Achievers Under 40 profile: Giannina Marin, attorney with McAfee & Taft PC, OKC [Journal Record (Oklahoma City, OK)]

(Journal Record (Oklahoma City, OK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Giannina Marin said it was her Type A personality and desire to accomplish a task that led her to choose a career in the legal profession.

"I am pretty 'Type A' and have always been about getting things done. I probably get it from my parents, whose very strict policy was never to promise as little as a piece of candy if they weren't 100 percent sure it would happen," Marin said. "It seemed to me that lawyers are somehow always necessary to get anything done in the world. So, I wanted to become a lawyer so I could know how to get things done. It is kind of neat to have someone come to you with a far-fetched project or difficult idea and put it together and make it happen." Marin graduated cum laude with bachelor's degrees in finance and criminology from the University of Florida in 2006 and magna cum laude with a juris doctorate from the University of Florida College of Law in 2008. While in law school, she served as an intern for the Hon. Juan R. Torruella, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit. In addition to receiving awards for excellence in constitutional law, evidence, property, and wills and trusts, she was a recipient of the University of Florida Pro Bono Certificate for her pro bono work. She also served as a board member and treasurer of the John Marshall Bar Association as well as a board member of the Florida Law Review.

Marin joined the law firm of McAfee & Taft in 2009, after moving to Oklahoma because her husband, an officer in U.S. Air Force, was assigned to Tinker Air Force Base. Her practice is concentrated in the areas of family wealth planning and general business transactions, but she also works on health care and international matters. Spanish is her native language and she is also fluent in English and Italian - all of which have helped with the firm's international practice.

"In almost 40 years of private practice in Oklahoma City, I do not think I have ever seen a young lawyer with a better academic record or more potential to become an outstanding lawyer," said Frank D. Hill, attorney and shareholder with McAfee & Taft.

Marin considers her role last year in drafting rules for the Oklahoma Board of Commercial Pet Breeders to be her biggest professional accomplishment.

"I am very proud to have been involved in the project because the board is attempting to regulate the breeding of dogs and cats in Oklahoma, a field which is generally unregulated in the state, allowing some bad actors to commit grave abuses," she said. "While as of yet the rules have not been approved by the Legislature, I am hopeful that the rules will be adopted soon." In addition to her professional career, Marin finds time to volunteer for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Rebuilding Together and the Oklahoma Heart Association Heart Walk. She also serves on the board of Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park and is in charge of coordinating the volunteers for the nonprofit.

Title: Attorney Company: McAfee & Taft PC Birth date: May, 10, 1984 (c) 2011 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved.