Recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, and The Legal 500 as a preeminent corporate lawyer, Jonathan Awner advises clients in transactions in automotive retail, aviation, distribution, hospitality, logistics, manufacturing, services, technology, 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 mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, public and private securities transactions, and corporate governance matters.
Jonathan's M&A practice includes mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, spin-offs, recapitalizations, joint ventures, private equity investments, and other business transactions. He has extensive buy-side experience representing strategic and financial buyers and investors, including Fortune 500 companies, leading private equity funds, family offices and individuals, as well as representing corporations, founder-owned businesses, and private equity funds in sell-side transactions.
Jonathan also has represented public companies in underwritten 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 and private companies on corporate governance issues, management succession, relations with institutional investors, compensation practices for directors and officers, conflict of interest matters, and change-of-control transactions. His public company audit 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.
Jonathan serves as Chair Emeritus of Akerman’s Corporate Practice Group, and as Chair of Akerman's Finance Committee. He served as Chair or Co-Chair of Akerman's Corporate Practice Group for over 25 years, leading its growth from a dozen lawyers to over 100 lawyers. Jonathan also served on the board of trustees of Ransom Everglades School and board of directors of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.