
Shareholder
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.

Automotive

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Best Lawyers in America 2013, Named as "Lawyer of the Year" for Securities Regulation in Miami
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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
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The Best Lawyers in America 2012, Named as "Lawyer of the Year" for Mergers & Acquisitions Law in Miami
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Chambers USA 2003-2012, Ranked in top tier in Florida for Corporate/M&A & Private Equity
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The Legal 500, 2009-2012, Recommended for Mergers, Acquisitions & Buyouts: M&A National Middle Market
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Florida Trend's Legal Elite 2012, Listed for Business Law
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South Florida Legal Guide Top Lawyers 2012, Listed for Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions
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Super Lawyers Magazine 2006-2012, Listed in Florida for Business/Corporate, Securities & Corporate Finance, and Mergers & Acquisitions
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South Florida Business Journal 2009, Key Partners Award Winner for Corporate Finance/Mergers & Acquisitions Law
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Daily Business Review 2009, Named "Top Dealmaker: Corporate"
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Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated
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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
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Northern Trust, Panelist for "Enhancing the Value of Your Most Important Asset," a presentation to closely-held business owners, March 2012
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Akerman Senterfitt SEC Regulations Seminars, Speaker, January 2011, January 2009, January 2007, April 2003, November 2002, September 2000
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Daily Business Review, Co-Author, "Sarbanes-Oxley can benefit small firms," August 30, 2005
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National Investor Relations Institute 2005 Annual Conference, Panelist, "What Part of Guidance Don't You Understand?," June 2005
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KPMG General Counsel Forum, Speaker, "Standards of Professional Conduct for Attorneys under Sarbanes-Oxley," June 2003
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PricewaterhouseCoopers, Speaker, "Overview of Sarbanes-Oxley Act," November 2002
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Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Panelist, "Audit Committees After Sarbanes-Oxley Act," November 2002
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Corporation Accountability After Sarbanes-Oxley, Moderator, September 2002
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The Florida Bar, Business Law Section, Member
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Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Board Member
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Miami Jewish Community Relations Council, Chair
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AIPAC, National Council
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Ransom Everglades School, Board of Trustees
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News
Publications


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
 








