Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda

1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as a child. Growing up I wanted to change the relationship I had with the law and use the legal field to build myself and my community up.

2. Why did you choose the areas of law that you practice? I chose the areas of law I practice because it  allows me to take advantage of Miami’s unique position as a hub for the exchange of culture, business, and legal work. Practicing in areas like cross border insolvency and arbitration allows me to gain a broad range of perspectives from clients across the globe.

3. What skills do you draw upon when it comes to your specific practice areas? The skills I draw upon in my practice areas are understanding how all the moving pieces of a case fit together and being flexible in order to deliver results for the client. Being able to understand how these pieces fit together keeps a case moving forward and being flexible permits adapting to changing circumstances in order to still deliver for a client.

4. What is the most rewarding part about your job? The most rewarding part of the job is being able to deliver for a client.

5. Tell us about a mentor who made an impact on your career. A mentor who had an impact on my career was my high school AP European History teacher. He also served as my coach for the international debate club which was where I first became interested in international law which has carried on until today.

6. If you weren’t practicing law, what would you be doing? If I wasn’t practicing law, I’d either be a history professor or restoring classic American cars.

7. What might people be surprised to learn about you? People might be surprised to learn that I love to cook. Whether it be cooking steaks on a grill or making pasta from scratch, I enjoy trying new recipes and making different dishes.

8. What is a good book or article you read recently? A good book I read recently was : Cuba, An American History by Ada Ferrer. It explores the rich shared history between the two nations which can be often overlooked beyond the Castro-regime years.