Since 2000, Adam J. August has dedicated his legal career to corporate law, currently working as an attorney and partner at Holland & Knight LLP in Tysons, Virginia, where he started in 2002. Additionally, August serves as the M&A and Securities Practice Group Leader for the Mid-Atlantic Region. Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2014 for Insurance and Commercial Litigation, August is currently being honored as “Lawyer of the Year” for Corporate Law in Washington D.C. for 2024.
Of his legal career and award, August stated: “It’s been a busy and productive 12 months! I was the lead partner on 35 M&A and finance deals with $2.6 billion in aggregate transaction size. I represented the buyer in 14 of those transactions, the seller in 16, the investors in four and the issuer in one. Two of the matters won the 2022 M&A Atlas Awards “Deals of the Year,” hosted by the Global M&A Network. I credit this success to the caliber of attorneys I have supporting me at Holland & Knight, where I lead the Corporate, M&A and Securities Practice Group. I also credit my business school professor, whose words have stuck with me throughout my career: ‘What is the client paying you for? If you’re not adding value, someone else will.’
“A good attorney becomes a master of their practice area and resolves the most high-stakes, complex issues. But a great attorney shares that experience with others, helping them achieve their potential and preparing them to take the baton. I’ve tried to think of the big picture during my more than 20 years at Holland & Knight, and it’s fulfilling to see attorneys I’ve mentored become our star performers. Crucially, I never try to mold any mentees into mini-Adams—that’s a surefire way to make people disengage and burn out. Instead, I’ve learned to find out what their goals, interests and motivations are and give each attorney the different tools necessary to succeed. This has been effective in helping our practice group retain top talent and come together as a team.”
With over 20 years of legal experience, August offers counsel to both public and private entities in a multitude of industries, including government contracting, IT, telecommunications and professional services. Additionally, throughout his career, August has been involved in more than 100+ mergers, acquisitions and disposition-based legal transactions, combining to a total value of more than $1 billion.
Concluded August: “Most of my clients are businesses that provide products and services to the U.S. federal government—often for its intelligence agencies and defense organizations. It’s rewarding to be involved in these deals, as they supply cutting-edge technology that helps the government function, protect national security and fight terrorism. These are also heavily regulated and sophisticated industries with international ties, which means I’m never bored!”
