Shirley Diaz Vidales

Shirley Diaz Vidales is the founder and managing attorney of Diaz Vidales PLLC in Washington, D.C. She advises families and entrepreneurs on estate planning, estate administration, business formation, business disputes, and related legal needs. Her practice also draws on earlier experience in securities enforcement, government investigations, and white collar defense. She works with clients seeking practical planning for family wealth, business ownership, and important transitions.

Shirley earned a J.D. from the University of California, Irvine School of Law. She also received an M.A. in Economics and a B.A. in Political Science and International Affairs from the University of Nevada, Reno. Before law school, she worked as an analyst at Goldman Sachs, giving her an early foundation in finance and capital markets. Her combined legal and economic training supports her work with clients whose estate and business matters involve financial, regulatory, and strategic considerations.

Before founding her firm, Shirley spent more than six years at Skadden, Arps, where she focused on securities enforcement and government investigations. She represented clients in regulatory matters, SEC investigations, and white collar defense cases. Today, she applies that experience while helping new parents create estate plans and advising business owners through formation, growth, disputes, and succession-related concerns. She also serves on the D.C. Court of Appeals Criminal Justice Act panel for criminal appeals.

Shirley Diaz Vidales is active in professional leadership and public service. She serves on the Board of Governors of the D.C. Bar and as Region V Governor for the Hispanic National Bar Association, and she is a past president of the Hispanic Bar Association of D.C. Her background across finance, investigations, estate planning, and business law allows her to provide clients with practical guidance that accounts for both legal requirements and long-term personal or business goals.

Law Office Affiliations

• Founder, Diaz Vidales PLLC
• Member, District of Columbia Bar
• Member, The State Bar of California
• Member, Maryland State Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of Nevada
• Board of Governors, DC Bar
• Region V Governor, Hispanic National Bar Association
• Past President, Hispanic Bar Association of DC
• Member, DC Court of Appeals Criminal Justice Act Panel
• Junior Board Member, Washington Performing Arts

Licensed State

• District of Columbia
• California
• Maryland
• Nevada

Education

• University of California, Irvine School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Nevada, Reno
  Master of Arts (MA) in Economics
• University of Nevada, Reno
  Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and International Affairs

Awards & Badges