Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maria “Marisa” Casablanca. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Maria “Marisa”, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.

It is important for us to remember how truly blessed we are in the United States. We have issues that affect us, frustrate us, infuriate us, but we must remember that we all have a purpose. Early on in my career I decided to specialize in immigration law because it was my way of serving the underserved. Presently, at Akerman, I represent corporations and high net worth individuals who seek investment visas and employment visas for employees, but I take time to volunteer. I visited the border of Mexico twice to provide assistance to women and children. My community work is supported by Akerman’s strong pro bono program and it’s newly created Akerman Foundation, which will formalize and increase the firm’s efforts to give generously to causes that improve education and youth development. The Akerman Foundation was formed after Akerman established a first-of-it-kind partnership with the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association and its local guardian ad litem programs. The firm has raised more than $1,000,000 to assist foster children and created a fully funded endowment, granting scholarships to children who have been in the foster care system. It’s a hugely impactful philanthropic program I am proud to be a part of.

Maria “Marisa”, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started my career with Catholic Social Services serving the indigent community in immigration court. That is where I became aware of how important it is to serve and how I could change the lives of families. I was born and raised in Coral Gables, Florida. Growing up in private schools, I did not know the plight or troubles of people who were not fortunate enough to be born in the United States or born in the United States but did not have access to the resources that I had. I decided to continue my work as an immigration attorney. My practice has shifted to representing investors and business owners, but we all share the same vision, which is the future of our children.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My reputation grew as the “lawyer of difficult cases”. I have had many clients who went to other attorneys and were not happy with the results. Approximately 90% of my clients are a result of referrals which speaks to the level of client service I provide. The feedback I receive from client is that they value how much I listen and by doing that i am able to produce favorable outcomes. For instance I represented the manager of a fortune 500 company who had not been able to obtain their permanent residence due to a complicated section of the law. We were able to present the case to USCIS and argue successfully which resulted in his permanent residence being approved quickly.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Like all working moms, the greatest shift is how to balance work with my responsibilities for my son. As a business owner and practitioner it is important not lose sight of the rewards of having a vibrant family life. As a first time mom, I was trying to figure out how to juggle a staff to manage and a portfolio of clients to serve. Speaking with other clients, business owners and practitioners, I realized that this is not a personal circumstance but a valuable connection which has led to fostering stronger ties.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.akerman.com
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/marisacasablanca

Image Credits
Manolo Doreste