Loreal Arscott

President

Loreal A. Arscott is a native Miamian, who was born and raised in the “Magic City”. In 2003, she received a Bachelors of Art in both Political Science and English, while minoring in Psychology, from the Florida State University. She then matriculated to the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctorate in 2006.

Prior to joining the City of Miami Gardens, in March 2016 as the Assistant City Attorney, Ms. Arscott served as a litigation attorney in the Corporate Law Department of a major insurance company, primarily practicing insurance defense. Ms. Arscott initially dedicated her practice to Family and Dependency Law, serving the most vulnerable members of our society, our children, for several years as first a Program Attorney for the Guardian Ad Litem Program, and then as Division Chief for Florida’s Department of Children and Families’ Children’s Legal Services. Ms. Arscott continues to serve as a pro bono Attorney Ad Litem for Dependency cases.

Ms. Arscott is very active in the Florida Bar and in and her local community. She is currently the Group II Director for the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association. She is also the Immediate Past President of the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyer’s Association (GSCBWLA), having served two (2) consecutive terms, from 2015-2017, as President.

Trelvis D. Randolph

President-Elect

Trelvis D. Randolph is a partner in the Miami office of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. He focuses his practice on all matters relating to general liability litigation, including cases involving claims of personal injury from automobile accidents, slips and falls, negligent security, wrongful death, product liability, medical malpractice, nursing home and assisted living facilities malpractice, insurance coverage issues, and retail, restaurant and hospitality industry defense. Mr. Randolph’s first-party property representations include residential and commercial property coverage for actions involving losses due to theft, water, wind, sinkhole, fire, and other property damage claims. He has extensive litigation experience regarding fact witnesses, corporate representatives, general physicians and specialized health care providers.

Mr. Randolph commenced his legal career as an assistant public defender representing clients charged with misdemeanor crimes and felony offenses at the Miami-Dade County Public Defender’s Office. Prior to joining QPWB, he was a partner with a large insurance defense law firm providing legal representation and strategic guidance in all of his current areas of practice. He was also an associate representing insurers and self-insureds in actions involving personal injury, automobile negligence, wrongful death claims, and defense of schools and religious institutions. Mr. Randolph’s experience also includes representing emergency room physicians, general practitioners and health care providers in medical malpractice and wrongful death claims.

Leading with the experience of dozens of jury trials and years of litigation history, Mr. Randolph has served as general counsel and litigation consultant to various civil rights and non-profit community empowerment organizations.

Mr. Randolph received his Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1999 and Bachelor of Arts in political science from Memphis State University. While in law school, he interned with the Memphis Area Legal Services handling an array of civil litigation matters. He developed community forums and conducted classes on civil litigation issues led by various legal groups.

Mr. Randolph is a United States Army veteran. He served his country as an infantry soldier and in his home state as a reserve with the Tennessee Army National Guard.

Professional Affiliations:

Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr., Bar Association, President-Elect

NAACP, Miami-Dade Branch, General Counsel

FL NAAIA, Executive Board of Directors

SAVE, Executive Board of Directors;

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

United States Army, Infantry; Tennessee Army National Guard

National Bar Association;

Chanel H. Jefferson

Vice President

Octavia M. Green

Secretary

Octavia Green is an associate attorney at Akerman, LLP. She focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation handled in both state and federal courts. Octavia represents and advises clients in a wide variety of commercial litigation matters with an emphasis on contract, civil rights, professional malpractice, intellectual property, and mass tort disputes.

Chanelle Artilles

Treasurer

Chanelle Artiles is an associate in the Miami office of Akerman LLP, where she focuses her practice on commercial litigation. Chanelle has litigation experience in dealing with matters including employment practices, whistle-blower actions, discrimination claims, Dramshop claims, premises liability, product liability, and insurance defense. She is admitted to practice in Florida and the US District Court, Southern District of Florida.

Chanelle was born and raised in Miami. In 2011, she received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Florida International University College of Businesses where she majored in Finance and International Business. She later obtained her juris doctorate from Florida International University College of Law in 2017.

Chanelle is a dedicated member of our local South Florida community and a strong advocate for social justice issues. She is a member of the ABA's Young Lawyers Division. She has also served on the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association's executive board as treasurer in 2018-2019 and is currently serving her second consecutive term. In addition, Chanelle actively mentors law students at FIU's College of Law and participates in panels providing guidance for aspiring lawyers of colors.

Omari S. Ruddock

Group I Director

Omari S. Ruddock is an Associate Attorney at Vargas Gonzalez Hevia Baldwin, LLP. He focuses his practice in the areas of complex commercial litigation; personal injury; criminal defense; and first-party insurance litigation. Mr. Ruddock started his career as an Assistant Public Defender here in Miami-Dade County. There he had the privilege of representing members of our community charged with serious felony allegations—amassing significant trial experience in the pursuit of justice and receiving the “Best Advocate” award along the way.

Omari received his Bachelor of Arts in both Political Science and Interdisciplinary Social Science while minoring in Sociology. He went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from Florida A&M College of Law. Omari is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Christopher M. Lomax

Group II Director

Christopher M. Lomax is an experienced litigator at Jones Day who focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation and criminal matters.  Prior to joining Jones Day, Chris was a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice where he primarily focused on human trafficking, hate crimes, and law enforcement misconduct cases. During his time with the DOJ, he conducted numerous grand jury investigations and successfully prosecuted cases in federal courts throughout the United States. While at the DOJ, Chris received two Special Commendations for Outstanding Service, a Special Achievement Award, and was recognized for outstanding contributions to DOJ's Attorney Mentorship Program.  

In addition to his extensive litigation experience, Chris currently serves on the teaching faculty for Harvard Law School's Trial Advocacy Workshop and has served as faculty for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Chris maintains an active pro bono practice, representing indigent criminal defendants in Florida state courts and plaintiffs in federal civil rights cases.  

In 2012, Chris was an EnVest Foundation 40 Under 40 Award Recipient for outstanding community service. In 2016, he was named one of the 40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of South Florida by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Miami.

Monique D. Hayes

Immediate President

Monique D. Hayes is a partner in the Miami office of Goldstein & McClintock, LLLP. She focuses her practice in the areas of business transactions, commercial litigation, and corporate restructuring. She has extensive experience advising fiduciaries, corporations, and non-profit board members. Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Hayes served as law clerk to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Laurel Myerson Isicoff and housing attorney for Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.

Ms. Hayes is a member of the American Bar Association – Business Law Section – Young Lawyers Committee Incoming Chair, Bankruptcy Bar Association S.D. Fla., American Bankruptcy Institute, the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (“IWIRC”) – Florida Network Chair, and the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association – President-Elect. She is also a member of the ABA Business Bankruptcy Committee and served as its 2013-2015 Fellow and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Executive Contracts Subcommittee. Ms. Hayes frequently serves as a writer, commentator, and panelist on business law issues. In the community she an active philanthropist and has been recognized for her efforts in that regard.