The Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) announced 14 fellows for Class II of its leadership training program, “L.E.A.D. with CABA.” The Leadership, Education, And, Development (L.E.A.D.) program was designed to provide CABA fellows with the knowledge, skills and tools to be effective leaders within CABA, The Florida Bar and their communities.
“The program’s goals encourage members to become involved in the community and to use their leadership skills to make a positive impact,” said CABA’s president, Javier Ley-Soto. “We are excited for these new fellows as sessions will include seasoned legal professionals and leadership development experts.”
Inductees will be in the company of a diverse professional cohort working in the public and private sectors, large and small law firms, different practice areas, backgrounds and geographical areas of the state. The class shares a commitment to elevating awareness and fostering engagement among legal practitioners. Their active participation in the program’s four training sessions through the fall of 2024 will serve as a catalyst for their professional growth and development.
The “L.E.A.D. with CABA” committee, chaired by CABA’s previous president, Giselle Gutierrez, and co-chair, Gustavo J. Ceballos, announced the following 14 fellows for Class II:
Anthony G. Atala, shareholder at Kubicki Draper
Cesar L. Avila, associate at Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
Emily Balter, associate at Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin and Tapanes
Stephanie A. Cruz, founder of The Law Offices of Stephanie A. Cruz, P.A.
Giancarlo Cueto, associate at Shutts & Bowen LLP
Marcel De La Cruz, attorney at Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton
Alexis De La Rosa, associate at Ramhofer Garcia
Carlos L. Diaz, associate at Greenberg Traurig
Amanda M. Naldjieff, associate at Holland & Knight
Gabriel Pla, associate at Moore & Company
Roger C. Pou, associate at Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman
Ezequiel J. Romero, associate at BCLP LLP
Alex Saiz, Director of Legal Services at Florida Justice Center and founder of The Law Office of Alex John Saiz, PLLC
Daniela Tenjido, associate at Rivero Mestre LLP
The first program session, Exploring the Opportunities of Servant Leadership, was made possible by the generous sponsorship and support of Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP on Wednesday, April 10. The session was hosted at Bilzin Sumberg’s offices and included a panel of judges from the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, including The Honorable Chief Judge Nushin Sayfie, The Honorable Bertila Soto, The Honorable Gina Beovides, and The Honorable Javier Enriquez. Other notable speakers included Roland Sanchez-Medina, President-Elect of The Florida Bar; Kelly Ruane Melchiondo, partner at Bilzin Sumberg and Sara Barli Herald, partner at Bilzin Sumberg.
Anthony G. Atala
Atala is a shareholder at Kubicki Draper. His practice focuses on the defense of personal injury cases, personal injury protection, fraud affirmative actions, examinations under oath and property and homeowner’s claims.
Cesar L. Avila
Avila is an associate at Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, infrastructure, real estate development and construction. He represents owners and developers on a wide range of construction matters from contract negotiations through post-completion issues and dispute resolution.
Emily Balter
Balter is an associate at Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin and Tapanes. Her practice focuses on land use, zoning, and environmental matters throughout Miami-Dade County.
Stephanie A. Cruz
Cruz is the founder of The Law Offices of Stephanie A. Cruz, P.A. in Hialeah. She specializes in real estate, wills and trusts, probate and guardianship.
Giancarlo Cueto
Cueto is an associate in the Miami office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where he is a member of the international litigation and arbitration practice group. He represents international and domestic clients in complex litigation, arbitration and business transactions.
Marcel De La Cruz
De La Cruz is an attorney at Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton and focuses on complex commercial litigation.
Alexis De La Rosa
De La Rosa is an associate at Ramhofer Garcia, PLLC. She specializes in labor and employment law.
Carlos L. Diaz
Diaz is an associate at Greenberg Traurig. He is experienced in land use and guides clients through the complex and ever-changing landscape of land use and zoning law in Miami-Dade County.
Amanda M. Naldjieff
Naldjieff is a real estate attorney in Holland and Knight’s Miami office who focuses her practice in the areas of land use and zoning and real estate transactions.
Gabriel Pla
Pla is an associate at Moore & Company. His practice areas include admiralty and maritime.
Roger C. Pou
Pou is an associate at Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman. He is a member of the firm’s Government Division and focuses his practice on representing municipalities on general matters, including drafting contracts and legislation.
Ezequiel J. Romero
Romero is an associate at BCLP LLP. He represents financial institutions in complex consumer financial services litigation matters.
Alex Saiz
Saiz is founder of The Law Office of Alex John Saiz, PLLC in Coral Gables, Florida, and Director of Legal Services at Florida Justice Center. He is a trial attorney with more than a decade of experience in criminal defense.
Daniela Tenjido
Tenjido is an associate at Rivero Mestre LLP. She is a commercial litigator with a focus on representing high-profile individuals in complex cases.
About the Cuban American Bar Association (CABA)
Founded in 1974, CABA is one of the largest bar associations in the state of Florida. Its membership is comprised of lawyers and law students from various backgrounds whose interests include not only those affecting the Cuban community, but human and legal rights issues impacting minority communities. CABA also founded CABA Pro Bono Legal Services and the CABA Foundation, both created on the association’s fundamental values to aid those in need through legal advocacy as well as offering scholarships to law students.
