Acquisition International - Issue 1 2018 41 Chalos & Co. is a globally recognized law firm dedicated to servicing its client’s needs wherever and whenever necessary by offering 24/7 support. We spoke to Michelle Valdes to find out how she has driven her firm to success and won the coveted title of Most Influential Woman in Admiralty & Maritime Law 2017 – Florida in our prestigious 2017 Global Excellence Awards. n today’s competitive and complex global economy, Chalos & Co insists that each of its clients receive individualized service and the necessary expertise required for them to achieve success. The firm represents a variety of foreign and domestic corporations, insurers (both domestic and foreign), brokers, third-party claims administrators, shipowners, charterers, ship managers, protection and indemnity associations (P&I Clubs), energy companies, oil and gas exploration, refiners and transportation companies, manufacturers, shipyards, importers/exporters, stevedores, marinas, boat builders and a wide variety array of other individuals, professional firms and associations linked to the maritime industry. Michelle explains how the firm works to ensure these valued clients receive the solutions and service they need. “At Chalos & Co, the clients’ needs come first and drive our focus to achieve objectives in the most pragmatic and cost-effective manner possible. Recognizing that our clients entrust the firm to handle critical and complex legal problems, we are committed to deliver unsurpassed service and the best achievable results. Our proven ability to resolve problems in a realistic, cost effective and result- oriented way is our hallmark. “What differentiates the firm from our competitors and marks us out as the best possible option for this vast array of clients is our breadth of knowledge of the industry and the fact that we practice maritime law exclusively, with many of us having worked in the maritime industry before working in this field of law. In addition, we are willing to learn the ins and outs of a client’s daily operations—from its products or services, to its management and corporate structure. This allows us to provide the kind of focused and practical legal advice useful to clients making business decisions. In fact, the ability to deliver meaningful legal advice—that is both grounded in practical business realities and also effectively anticipates issues on the horizon—is one of the most significant ways the firm distinguishes Company: Chalos & Co, P.C. Contact: Michelle Valdes Contact Email:
[email protected] Address: 2030 Douglas Road, Suite 117, Coral Gables, Florida, 33134, USA Phone: 001 305 377 3700 Web Address: www.chaloslaw.com Chalos & Co: The Legal FirmFamed for Superior Service I 1801AI46 itself, elevating a firm to a company’s trusted, go-to legal advisor.” This superior knowledge has helped Michelle and the team at Chalos & Co to the success they enjoy today, as she is eager to highlight. “Through our boutique practice, we have developed an acute understanding of key business issues effecting the businesses and professionals we serve. Our clients can be sure to stay ahead of the game, confident that we keep on top of the latest issues for their businesses, follow trends, attend practice area events and consult with industry leaders and organizations. The firm is successful because it has a focus and each lawyer develops specialized expertise consistent with the firm’s mission. The firm also recognizes that ‘quality work’ has a dual meaning: technical quality (how good is the work?) and service quality (did the client have a positive experience dealing with the firm?). Unfortunately, quality work in most law firms is like Justice Potter Stewart’s informal definition of obscenity, ‘you know it when you see it.’ This ad-hoc and subjective approach to quality legal work exists because no standards or evaluation procedures exist in most firms. Clients value lawyers and law firms who know how to communicate and are sensitive to their needs and concerns, and as such we aim to provide this through our service offering.” Looking to the future, Michelle foresees even greater achievements for Chalos & Co as the firm seeks to continue offering clients the truly exceptional services that it has come to pride itself on. “Overall, Chalos & Co has a bright and exciting future ahead as we seek to evolve and develop to meet our clients’ ever changing needs. Our Miami office was created in 2012 and has grown from a single lawyer in that office to four lawyers, plus various legal staff. Since all of the firm’s decisions and efforts have been focused on what is in the best long-term interests of clients, this has been a winning strategy for our firm that we will be employing moving forward to continue to grow it and build upon our current success.”