Akerman LLP, a top U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced that eight of the firm's lawyers were selected among South Florida's top "Dealmakers of the Year" by the Daily Business Review (DBR). Akerman lawyers were selected as the winner of the corporate domestic category and as finalists in the corporate international and corporate finance categories for their involvement in some of the most significant and complex deals in the region.
Partners Jonathan Awner and Scott Wasserman were named winners in the corporate domestic category for their representation of national transportation logistics services provider XPO, Inc. (formerly XPO Logistics) in its $365 million purchase of 3PD Holding, Inc., the company's largest acquisition at the time of closing. The Akerman lawyers conducted due diligence and purchase negotiations under an accelerated timeframe to help XPO expand its service offerings to a new line of business in heavy goods and last-mile logistics. The team later assisted the client with its add-on acquisition of Optima Service Solutions, another last-mile logistics services provider, offered to major retailers and manufacturers in the U.S.
Corporate Practice Group Chair Mary Carroll and Partners Teddy Klinghoffer, Esther Moreno, and Christina Russo we selected as finalists in the corporate international category for their representation of multinational biopharmaceutical and diagnostics company OPKO Health Inc. in two major acquisitions that broadened the company's portfolio of market-transforming therapies. The first transaction was a $480 million all-stock acquisition of PROLOR Biotech Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. In the second transaction, OPKO acquired Cytochroma Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, in exchange for OPKO common stock valued at $290 million.
Partners William Arnhols, Esther Moreno, and Stephen Roddenberry were among the finalists in the corporate finance category for their work in several key deals on behalf of GEO Group Inc., the world's leading provider of diversified correctional, detention, and community reentry and electronic monitoring services. These deals included GEO's conversion from a C corporation to a real estate investment trust (REIT), two senior note offerings that totaled $550 million, and the launch of a $100 million at-the-market equity program.
Dealmakers are selected by the DBR's editorial staff from hundreds of nominations and reported transactions. The selection was based on the size, complexity, and creativity of the deals. Winners were honored during a ceremony on May 16 at the InterContinental Hotel in Miami.
About Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With more than 600 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 20 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The National Law Journal NLJ 350 (2013). Akerman also is ranked among the top 50 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2013).
Akerman is recognized by U.S. News - Best Lawyers as a leading U.S. law firm for corporate, M&A, private equity, securities/capital markets and securities regulation law. In addition, Akerman's Corporate Practice Group is recognized by The Legal 500 within the National Firms - Middle Market category and ranks first by Chambers USA for corporate/M&A in Florida. Akerman's Corporate Practice Group advises public and private companies, including private equity funds, on mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, financings and other transactional matters, with a strong focus on the middle market.
More information can be found at akerman.com or twitter.com/akerman_law.