American Conservative Union chair Al Cardenas is joining the prestigious Squire Sanders international law firm as a senior partner.
The move, effective March 1, will have the founding partner of Tew Cardenas LLP now overseeing regulatory, government affairs and administrative law at Squire Sanders offices in Miami and Washington, D.C.
“Al is a respected legal practitioner and business leader who is uniquely qualified to provide an exceptional level of strategic counsel to our clients in Florida, Washington and across the Americas,” said Squire Sanders chair and global CEO Jim Maiwurm. “We are pleased and proud that he has committed to joining us.”
Cardenas, who was a member of President Ronald Reagan’s first-term transition team, is also the founder of Cardenas Partners DC, a Washington, D.C. based consulting and lobbying firm, as well as The Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners, a lobbying practice based in both Tallahassee and Tampa.
Emily Zammit, partner for Cardenas Partners DC, will also join as principal at Squire Sanders’ Washington, D.C. government relations affiliate, Squire Sanders Public Advocacy Group, LLC.
Zammit is an expert in federal appropriations, transportation, economic development, agriculture, education, and government relations.
The new employees will allow Squire Sanders and The Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners to assist clients across Florida with improved governmental advocacy.
“Having someone of Al’s stature, accomplishments and connections will greatly enhance both our Florida and Latin America practice and our firm’s goal of providing clients the best available resources,” said Squire Sanders Miami managing partner Luis Reiter.
“Squire Sanders has emerged as one of the world’s premiere law firms with a strong platform in Florida, Washington, Latin America, and around the world,” Cardenas said in a statement. “I look forward to practicing in an environment that will enable me to contribute what I have learned through both my public and legal career.”
Cardenas has had a long and impressive Republican path, including appointments by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush to the Board of Directors of the Federal National Mortgage Association from 1985 to 1990. He also served on the President’s Trade Policy Commission and later became a member of the Board of Trustees of Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University, appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush.
Cardenas chaired the American Conservative Union — the oldest conservative advocacy group in the nation — since 2011, after succeeding the retiring David Keene.
