Roland Sanchez-Medina Jr. on making the Florida Bar more welcoming

Roland Sanchez-Medina Jr. fled Cuba as a child, built a corporate law practice in Miami, and became President of The Florida Bar in 2024. His focus now is making the legal profession more welcoming and supportive before lawyers reach a crisis point.

Roland Sanchez-Medina Jr. was born in Havana in 1966 and left the island as a child through a series of secret moves that took his family through the Republic of the Congo, South Africa, and Spain before landing in Philadelphia and eventually Miami. His father, a Cuban orthopedic surgeon, worked under a government exchange program but wanted freedom for his family. That journey shaped everything that followed.

Today, Sanchez-Medina is a partner at SMGQ Law in Coral Gables, Florida, where he has handled deals for the Miami Heat, Televisa, and private equity funds across the country. He served as corporate counsel for Neff Rental for over 15 years. In 2024, he became President of The Florida Bar, where his main goal is outreach and creating a kinder, more engaged legal community.

He holds a B.B.A. in Finance and Economics from the University of Miami, a J.D. with honors from Boston College Law School, and an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University. He lives in Coral Gables with his wife, Johanna Armengol, also an attorney, and their three children.

How did leaving Cuba shape the way you approach your work?

There is still a part of me that has a little of the immigrant personality. I never wanted to waste the opportunity my parents gave me. They left everything behind. The journey was not simple. It involved secret flights, uncertain visas, and a long road through countries we had no connection to. There were not a lot of choices in where to go. It could have been North Korea. The point was to get off the island. Watching them start over with limited resources taught me grit, gratitude, and a deep sense of responsibility to make the most of every opportunity.

Why did you choose corporate law over litigation?

Civil procedure and evidence were just anathema to me. I liked corporate law, partnership tax, and income tax. Initially, I studied finance and worked at a bank, but I quickly realized it was not for me. I did not see myself doing that, so I applied to law school. I liked problem-solving, structure, and logic, which naturally led me to law. I was not drawn to courtroom drama. I preferred business law, tax, and real estate because they involve building things, not breaking them apart.

What do people consistently get wrong about your work?

Many lawyers think the Bar is distant or only disciplinary. They assume involvement means facing a complaint or fulfilling a requirement. I want to change that. The Bar is about friendships, communication, and from a business perspective, there is value too. People do not realize the benefits of Bar involvement until they experience it firsthand.

Many lawyers think the Bar is distant or only disciplinary. I want to change that.

Only 15 to 20 percent of Florida Bar members vote in elections. How do you change that?

I want to bring in more people to the Bar. Many lawyers do not realize the benefits of involvement. I want to shift the culture so lawyers are not only interacting with the Bar when they face complaints. When someone tells me they felt welcomed or inspired to participate because of something we did, those moments make it all worth it. Seeing new lawyers and underrepresented groups get involved has been incredibly fulfilling.

You have said you want a softer, kinder, gentler Bar. What does that look like in practice?

I think we are moving toward a more human-centered approach. The profession is demanding, mentally and emotionally. Programs like Florida Lawyers Assistance and the Florida Lawyers Helpline are steps in the right direction. These programs offer confidential support for attorneys facing stress or substance use issues. I want us to go beyond compliance and foster a culture where lawyers feel supported and seen before problems escalate. The profession itself is very difficult. We need to support lawyers before things fall apart.

You mentored a 13-year-old Haitian immigrant from Overtown for years. What did that teach you?

Mentorship changes lives. I met him through a program in Overtown, Miami. I mentored him for years, brought him into my home, and helped him land his first job. He is now a successful IT consultant. I have seen firsthand what a little guidance can do, whether it is helping a kid from a tough background find direction or seeing a young associate grow into a partner. My mentors opened doors for me. I believe it is my job now to hold that door open for others.

Mentorship changes lives. My mentors opened doors for me. I believe it is my job now to hold that door open for others.

You helped Michael Montiel become a partner at SMGQ Law. What did you see in him?

He had a natural ability to earn trust. He knows how to close deals and bridge gaps. Those are the little things that matter. Relationships matter. The way you treat colleagues, clients, and even opposing counsel can define your reputation. Seeing a young associate grow into a partner is one of the most rewarding parts of this work.

In 2018, you arranged a Harvard tour for low-income Miami students while your daughter was attending. Why?

Those are the little things that matter. My daughter was there, and I thought it would be meaningful for students who might not otherwise see that path as possible. I wanted them to see it as real, not distant. Small gestures like that can shift how someone thinks about their future.

What is the hardest part of balancing a demanding law practice with Bar leadership?

The profession will challenge you constantly, emotionally and intellectually. You have to be present. You have to listen. You have to be honest with yourself and others. It requires constant prioritization. But if you embrace that, it can be a very rewarding life. My father was charming, loved his work, and made people feel at ease. There are parts of me I got from him. That helps.

You worked on a $20 million credit deal for the Miami Heat and a $57.8 million construction loan for Estate Investments Group. What makes a deal like that work?

Trust. You have to earn it, and you have to give it. The numbers matter, but so do the people. Clients need to know you understand their goals, not just the mechanics. When you can bridge gaps between parties and make everyone feel heard, the deal closes. That is what corporate law is about.

You told your daughter during a stressful time, “When has everything not worked out for you?” How do you apply that to your own work?

I remind myself of that often. It is a simple, direct question. It keeps me grounded. My parents gave up everything to find freedom. I have had opportunities they never imagined. When I feel overwhelmed, I remember that things have a way of working out if you keep showing up and doing the work.

What stays true in the legal profession no matter how much the industry changes?

Relationships matter. Never stop learning. Be present, listen, and be honest with yourself and others. The tools will change, the regulations will shift, but the foundation of this work is trust and service. If you lose sight of that, you lose what makes the profession meaningful.