Top 100 U.S. law firm Akerman LLP today announced Luis A. Perez, chair of the Latin America and the Caribbean Practice, has been appointed co-office managing partner of the Miami office, effective immediately. Perez becomes the first Hispanic to serve in this Miami office leader role. The appointment underscores Akerman’s commitment to empowering new leaders.
Perez shares this office managing partner role with land use partner Neisen Kasdin. Together they will continue to strengthen Akerman’s relationships with civic and business leaders in the Miami market while guiding the firm’s strategic direction locally. Both lawyers will continue serving clients through their respective practices.
"Our firm continues to be guided by strong leaders focused on providing an exceptional experience for our clients and our people," said Akerman Chairman and CEO Scott Meyers. "Luis brings insight, ingenuity, and dedication to his position, and will continue to help our firm grow and serve our clients well."
Perez focuses his practice on dispute resolution and handles commercial litigation and arbitration across the United States and Latin America for clients in manufacturing, defense contracting, energy, technology, financial services, and medical devices, among other industries. Perez has achieved notable victories for clients including:
- Represented the German subsidiary of Fortune 100 defense contractor Raytheon in a $155 million arbitration administered by the ICC, venued in Madrid, Spain, against a sovereign government agency with respect to a contract for the repair of two submarines.
- Represented an international software company, Codisa, in an arbitration against a US based Fortune 100 company before the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) arbitration. This arbitration was held in Miami, Florida.
- Represented the distributor of Diageo liquor products in the Dominican Republic regarding the improper termination of the distributorship agreement. The multi-million dollar dispute resulted in a favorable verdict before a jury in the Miami-Dade County Civil Court.
- Represented global tobacco company Philip Morris in various proceedings in Latin America and directed the defense of all cases pending in the region without a single loss for over 6 years.
- Represented a Chilean company, Tecnal, in a breach of contract, product liability claim against a Fortune 100 US company. The dispute was arbitrated before the AAA/ICDR in the US.
"I am proud to be the first Hispanic to serve in this Miami leadership role for Akerman. It's been a long journey as a Cuban refugee in the 1960’s to become a co-office managing partner of a top 100 law firm. It is my privilege to work alongside Neisen, who has had as much impact in growing Akerman's local office as he has in the revitalization of the greater Miami region."
"Luis is highly regarded and well known as an attorney in Miami and throughout Latin America and has long been a respected leader within the Miami office," said Kasdin. "Luis will help continue to grow the Miami office and our presence in this global community."
About Akerman
Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward-thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth.