After four years at Alston & Bird, Carlos Encinas has moved his economic development-focused practice to Akerman, working in its Atlanta and Chicago offices.

Encinas, a former senior associate at Alston & Bird, began as a partner within Akerman’s real estate practice earlier this month. He moved to Akerman because of the chance to become a partner, he said, and the opportunity to work with a real estate practice that operates on a “national platform” because of its presence in 12 states and Washington, D.C.