Ms. Acikalin received her training in family law at ADZ, LLP, a renowned California law firm specialized in for pursuing justice for individuals and families facing difficult legal challenges.

Ms. Acikalin previously served as the Legislative Director for the New Orleans City Council District “C" where she spearheaded several legislative accomplishments, including guiding complex land use and zoning decisions resulting in multimillion dollar developments, key pieces of environmental legislation (overhaul of the comprehensive zoning ordinance, storm water management and electric vehicle charging permitting) and budgeting for multimillion dollar consent decree compliance and pension reform settlements.

Prior to her service in city government, Ms. Acikalin practiced as an estate planning attorney in Boca Raton, Florida and class action litigator based in New Orleans, Louisiana with consumer fraud cases in federal court across the country. Ms. Acikalin was also previously the legal analyst at the Bureau of Governmental Research and a law clerk at the Civil District Court and the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ms. Acikalin is licensed to practice in California, Louisiana and Florida. She has been licensed for 19 years.

Before becoming an attorney, Ms. Acikalin was a legislative aide and later Deputy to the Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu where she was responsible for energy, natural resources, environmental, and agricultural policy and appropriations.

Aylin received her law degree from Tulane University Law School, where she was in the top of her class as well as a member of the Moot Court, Environmental Law Clinic, Legislative Advocacy Clinic and an editor on the Tulane Journal of International & Comparative Law. Aylin earned her undergraduate degree in International Affairs from the Elliott School at the George Washington University where she graduated with honors. She has studied abroad in Europe and Asia.