The Honorable Manuel (Manny) A. Diaz is a partner at the firm’s Miami Office. Manny Diaz was born on November, 1954 in Havana, Cuba. Diaz’ father became a political prisoner under Fidel Castro’s regime after he orchestrated a strike in the electric company that he worked at. Diaz came to the United States on July 21, 1961 after his father convinced his mother that it would be the safest place for them. As a youth Diaz was a very focused young man who excelled in academics and athletics. Diaz continued to excel in his academic career, graduating with honors from Florida International University in 1977. While at FIU, Diaz served as Executive Director of the Spanish Speaking Caucus, as well as a youth counselor and soccer coach for a social group of Cuban Jews. After college, Diaz attended the University of Miami School of Law. In Diaz’ first year of law school he sought out and obtained a clerkship at an established Miami law firm, while still maintaining a full course load.

On November 13, 2001, Manny Diaz was elected as Mayor of the City of Miami. Having never before held elected office, Diaz’s victory signaled a clean break with the history of Miami politics. Under Diaz’s leadership, Miami is entering an age of renaissance and is positioning itself as a leading city in the hemisphere.

Mayor Diaz has developed a vision for Miami in which it is an international City that embodies diversity, economic opportunity, effective customer service and a highly rated quality of life. To achieve this goal, he has re-engineered Miami government from top to bottom. Considered one of America’s leading Mayors, Diaz is a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees for the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM). He serves as Chair of the Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Committee, Co-Chair of the Faith-Based and Community Task Force for the USCM. Mayor Diaz is also an advisory board member for both the Manhattan Institute’s Center for Civic Innovation, the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Urban Research and the Mayors’ Institute on City Design.

Mayor Diaz is married to Robin Smith and has four children – Manny, Natalie, Bobby, and Elisa. He also has two grandsons, Colin and Gavin.

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