The Deal Maker
Daniel Novela stands strong in the new Miami
Daniel Novela has become a recognizable face around Miami’s business and cultural scenes. The charismatic corporate attorney and Miami native specializes in transactional deals and combines his love of arts and culture with his practice. Novela currently represents designers in the fields of fashion, furniture, kitchen and automotive.
“I love great design. I try to take those things that I like and work them into my practice,” he says. “Many of my client’s were designers and manufactures of products which I admired.”
Novela attended high school in rural Indiana and Miami and university in Missouri, Florida and Italy, before graduating with honors from Tulane University’s School of law.
His practice is centered on corporate and international transactional law. He also deals with real estate and entertainment law, having practiced in Los Angeles with a major entertainment law firm for several years.
Recently nominated a finalist for the Daily Business Review’s “Deal Maker of the Year”, Novela attributes his negotiating prowess to his keen understanding of the specific industries that he represents.
“I’m a deal maker at heart. Every deal is different,” he says, “yet every deal has similar needs and there are nuances that are specific to particular industries: an understanding of the market, knowledge of the key players, issues defined to a certain sub-group, etc.”
Novela’s interest in the arts began while studying in Italy while in college. Through an immersion in the country’s rich artistic culture and history, he grew to appreciate the artistic mindset and the discipline required to truly excel in art and design. His love of the masters from the Italian Renaissance grew into a passion and eventually led to him acquiring his own collection with his wife, Marcella Novela.
The Novelas are members of many of Miami’s most esteemed arts organization. Both board members of the Miami Art Museum (MAM) Contemporaries and founding members of MAM’s Young Collectors Council, Novela Law was a sponsor of the 2011 MAM Social.
“My affiliation with MAM is very important to me both personally and professionally,” Novela explains. “It’s important for me to support Miami’s artistic advancement not only because of my love of art, but because of my belief that a strong cultural base will attract the kind businesses and people to Miami that will enable us to continue our ascent as a major international city – and that can only help my practice.”
In addition to MAM, the Novelas support the Bass and Wolfsonian museums, as well as the New World Symphony. Additionally, Novela was recently appointed by Mayor Mattie Bower to the Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council to determine city funding for the arts.
“We’re very lucky to be in Miami during this pivotal moment in our city’s history,” he says. “We’re evolving into a true world-class city.
Certainly Art Basel, the New World Symphony, and the soon to be completed new Miami Art Museum are taking us to a different place, a destination for the arts rather than simply the beach and nightlife. When you add all of the elements together, including the international business that comes here from South America and Europe, it’s clear why we are referred to as the ‘Hong Kong’ of the Americas – an international destination where people come to make deals.”
And since Novela is a deal maker, he appears poised to assume his position as a leader in this new Miami both in its cultural and business development. He’s clearly a player and someone to keep an eye on in the coming years both socially and professionally.
All of the pieces of artwork pictured in this article appear courtesy of Daniel Novela’s personal collection.
