2026 Summer Associate Bios
Aaron Batista is a 2L at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. At UF Law, he serves as a Managing Editor of the Florida Law Review, as President of the Florida Law Softball student organization, and as a Levin Ambassador, where he provides campus tours, meets with prospective and admitted students, and helps promote the law school at various events. He has also received Dean’s List honors every semester thus far.
Before law school, Aaron graduated cum laude from the University of Florida with a degree in Economics and a minor in Communication Studies. Last summer, he had the opportunity to intern with the Honorable Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips of the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida, where he conducted research on complex civil matters and assisted in the drafting of court orders. He has a broad intellectual curiosity about the law, with a particular interest in real estate and other transactional practice areas.
Outside of school, he enjoys staying active and spending time with family. He was born and raised in South Florida, so he naturally enjoys being outdoors, whether he is boating or playing golf.
Nathaniel “Nate” Birdsong is a 1L at the Florida State University College of Law. On campus, he serves as Treasurer of both the Black Law Student Association and the Hispanic Law Student Association. He also works as a research assistant and serves on the Student Advisory Board. He is a member of the school’s moot court team and was recently selected to participate in FSU’s Final Four competition, where he will have the opportunity to argue before the Florida Supreme Court this November.
Prior to law school, Nate earned his B.S. in Finance from Florida State University in 2025. As an undergraduate, he gained valuable experience working at a lobbying and governmental relations firm in Tallahassee. Academically, he is drawn to the analytical side of the law and has a genuine enthusiasm for legal research. His favorite course this past semester was Contracts, which further sparked his interest in commercial law. Though he finds himself gravitating in that direction, he is excited to work alongside attorneys across a variety of practice areas and gain as broad an experience as possible this summer.
Outside of law school, Nate enjoys collecting vinyl records and weightlifting. He looks forward to meeting the attorneys and staff and making the most of this experience.
Michael Rosen is a 1L at the University of Miami School of Law. Prior to law school, he was a Senior Tax Associate in the Real Estate group at KPMG in New York City, where he provided federal and state tax compliance services for partnerships, corporations, and REITs. Michael is a Certified Public Accountant.
At Miami Law, Michael received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Legal Communications and Research Skills I. He was also elected to be the first Treasurer of the Tax Law Society.
Michael earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting from the University of Florida and is a member of Florida Blue Key. A South Florida native, he enjoys rooting for Miami sports teams and eating at new restaurants in his free time. He is currently training to run the New York City Marathon this fall.
Nicole Shaked is a 1L at Emory University School of Law, where she is a member of the Emory Law School Supreme Court Advocacy Program. Through the program, she authored a Sunday Splits blog post analyzing the role of agency expertise in statutory interpretation following Loper Bright.
In spring 2025, Nicole interned with the State Attorney’s Office for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, where she worked on matters involving competency evaluations and diversion programs, including mental health court. In this role, she assisted with case preparation and observed courtroom proceedings, gaining exposure to how the legal system balances accountability with rehabilitation and community-based outcomes.
Before attending law school, Nicole graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in criminology as a member of the University Honors Program and a Garnet and Gold Scholar. As an undergraduate, she worked as a tutor with the Center for Intensive English Studies, mentoring adult learners preparing for the TOEFL exam.
Nicole was born and raised in Miami. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors with her dog.
Alex Spillis is a 2L at the University of Miami School of Law, returning to Bilzin Sumberg for his second summer.
Before attending law school, Alex had a multi-year career in government affairs and policy, serving as Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Levine Cava’s Speechwriter before working as County Commissioner Eileen Higgins’ Senior Policy and Legislative Analyst. Under Commissioner Higgins, Alex was responsible for managing and developing land use, housing, and infrastructure legislation for projects across Miami-Dade County’s urban core.
Most recently, Alex worked for Florida Power & Light as the company’s Senior Advisor of External Affairs, where he was the direct point of contact for numerous city mayors, commissions, and department chiefs. In this role, he worked closely with city officials and staff to coordinate emergency responses, draft legislation aimed at hardening vulnerable infrastructure, and present before city commissions regarding various FPL projects.
Alex holds a B.S. in Economics from Florida State University and a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University.