Jonathan L. Awner
Jonathan L. Awner
Shareholder 
One Southeast Third Avenue
25th Floor
Miami, FL 33131
 
Tel:
305.982.5615
Fax:
305.374.5095
Cell:
305.775.4089
 
 

Jonathan Awner has broad experience in public and private securities transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity investments. Jonathan has served as counsel to boards of directors, audit and special board committees, and senior executives of public companies with respect to corporate governance issues and change-of-control transactions. Jonathan is a frequent speaker on corporate governance and compliance issues and has been recognized as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA and The Legal 500. Jonathan served as chair of Akerman's national Corporate Practice Group for 15 years.
 

Counsel to boards of directors, audit and special board committees, and senior executives of public companies with respect to corporate governance issues, management succession, relationships with institutional investors, compensation practices for directors and officers, conflict of interest matters, and change-of-control transactions. Committee representations include leading investigations of allegations of management misconduct, whistleblower complaints, stock option backdating, accounting irregularities, auditor resignations, and violations of securities laws including insider trading, as well as to address shareholder concerns including lack of operating performance or excessive compensation.
 
For over 20 years, lead counsel representing buyers, sellers, investors, special committees of boards of directors, and other stakeholders in over 300 mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, and restructurings of private and public companies. Lead counsel for Republic Services, Inc.'s industry-transforming $12.9 billion merger with Allied Waste Industries, Inc., the largest deal in the industrial services sector in 2008.
 
Lead counsel to issuers in an aggregate of over $4 billion in underwritten public equity and debt offerings, including a $1.5 billion IPO, the largest initial public offering ever of a Florida-based company.
 
Counsel to public and private companies and investor groups in private placements of equity and debt securities, including early stage and other venture capital financings, raising an aggregate of over $1 billion.
 

The Best Lawyers in America 2013, Named as "Lawyer of the Year" for Securities Regulation in Miami
 
The Best Lawyers in America 2005-2013, Listed in Florida for Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law, and Securities Regulation
 
The Best Lawyers in America 2012, Named as "Lawyer of the Year" for Mergers & Acquisitions Law in Miami
 
Chambers USA 2003-2012, Ranked in top tier in Florida for Corporate/M&A & Private Equity
 
The Legal 500, 2009-2012, Recommended for Mergers, Acquisitions & Buyouts: M&A National Middle Market
 
Florida Trend's Legal Elite 2012, Listed for Business Law
 
South Florida Legal Guide Top Lawyers 2012, Listed for Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions
 
Super Lawyers Magazine 2006-2012, Listed in Florida for Business/Corporate, Securities & Corporate Finance, and Mergers & Acquisitions
 
South Florida Business Journal 2009, Key Partners Award Winner for Corporate Finance/Mergers & Acquisitions Law
 
Daily Business Review 2009, Named "Top Dealmaker: Corporate"
 
Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated
 

KPMG Audit Committee Institute, Panelist for South Florida Roundtable Series:

"The New Business Integrity Challenge," Fall 2012

"Is Governance Keeping Pace?," Spring 2012

"Changes and Challenges Driving the Audit Committee Agenda," Spring 2011

"Risk, Reform and the Audit Committee Agenda under Dodd-Frank," Fall 2010

"Preparing for Growth; Focusing on Controls, Transparency, and Financial Communications," Spring 2010

"Economic Crisis, Uncertainty and Change - A New Era of Corporate Governance," Spring 2009
 
Northern Trust, Panelist for "Enhancing the Value of Your Most Important Asset," a presentation to closely-held business owners, March 2012
 
Akerman Senterfitt SEC Regulations Seminars, Speaker, January 2011, January 2009, January 2007, April 2003, November 2002, September 2000
 
Daily Business Review, Co-Author, "Sarbanes-Oxley can benefit small firms," August 30, 2005
 
National Investor Relations Institute 2005 Annual Conference, Panelist, "What Part of Guidance Don't You Understand?," June 2005
 
KPMG General Counsel Forum, Speaker, "Standards of Professional Conduct for Attorneys under Sarbanes-Oxley," June 2003
 
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Speaker, "Overview of Sarbanes-Oxley Act," November 2002
 
Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Panelist, "Audit Committees After Sarbanes-Oxley Act," November 2002
 
Corporation Accountability After Sarbanes-Oxley, Moderator, September 2002
 

The Florida Bar, Business Law Section, Member
 
Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Board Member
 
Miami Jewish Community Relations Council, Chair
 
AIPAC, National Council
 
Ransom Everglades School, Board of Trustees
 

Associated News, Events and Publications
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Jonathan L. Awner


Corporate

AutoNation Inc.
Heico Corporation
Huizenga Holdings, Inc.
Jacuzzi Brands Corp.
Republic Services, Inc.
Shandong Heavy Industry Group Co., Ltd.
Steiner Leisure Limited
Trivest Partners, L.P.
WCI Communities, Inc.

J.D., Boston University School of Law, 1985; cum laude
B.A., Swarthmore College, 1982

Florida
 
 
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