Akerman LLP

A leader for middle-market M&A in Florida, Akerman LLP’s group also draws on corporate specialists from across its extensive national platform. Primarily active on behalf of private equity investors and their portfolio companies, the team also acts for a broad range of public and privately owned strategics and entrepreneurs in buy and sell-side M&A, spin-offs, leveraged recapitalizations and buyouts, and investment transactions. Miami-based Jonathan Awner co-chairs the overarching corporate department and is noted for his strong activity in the car dealership space. David Birke co-chairs the department from Fort Lauderdale and acted for a string of private equity clients on M&A deals during 2023/24, with a focus on the manufacturing and life sciences sectors. Rounding out the senior partners is Miami’s Carl Roston, who is a former corporate co-chair and has a significant private equity dimension to his practice. Additionally, West Palm Beach-based E. Paul Quinn, Fort Lauderdale’s Martin Burkett and Miami-based Kenneth Wiggins co-head the M&A and private equity area and are routinely involved in mid-market transactions. Miami partners Santiago Assalini and Sergey Kotelnikov are also key contacts for M&A work.