Javier A. Ley-Soto leads the Cuban American Bar Association

Javier A. Ley-Soto has been formally installed as the Cuban American Bar Association’s (CABA) new president.

He will be officially sworn in at CABA’s 50th annual installation gala on Saturday, January 27, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

The gala raises funds for both the CABA Foundation and CABA Pro Bono Legal Services. This year’s theme, “Oro de Ley,” underscores the importance of remembering the past to inform the future as reflected in its logo featuring the downtown Miami skyline with the Freedom Tower mirroring El Morro, a historical landmark in Havana, Cuba.

“The concept for this year’s gala theme and logo illustrates that where we are today is a result of where our foundation was laid,” said Ley-Soto. “We want to continue that history and so I’m humbled and excited to take on this new leadership role as we continue to raise awareness for one of our main causes — human rights violations by the Cuban regime and elsewhere.”

Ley-Soto has been a member of CABA since 2005 and has served in various positions including vice president and treasurer. He previously served as vice president of CABA Pro Bono Project and was its secretary from 2016 to 2017.

He currently serves as general counsel for Miami Dade College, managing the office of legal affairs for the college and its eight campuses with more than 6,000 employees and 120,000 students. Prior to joining Miami Dade College, he served as chief legal counsel for the Florida Department of Children and Families and managed the department’s regional general counsel matters for Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

Most recently he was featured in Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite, NOTABLE General Counsel in 2023. He was a finalist for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s Go-Getter award and HYPE award. Additionally, he was awarded the 2010 Assistant General Counsel of the Year award by the Florida Government Bar Association. Ley-Soto was also recognized for Outstanding Humanitarian Support during Operation Repatriation following the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010.

Ley-Soto earned his law degree from St. Thomas University School of Law and received his undergraduate degree in criminology from the University of Florida.