Matthew Akiba, Esq.

Matthew Akiba is the Founder of Akiba Law, a boutique South Florida-based law firm dedicated to areas of law surrounding business, art, fashion, luxury, content creation, and brand protection. Rather than dividing the firm into traditional practice areas, Matthew organizes his services into specialized “Law Labs,” reflecting a dynamic, creative, and client-centered approach to legal work.

The son of a Moroccan father and a Cuban mother—both small business owners—Matthew developed a deep appreciation for entrepreneurship early on. Today, he finds purpose in supporting entrepreneurs, creators, and businesses with both transactional and litigation needs, blending his cultural heritage with a modern legal practice.

Before becoming an attorney, Matthew immersed himself in the art world as the head of cataloguing for one of South Florida’s most prominent auction houses. There, he worked hands-on with centuries-old artworks and antiques. These experiences not only deepened his love for the arts, but also sparked questions about the legal journeys those objects had taken over time. That curiosity led him to law school, where he decided to focus on the business and legal frameworks that support business owners, artists, creators, and collectors.

Matthew graduated magna cum laude from the Florida International University College of Law and in the top 10 of his class, earning a place on the Dean’s List every semester as well as six CALI Excellence for the Future Awards for the highest grade in (1) business organizations; (2) alternative dispute resolution; (3) international sales; (4) Florida civil procedure; (5) transnational advocacy; and (6) international commercial arbitration. During law school, he served as President of the International Law Students Association, Vice President of the International Dispute Resolution Club, and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the World Arbitration and Mediation Review. He also competed on the International Commercial Arbitration team and interned for the Honorable Beth Bloom of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

After law school, Matthew sharpened his litigation skills at a top-tier South Florida business litigation boutique as well as at an Am Law 200 firm. Matthew understands that changes in law occur rapidly. To stay up to date, Matthew has become involved in various Sections of The Florida Bar, serving on the Executive Council of the International Law Section of The Florida Bar, as a Fellow for the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar, and as a Vice-Chair of the Miami Dade Bar International Law Section Committee. Matthew has also spoken as a panelist for numerous panels hosted by the Florida International University College of Law and has published legal articles on areas of law that interest him.

Matthew eventually launched Akiba Law, which segregates the firm’s practice areas into “Labs”—a tribute to his father’s art and fashion concept store, LuluLab, which was located in Miami’s Design District and Wynwood. Inspired by the same spirit of style, culture, and entrepreneurship as his father, Matthew brings a sharp eye and tailored legal strategy to each client engagement.

Whether haggling over antiques at a flea market, browsing an art gallery, getting lost at a museum, waiting for a drop from a particular designer or artist, tracking global auction trends, or listening to his favorite comedy podcasts, Matthew’s commitment to the arts and business community informs every aspect of the firm’s work.