We recently had the chance to connect with Ryan Malkin and have shared our conversation below.
Ryan, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
My mornings are all about setting the tone for the day. I’m usually up early, getting ready before my kids wake up. Once they’re up, it’s a whirlwind of breakfast, backpacks, and making sure everyone is out the door on time. I drop them off at school and use the quick drive to the office to shift into work mode.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an attorney and founder of Malkin Law, a boutique firm specializing in beverage and cannabis law. For more than 14 years, I’ve helped global suppliers, craft producers, and emerging brand owners navigate one of the most highly regulated industries in the country. We bring industry experience and deep regulatory knowledge, providing clients with clear, practical guidance they can actually use.
My work has been recognized by publications like Wine Enthusiast and Imbibe, and I’ve been honored to be ranked by Chambers & Partners and named a SuperLawyer and Best of Florida attorney. I was also recognized at the 2025 Apogee Awards, a program created by South Florida Business & Wealth (SFBW) that honors leaders in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties for their leadership, vision, and significant impact within their industries and communities. Our firm has also been recognized as a Best of Florida winner and an Inc. Magazine Power Partner. At the end of the day, what I’m most proud of is helping businesses grow and innovate while staying compliant in an industry that never stops evolving.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A significant turning point in my life was moving to New York City after graduating from the University of Michigan. I began my career as a journalist covering the spirits, nightlife, and hospitality industries, which sparked my passion for the alcohol beverage industry. I first started working as a staff writer for SmartMoney and, after a while, decided to attend Brooklyn Law School at night, thinking I’d be General Counsel for a publishing company or publisher, but I became drawn to criminal law instead. That led to an internship at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and ultimately a role as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan, where I gained a strong understanding of state agencies and regulatory enforcement.
I later returned to the alcohol industry with Pernod Ricard USA, one of the largest spirits companies in the world, where I supported their sales and marketing teams and ensured compliance with rules and regulations across all states.
This journey led me to form Malkin Law more than a decade ago, blending my legal background with my deep connection to the industry. New York is also where I met my wife and then moved to Miami, which is when I knew it was time to build my own firm.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell my younger self to trust that your drive and curiosity will take you exactly where you’re meant to go. That entrepreneurial spark you’ve had since you were a kid — in my case, it was selling sports cards — isn’t just a hobby, it’s the foundation of your career. Keep taking risks, keep building, and don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo. You’ll end up in an industry you genuinely love, doing work that matters to you and to the people you serve. And if you haven´t found it, give yourself the opportunity to keep searching; don´t just settle for the sake of comfort.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Two of the people I admire the most are my parents for their character and what they’ve built in their lives. They created their own businesses from the ground up while raising a family, and I grew up watching their discipline, resilience, and integrity in action. Spending weekends helping them in their businesses taught me work ethic, responsibility, and what it really takes to build something meaningful. Their example shaped my own entrepreneurial drive and the values I carry into my work today.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I’d like to be remembered as someone who cared deeply about his work, his clients, and his community, and who built a firm that put integrity, innovation, and service first. I hope people say that I genuinely helped move the alcohol industry forward — that I helped make complex regulations easier to navigate, supported good people building good businesses, and always pushed for smarter, clearer, more responsible ways of doing things. And on a personal level, I hope my family remembers me as someone who showed up, led with kindness, and made their lives better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://malkin.law
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malkinlaw/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/malkin-law/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malkinlaw/
