Corporate Governance Law Corporate Law International Mergers and Acquisitions Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law Mergers and Acquisitions Law Securities / Capital Markets Law Securities Regulation
Jonathan L. Awner
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2005 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Jonathan Awner serves as Co-Chair of Akerman’s Corporate Practice Group. Ranked by Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, and The Legal 500 as a preeminent corporate lawyer, Jonathan Awner advises clients in automotive retail, aviation, distribution, hospitality, logistics, manufacturing, services, technology, waste management and other industries. Described by a client quoted in Chambers USA as a “top-notch” lawyer who is “smart, hard-working and practical,” Jonathan focuses on middle-market domestic mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, public and private securities transactions, and corporate governance matters.
Jonathan counsels in mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, spin-offs, recapitalizations, joint ventures, private equity investments, and other business transactions. He has extensive experience representing strategic and financial buyers and investors, as well as corporate, individual and family sellers.
Jonathan also represents public companies in public offerings of equity and debt securities, and securities law compliance matters. He has served as lead counsel to issuers in numerous underwritten offerings, including a $1.5 billion IPO. He also advises companies and investor groups in private placements of equity and debt securities, growth equity investments and joint ventures.
Jonathan is a trusted advisor to boards of directors, audit and special board committees, and senior executives of public companies on corporate governance issues, management succession, relations with institutional and activist investors, compensation practices for directors and officers, conflict of interest matters, and change-of-control transactions. His committee representations include leading investigations of alleged management misconduct, whistleblower complaints, stock option backdating, accounting irregularities, auditor resignations, violations of securities laws including insider trading, and responding to shareholder activists alleging poor operating performance or excessive compensation.
Overview
- Boston University School of Law, J.D., graduated 1985
- Swarthmore College, B.A., graduated 1982
- Florida, The Florida Bar
- Greater Miami Jewish Federation - Board of Directors
- Ransom Everglades School - Board of Trustees and Chair of Finance and Audit Committee
- The Florida Bar - Business Law Section
- Florida, The Florida Bar
- Greater Miami Jewish Federation - Board of Directors
- Ransom Everglades School - Board of Trustees and Chair of Finance and Audit Committee
- The Florida Bar - Business Law Section
- Boston University School of Law, J.D., graduated 1985
- Swarthmore College, B.A., graduated 1982
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- International Mergers and Acquisitions, Miami (2025)
- Securities Regulation, Miami (2025)
- Corporate Governance Law, Miami (2022)
- International Mergers and Acquisitions, Miami (2021)
- Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Miami (2020)
- International Mergers and Acquisitions, Miami (2019)
- Securities / Capital Markets Law, Miami (2019)
- Corporate Governance Law, Miami (2018)
- Securities Regulation, Miami (2017)
- Corporate Law, Miami (2016)
- Securities / Capital Markets Law, Miami (2015)
- Securities Regulation, Miami (2013)
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Miami (2012)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Corporate Governance Law
- Corporate Law
- International Mergers and Acquisitions
- Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Securities Regulation
Awards:
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated
- Daily Business Review 2009, Named "Top Dealmaker: Corporate"
- South Florida Business Journal 2009, Key Partners Award Winner for Corporate Finance/Mergers & Acquisitions Law
- Daily Business Review, 2014, Named "Top Dealmaker of the Year: Corporate Domestic"
- Florida Trend's Legal Elite 2012, 2014, and 2015, Listed for Business Law
- Super Lawyers Magazine 2006-2018, Listed in Florida for Business/Corporate, Securities & Corporate Finance, and Mergers & Acquisitions
- South Florida Legal Guide Top Lawyers 2001-2018, Listed for Corporate and Business, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Chambers USA 2003-2018, Ranked in top tier in Florida for Corporate/M&A & Private Equity
- The Legal 500 2009-2018, Recommended for Mergers, Acquisitions & Buyouts: M&A National Middle Market
News & Media
Additional Information
- Published Work and Lectures
- Bloomberg BNA Corporate Practice Series, Co-Author, "The Florida Corporation: Legal Aspects of Organization and Operation," 2013
- KPMG Audit Committee Institute, Panelist for South Florida Audit Committee Roundtable Series
- KPMG and NYSE Euronext, Panelist, "IPO/Capital Markets Bootcamp," April 2013
- Grant Thornton LLP Forum, Speaker, "Audit Committee Duties for the Private Company," June 2012
- Northern Trust Bank, Speaker, "Preparing for the Sale of Your Closely-Held Company," March 2012
- Regulation, Volume 34, No. 2, Co-Author, "Will There Be Whistleblowers?" Summer 2011
- Akerman SEC Regulations Seminars, Speaker, January 2011, January 2009, January 2007, April 2003, November 2002, September 2000
- American Conference Institute's Forum on Executive Compensation, Speaker, "Negotiating Compensation Packages with Private Companies," May 2007
- 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
- Representative Experience
- Ongoing representation of Trivest Partners, the oldest private equity firm in the Southeast, in connection with numerous M&A and finance matters for more than 15 years. Recent acquisitions include NovaTech, Oil Changer, Big Truck Rental, Power Home Solar, and LubeZone. Recent sales include AM Conservation Group Inc. to Kohlberg & Company; North Star Seafood to Sysco Corporation; Take 5 Oil Change to Driven Brands, a Roark Capital Group portfolio company; National Carwash Solutions to AEA Investors, Onepath Systems to MSouth Equity Partners, and Pelican Water Systems to Pentair.
- Ongoing representation of AutoNation, Inc., America's largest automotive retailer, in connection with securities matters and its acquisitions and dispositions of car dealerships since 1996, including over 40 recent transactions involving Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Chrysler, Audi, Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover, Honda, Hyundai, Ford, Nissan and other stores in markets nationwide.
- Ongoing representation of HEICO Corporation in connection with its securities matters and acquisitions for more than 15 years, including its acquisitions of AeroAntenna, Robertson Fuel Systems, and Reinhold Industries.
- Ongoing representation of XPO Logistics, Inc., one of the largest and fastest growing providers of transportation and logistics services, in connection with securities and financing matters, and acquisitions of heavy goods, last-mile logistics providers in North America.
- Represented China-based Shandong Heavy Industry Group-Weichai Group in connection with its €374 million acquisition of a controlling interest in Ferretti Group of Italy, owner of Miami-based Bertram Yachts.
- Represented Republic Services, Inc. in connection with its industry-transforming $12.9 billion merger with Allied Waste Industries, Inc. in 2008.
- Represented billionaire H. Wayne Huizenga in connection with his investments in Republic Waste Industries, Inc. in 1995; the Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins, and Florida Panthers in the 1990's; and Blockbuster Entertainment Corporation in 1987, in addition to hundreds of additional transactions for Mr. Huizenga and companies under his control.
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