Profile
Brian J. Gavsie focuses his practice on counseling public and private companies across various industries, as well as family offices, on a broad range of general corporate and securities matters, securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions. Brian has wide-ranging experience with public and private securities offerings, domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, private-equity transactions, SEC reporting and corporate governance matters, as well as general corporate and commercial matters. He regularly leads multi-disciplinary deal teams in a wide variety of large-cap and middle-market domestic and cross-border transactions.
Concentrations
- Public and private securities offerings
- SPACs and other alternative public offerings
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Private equity transactions
- Securities Exchange Act reporting and compliance obligations
- Corporate governance
Capabilities
Experience
- Representation of Sweet Oak Parent LLC in connection with its take-private acquisition of Whole Earth Brands, Inc., a global food company enabling healthier lifestyles through premium plant-based sweeteners, flavor enhancers and other foods.
- Representation as issuer's and underwriter’s counsel in numerous public and private securities offerings (including initial public offerings).
- Representation of public and private companies in mergers, acquisitions, tender offers and sale transactions.
- Representation of public companies, including advice and assistance regarding SEC reporting and compliance and corporate governance matters.
- Representation of Admiral Acquisition Limited (LSE: ADMR) in its $550 million initial public offering of ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange and approximately $1.85 billion acquisition of ASP Acuren Holdings, Inc., a market leading North American testing, inspection and certification provider of critical asset integrity services.
- Representation of J2 Acquisition Limited (LSE: JTWO) in its $1.25 billion initial public offering of ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange and $2.9 billion acquisition of APi Group Inc., a leading provider of commercial life safety solutions and specialty services.
- Representation of APi Group Corporation (NYSE: APG) in the acquisition of the Chubb Fire & Security Business from Carrier Global Corporation for an enterprise value of $3.1 billion.
- Representation of APi Group Corporation, as issuer, in multiple underwritten public offerings of common stock.
- Representation of Nomad Holdings Limited (LSE: NHL) in its $500 million initial public offering of ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange and €2.6 billion acquisition of Iglo Foods Holdings Limited, a leading frozen food manufacturer and distributor in the United Kingdom and Europe; and £500 million acquisition of Findus Group, a leading frozen food manufacturer in continental Europe.
- Representation of Nomad Foods Limited (NYSE: NOMD), Europe’s leading frozen food company, in multiple underwritten public offerings of the company's ordinary shares and private placements of debt securities.
- Representation of Platform Acquisition Holdings Limited (LSE: PAHL) in its $905 million initial public offering of ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange and $1.8 billion acquisition of MacDermid, Incorporated, a global producer of high technology specialty chemical products.
- Representation of Element Solutions Inc (NYSE:ESI) (formerly Platform Specialty Products Corporation), a Florida-based specialty chemical products company, in multiple acquisitions, including acquisitions of Kuprion, Inc., a California-based copper material manufacturing and engineering company, Chemtura Agricultural Solutions, a provider of seed treatments and agrochemical products, and Arysta LifeScience Limited, a provider of agrochemical products.
- Representation of Element Solutions Inc, as issuer, in multiple underwritten public offerings of common stock.
- Representation of Landscape Acquisition Holdings Ltd. (LSE: LAHL) with its $500 million initial public offering of ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange and $860 million acquisition of AP WIP Investments, one of the largest global aggregators of real property interests underlying wireless telecommunications cell sites.
- Representation of affiliates of Mariposa Capital, a Miami based family office, in its purchase of Royal Oak Enterprise, LLC.
- Representation of MOTPlans.com, LLC, a Ft. Lauderdale, FL based provider of traffic control solutions, in its acquisition by Area Wide Protective, Inc.
- Representation of Crixus BH3 Acquisition Company (NASDAQ: BHAC), a Florida based special purpose acquisition company, in its $230 million Initial Public Offering.
- Representation of Home Plate Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: HPLT), a New York based special purpose acquisition company, in its $200 million initial public offering.
- Representation of EverArc Holdings Limited (LSE: EVRA) in its $340 million initial public offering of ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange and its acquisition of the ultimate parent company of Perimeter Solutions LP, a leading global manufacturer of high-quality firefighting products and lubricant additives.
- Representation of Justice Holdings Limited (LSE: JUSH) in its $900 million initial public offering of ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange and its business combination with Burger King Worldwide, Inc.
- Representation of Liberty Acquisition Holdings (International) Company (NYX: LIACU), a Cayman Islands special purpose acquisition company, in its €600 million initial public offering and its $6.7 billion acquisition of Pearl Group Limited, the United Kingdom’s largest consolidator of closed life insurance funds, and Opal Reassurance Limited, a re-insurance company.
- Representation of Liberty Acquisition Holdings Corp. (NYSE American: LIA), a special purpose acquisition company, in its $1.03 billion initial public offering and its business combination with Promotora de Informaciones, S.A., the world's leading Spanish and Portuguese-language media group.
- Representation of Freedom Acquisition Holdings Inc. (NYSE American: FRH), a special purpose acquisition company, in its $528 million initial public offering and its $3.5 billion acquisition of GLG Partners, an alternative asset manager.
- Representation of FGX International Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: FGXI), a consumer products company, in the $220.8 million initial public offering of ordinary shares.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, "Securities / Capital Markets Law," 2019-2025
- Listed, "Lawyer of the Year," Securities / Capital Markets Law, Fort Lauderdale, 2022 and 2024
- Selected, Fort Lauderdale Illustrated, "Securities / Capital Markets Law," 2020-2023
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Florida Super Lawyers, 2014-2015
- "Rising Star," 2009
- Member, Winning Team, ACG New York Champion’s Awards, Deal of the Year (over $500mm); Cross-border Transaction of the Year (over $250mm) for $1.8 billion Acquisition of MacDermid, Inc. by Platform Acquisition Holdings Limited, 2014
- Member, Winning Team, "M&A Deal of the Year (Over $1 Billion to $5 Billion)" for Platform Specialty Products Corporation (f/k/a Platform Acquisition Holdings Limited) acquisition of MacDermid, Incorporated and related entities, The M&A Advisor’s 6th Annual International M&A Awards, 2014
- Finalist, Daily Business Review, "Top Dealmaker of the Year," Corporate Finance Category, 2013
- Finalist, Daily Business Review, "Top Dealmaker of the Year," Corporate International Category, 2013
- Member, Winning Team, "Consumer and Retail Products Deal of the Year (over $200mm)" for Merger of Burger King and Justice Holdings Ltd., ACG New York Champion’s Award, 2013
- Team Member, Corporate Board Member magazine and FTI Consulting Inc., one of "America’s Best Corporate Law Firms," 13th Annual Legal Industry Study, 2013
- Listed, Florida Trend magazine, "Legal Elite," 2012
- "Up and Comer," 2006 and 2009
- Member, Winning Team, "Distressed M&A Deal of the Year (Over $100mm)," The M&A Advisor's Turnaround Awards, 2011
Credentials
Education
-
J.D., University of Florida Levin College of Law, 1996
- University of Florida Law Review
- B.A., University of Miami, 1993
Admissions
- Florida
- New York