National law firm Akerman continues its growth across the country, announcing today the addition of highly regarded Partner Carlos Encinas to the Real Estate Practice Group in its Atlanta and Chicago offices. Encinas arrives from Alston & Bird LLP.

“Carlos is an exceptional talent who is well respected in both the private and public sectors across the country,” said Real Estate Practice Group Chair Eric Rapkin. “Akerman’s Real Estate Practice is among the best in the nation and only gets stronger with the addition of attorneys like Carlos.”

Encinas focuses his practice on public and project finance, infrastructure and public-private partnerships (P3), and development incentives. In the public sector, he represents cities, states, school districts, housing authorities, development authorities, transportation authorities, rail authorities, state higher education authorities, and state gas and electric authorities. His private clients include financial institutions, investment funds, health care systems, educational systems, renewable energy companies, and developers. Additionally, companies in various other industries have relied on Encinas for counseling on development incentives and financings, real estate transactions, and other matters.

“I have admired the level of professionalism, collegiality, and leadership on display at Akerman for some time, so I am very pleased to be joining this team. I know my clients will be as well,” Encinas said.

Prior to private practice, Encinas served as an attorney-advisor fellow with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He also served as an assistant corporation counsel in the City of Chicago Department of Law for five years, working on P3s, general obligation and revenue bonds, interest rate swaps, tax credits, real estate finance and development (including tax increment financing and other development incentives), affordable housing, telecommunications, state and federal grants, and public pensions.