CARLOS MÉNDEZ-PEÑATE
SHAREHOLDER, AKERMAN SENTERFITT LLP
NEW YORK, NY
YEARS PRACTICING: 35
PRACTICE AREA: CO-CHAIR,
LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN PRACTICE
Affiliate Network
Firm
Raise the value of diversity & inclusion
AKERMAN SHAREHOLDER CARLOS MÉNDEZ- PEÑATE CREDITS A LOT OF HIS RAINMAKING SUCCESS TO RELATIONSHIP BUILDING. In the early 1980s, Méndez-Peñate left his position as an associ- ate at Coudert Brothers in New York where he had represented prominent Latin American corporations and fi nancial institutions, specifi cally to start a Latin American group for Holland and Knight in Miami. At the time, he says, Latin America was emerging from a lost decade of debt defaults and recessions, and Miami was nothing like the thriving city it has become today. Based in Florida and trained in New York, the Cuban- born attorney was well positioned to take advantage of emerging opportunities. “To build a practice, I capitalized on contacts and
travelled the region, meeting business people and lawyers. Nothing beats face-to-face meetings. It’s the only way,” he says. “Eventually, existing relationships fl owered and new ones developed. I was retained by increasing numbers of Latin American corporations and fi nancial institutions on complicated and interesting deals.” Business exploded, says Méndez-Peñate, and he
returned to New York (again at Coudert and later at Akerman) to be closer to the major investment banks. “For decades I’ve generated all of my own work. In addition to my specialties—mergers and acquisitions and capital markets—clients also entrust me with litigation, bankruptcy, and tax matters for which I turn to colleagues expert in those disciplines.” T ere is no resting on your laurels, he adds.
“Business development never ends. You’ve got to think about it all the time and be willing to try something new and often take a chance.”
Join the MCCA Law Firm
Affi liate Network
In order to assist and acknowledge law fi rms that are committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession The Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) created the Firm Affi liate Network (FAN).
As an affi liate, you will be better prepared to meet the expectations of top clients demanding diversity. FAN benefi ts include listing of your attorneys in the Diverse Outside Counsel Database (DOCD), which is regularly circulated to MCCA member companies and Association of Corporate Counsel members. Join FAN today and let your diversity eff orts open doors for your fi rm.
Let us help strengthen your fi rm’s diversity efforts
Apply to become a fi rm affi liate today
To start enjoying all the benefi ts of FAN, complete the online application at
www.mcca.com
For more information contact: David Chu Director of Membership & Development 202-739-5906 or
davidchu@mcca.com
Fan Affiliate_D&B_NOV
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