Managing Partner
Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman and Dicker LLP
From Operation Pedro Pan to Managing
Partner
Two and a half months prior to the Cuban Missile Crisis,
fifteen-year-old Ricardo Cata `75 and his older brother Jose Cata
(sixteen years of age) boarded a plane in Cuba bound for Florida
under the protection of Operation Pedro Pan. Operation Pedro
Pan, a program created by the Catholic Welfare Bureau (Catholic
Charities) of Miami, in collaboration with the U.S. State
Department, waived Visa requirements for Cuban born children
seeking asylum from Castro’s Communist regime. Arriving in
Miami with no money, a single change of clothing and no immediate
family in the United States, the Cata brothers became part of the
largest exodus of unaccompanied children in history.
Living with five hundred Cuban exiles in a Catholic Charities
Camp in Dade County, Florida during a period of tremendous
political tension – it became apparent that permanent housing would
be needed for the children because families remaining in Cuba might
never arrive in the U.S. due to a breakdown of relations between
the two countries. An appeal in a Catholic newspaper for
housing for the exiled children resulted in the Cata boys being
placed with foster parents Vinnie and Jeanne Barbato in Baldwin,
N.Y.
Ricardo and his brother attended school in Baldwin while living
with the Barbato family. School was a challenge because
neither boy spoke English. Consistent with the era,
concessions were not given by the school district regarding
grades. Scholastics were a struggle. The boys and the
Barbato family worked diligently on language and communication
skills to ensure that they graduated on time.
In late 1963, the balance of the Cata family had arrived in the
United States. After high school graduation, Ricardo was
working and attending Farmingdale Colleg part-time when “Uncle Sam”
intervened. Mr. Cata was drafted in 1967. A large
portion of his boot camp alumni were sent to Vietnam. With
college credits and a solid physique, Mr. Cata was selected and
trained to serve in the Military Police. Anti-war
demonstrations and political unrest, due to the assassination of
Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, resulted in a need for a
larger Military Police presence in the Nation’s capital. Many
Military Police personnel applied for the post and the ultimate
decision for the position came down to a written essay. Mr.
Cata’s essay was selected and he was chosen to go to
Washington. This daily exposure to politics and the legal
system nurtured a deeper interest in a legal career.
An honorable discharge, money from the G.I. Bill and scholarship
dollars allowed Ricardo to finish college at C.W. Post. While
looking into a scholarship “glitch” at his under graduate school,
Ricardo learned about scholarships at St. John’s Law. With
acceptance letters in hand from a number of New York Law Schools,
Mr. Cata met with representatives from the scholarship
committee. After learning that the scholarship would cover
partial tuition to Law School, Mr. Cata suggested that his name be
removed from consideration as he would not be able to afford the
balance of the tuition. Two days later, a letter arrived
stating that his scholarship was indeed a full scholarship to St.
John’s School of Law.
Over the past thirty five years, Mr. Cata has risen through the
ranks and has recently been named the Managing Partner of Wilson
Elser’s Miami Office. He has been with Wilson Elser the last
twenty years focusing his practice on defending premise and hotel
liability, professional liability and insurance litigation.
In addition, he Co-Chairs the Latin American Practice Group for the
firm.
Reflecting on his experiences and accomplishments over the
years, Mr. Cata is most proud of his wife Ani and his two sons
Jeffery and Stephen. He is amazed by the courage exhibited by
his birth parents Manuel and Maria for desiring a better life for
their children, as well as that exhibited by his foster parents the
Barbatos – with whom he is still close.
Throughout the years he has remained loyal to St. John’s
Law. Communicating with other alum affiliated with Wilson
Elser, serving as the first Alumni Chapter President for the
Florida Chapter in 1985 and returning to Campus for his 20th
Reunion. He offers the following advice to recent graduates,
“When you are being interviewed, you are being assessed for more
than just the task at hand. Ask yourself – do you have good
solid credentials, can you articulate human and social
contributions that you have made to society. From the very
first interview, you are being evaluated as potential Partner
material. Stop worrying about the hours and benefits and put
forth an old fashioned, sincere work ethic and the rest will
take care of itself.”