law firms, Esquire offered a flexible line of credit that provided greater credit facilities. This pivotal financial solution enabled Angel Reyes & Associates to embark on an ambitious expansion plan.

“We were absolutely thrilled when we turned to Esquire and they not only turned it around for us, but they gave us even more than we expected,” said Angel.

Strategic Expansion and Growth

With robust financial solutions from Esquire Bank, Angel Reyes & Associates doubled in size within just two years, unleashing law firm growth. The firm successfully opened new Texas offices in Houston, Fort Worth, and is planning an upcoming new office launch in Austin. Investments have been strategically channeled into marketing, hiring senior level leadership, and training new staff, significantly enhancing the contingency fee law firm’s operational capabilities and client reach.

According to Angel, “It’s allowed us to spend more money on marketing. It’s allowed us to spend more money on people, training them and helping them get to the point where they are hugely helpful.”

Seamless Collaboration and Mutual Success

With robust financial solutions from Esquire Bank, Angel Reyes

For Angel Reyes, the collaboration between his firm and Esquire Bank has been seamless. The partnership has not only facilitated substantial revenue increases but has also reinforced the firm’s commitment to attaining justice for its clients.

“Esquire’s willingness to help us scale is something I’ll never forget,” exclaimed Angel.

Click above to watch the video featuring Angel Reyes.