Andrés Cantero Jr. has been a lecturer in law at the USC Gould School since fall 2021 and has taught Law 709 (Contract Drafting, Analysis and Negotiation), 710 (Contract Drafting and Strategy) and Law 676 (Dealmaking).

Cantero is also a real estate attorney at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and previously worked at Kirkland & Elis LLP, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP and Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, all prominent and large international law firms. Throughout his career, Cantero has represented real estate institutional investors, owners, and developers in mortgage and mezzanine financings, joint venture, leasing and purchase and sale transactions. Cantero has worked on a variety of mixed-use, hospitality, and affordable housing projects, and has experience providing project permitting and entitlement strategy, including due diligence review and analysis of local zoning laws, and related land use restrictions.

At Willkie, Cantero is the chair of the Los Angeles Office Attorneys of Color Affinity Group and a firmwide representative for the LGBTQ Affinity Group. Cantero is also a member of the firm's Latinx and First Generation affinity groups.

Cantero also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Mexican American Bar Foundation, an organization raising scholarship for Latinx law students in Los Angeles. Cantero is also the co-founder and current board member of Los Angeles Room & Board, a multimillion dollar nonprofit housing young adults experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, coupled with wraparound services to ensure these young adults can complete their higher education endeavors. Cantero also is a member of the Board of Directors for Stanford University's Alumni Association.

Cantero earned his JD from USC Gould School of Law in 2016 and a bachelor’s degree in History from Stanford University in 2012. While at USC, Cantero was the recipient of the Order of Arête, an award representing the highest honor accorded graduate students upon completion of their academic programs. Students are recognized for demonstrating significant depth and scope of responsibility in a campus or community leadership role. Members of the Order of Areté uphold value and meaning over individual achievement. Cantero was also recipient of the inaugural First Generation Professionals Program Student of the Year Award.