Al (Alberto R.) Cardenas is nationally recognized for his leadership in the law, business and politics. He has served as an advisor to US Presidents, as counsel of record in a number of precedent-setting and published court decisions and as a commentator and writer on issues of national importance.
He is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America and has been named one of Washington DC's top lobbyists by The Hill. Al is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell and was named one of “The Most Influential Leaders in the Latino Community Today” by a number of leading national publications. As a senior partner at Coral Gables Trust Company, he chairs the Latin America and Florida Public Policy Practice Groups and is Deputy Practice Leader of the Public Policy Group.
Al is widely known in national and state political circles, including serving as Vice-Chairman of No-Labels, as a member of the International Republican Institute (IRI) International Advisory Board and formerly as Chairman of the American Conservative Union (ACU). He previously served two terms as Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida and three consecutive terms as its Vice-Chairman.
Ronald Reagan chose Al for his transition team, making him responsible for the transition of the United States Department of Commerce. President Reagan also appointed him to chair the President's Commission on Small and Minority Business Affairs in 1982 and later as Special Ambassador to St. Kitts-Nevis upon that nation's independence in 1983. Presidents Reagan and George H. W. Bush appointed Al 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.
Governor Jeb Bush appointed Al as a member of the Board of Trustees of Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University (FAMU). He is a former Trustee of Miami Dade College and was named to its “Hall of Fame”.
Al has frequently appeared on network television, including NBC, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, Telemundo and Univision, and is an opinion writer for a number of national publications.
