Nicholas Rodriguez Featured in Q&A with Vida y Éxito

Winston & Strawn partner Nicholas Rodriguez was featured in a Q&A with Vida y Éxito where he discussed his practice and contributions to Winston & Strawn, his experiences as a professor at the University of Miami School of Law, advice for immigrants and “first-generation” students, and much more. 

Nicholas discussed the phrase “service-oriented and provides simple answers to complicated problems,” which is how one client described him. He stated that he believes what a client wants from a lawyer is to help them navigate problems in order to efficiently and practically solve those issues, noting that his life experiences have helped him to process information quickly and effectively.

“When I talk to a client I tell them, this is the problem, this is what the law says, these are my recommendations, this is how we should apply them and these are the positive and negative points,” he said. “I try to identify needs, concerns and contingencies and I focus more on that, rather than on giving a summary of the laws because that is precisely my role, understanding and applying [the law in a creative, efficient, and practical manner].”

In addition to his practice, Nicholas teaches the Transactions Skills class at the University of Miami School of Law, where he prepares students to negotiate and draft corporate agreements. He stated that in addition to teaching the law and how to apply it, he tries to teach his student soft skills, encouraging them to never lose self-confidence, to be fighters, and how they should respond to criticism. He explains to his students that despite hardships and hurdles in his life, he was able to excel. He noted that while his experiences may be different from each student, perhaps his experiences can serve as an example to them.

Read the full Q&A in Spanish.