Profil
John D. Owens, III focuses his practice on four key areas: (1) representing investors that finance and/or acquire growth stage and emerging companies, including venture capital firms, family offices, private equity firms and other corporate investors, (2) assisting entrepreneurs, early stage businesses, and emerging businesses in assessing, strategically planning, and managing their overall legal needs as they progress through critical periods of growth and challenge, (3) representing hedge funds, family offices, and other alternative investment funds in their direct capital market transactions with public companies, and (4) providing general counsel regarding compliance with federal securities laws.
John also provides guidance and transactional support to entrepreneurs, executive management and boards of privately held and public companies in relation to corporate governance practices, including public disclosure requirements, as well as conducting securities offerings and raising capital, national exchange uplistings, and negotiating and documenting corporate and commercial transactions. His experience includes seed and venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures, public offerings, and transactional work in various industries, including FinTech, medical technology, media, international shipping and parcel delivery, e-sports, e-commerce, financial services, health care, manufacturing, retail, agriculture, beverages, opportunity zones, hospitality, sports, music, reality television, and entertainment. John also advises on cross-border transactions, including assisting foreign companies investing in ventures and conducting business in the U.S., and representing domestic clients planning to engage in business abroad, particularly in emerging markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
He enjoys building long standing relationships with investors and companies beginning at their earliest stages and assisting them through the development process.
Concentrations
- Emerging growth and venture capital
- Private equity transactions
- Equity line transactions
- Buyout or leveraged buyout transactions
- Roll-up strategy acquisitions
- PIPE transactions
- Securities
- Sports and entertainment transactions
Kompetencje
Doświadczenie
- Representation of venture capital fund lead investor in a $40 million Series A financing round in a Web3 infrastructure technology venture.
- Representation of an Atlanta-based accelerator and venture capital fund, focused on portfolio companies in the spirits industry, in connection with over a dozen seed and Series A venture capital financings.
- Representation of Ohio-based venture capital fund in connection with its early stage and emerging company venture capital financings.
- Representation of Washington, D.C.-based venture capital fund in connection with its early stage and emerging company venture capital financings.
- Representation of a Fort Lauderdale, FL-based venture capital fund in its Series A financing round in a media technology company.
- Representation of a Washington, D.C.-based AI-driven platform for climate finance in its seed, Series A and Series B venture capital financings led by a major silicon valley venture capital fund.
- Representation of a Virginia-based proprietary geospatial data platform in its seed, Series A and Series B venture capital financing transactions let by a major silicon valley venture capital fund.
- Representation of a Miami, Florida-based cybersecurity compliance technology company, in its $3 million seed offerings led by a major Silicon Valley venture capital fund.
- Representation of a decentralized global art exchange platform, in its $3.3 million seed offering led by a New York/Miami based venture capital fund.
- Representation of Miami and New York based real estate developers in fundraising activities.
- Representation of a London and Nigeria based music entertainment company in its seed and Series A financings led by a major silicon valley venture capital fund.
- Representation of advanced climate resiliency centers in its seed and fundraising transactions.
- Representation of a a European parcel delivery and freight forwarding company in minority investments in U.S. based logistics businesses.
- Representation of a Miami, Florida-based tech talent sourcing startup in its seed offerings.
- Representation of a Miami, Florida-based family office in its seed and Series A investment transactions.
- Representation of prominent sports figures and entertainers in investments in startups and growth stage companies.
- Representation of a Washington, D.C.-based cybersecurity company in its Series A venture capital financing with a syndicate of institutional investors.°
- Representation of a New York-based tech startup that developed an African fashion e-commerce platform in its financing and $2 million venture capital financing transactions with a global investment firm.°
- Representation of a New York-based importer and distributor of acai berry products in fundraising transactions.°
- Representation of an investment fund in its $150 Million equity line financing of an NYSE listed SPAC.
- Representation of an investment fund in its $100 Million equity line financing of a NASDAQ listed software-accelerated electronics manufacturer.
- Representation of an investment fund in its $100 Million equity line financing of a NASDAQ listed clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapeutics to treat oncology and inflammatory diseases.
- Representation of an investment fund in its $75 Million equity line financing of a NASDAQ listed biopharma company that develops treatments for malaria and different cancer types.
- Representation of an investment fund in its $10 Million equity line financing of a NASDAQ listed technology company specializing in the democratizing, creation and monetization of audio content.
- Representation of an investment fund in its $10 Million equity line financing of a company that develops, manufactures, and markets a patented hemostatic gauze for the health care and wound care sectors.
- Representation of an investment fund in its $10 Million equity line financing of a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a focus on novel immunotherapies.
- Representation of New York, New Jersey, Florida, Puerto Rico, California, and Illinois-based hedge funds and family offices in various PIPE investments, and equity line financings conducted by public companies.°
- Representation of a New Jersey-based hedge fund in multiple investments in PIPE investments in middle market and growth stage public companies.°
- Representation of a New York-based hedge fund in multiple investments in PIPE investments in middle market and growth stage public companies.°
- Representation of a Chicago-based private equity fund in multiple equity line of credit and PIPE investments in middle market public companies.°
- Representation of a Kansas City-based hedge fund in investments in PIPE investments in middle market and growth stage public companies.°
- Representation of a China-based edible alcohol company in its $40 million initial public offering and ongoing SEC compliance matters.°
- Representation of a Florida-based NASDAQ traded beverage developer, manufacturer, and distributor in a $20 million private placement offering and ongoing SEC compliance matters.°
- Representation of a Colorado-based publicly traded mobile barcode technology company in private debt and equity offerings totaling more than $20 million and ongoing SEC compliance matters.°
- Representation of a New York-based NASDAQ traded pharmaceutical company in a $10 million PIPE transaction with an equity sponsor and ongoing SEC compliance matters.°
- Representation of a Colorado-based publicly traded solar technology company in a $5 million PIPE transaction with an equity sponsor and ongoing SEC compliance matters.°
- Representation of a New York-based global capital markets FinTech platform.
- Representation of a Virginia-based proprietary geospatial data platform company.
- Representation of a Washington, D.C.-based AI-driven platform for climate finance.
- Representation of a Miami, Florida-based cybersecurity compliance technology company.
- Representation of a Miami, Florida-based decentralized global art exchange platform.
- Representation of a South Florida-based leading enterprise-level, SEO-first, full-service digital marketing agency.
- Representation of an independently, and Black-owned and managed digital news media company located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Representation of a Miami, Florida-based tech talent sourcing company.
- Representation of the developer/operator of advanced climate resiliency centers.
- Representation of a New York-based FinTech startup focused on developing cryptocurrency/digital trading technologies.
- Representation of a Northern Virginia based cyber-security company in an Israel based cyber-security company.
- Representation of a European parcel delivery and freight forwarding company in acquisitions of U.S. based logistics businesses.
- Representation of a privately held renewable energy company in its $210 million sale to a NYSE traded waste solutions company.°
- Representation of a publicly traded homeland security company in its $20.4 million acquisition of an environmental services company.°
- Representation of a U.S. distributor of telecommunications products in its $1.26 billion sale to an investor based in Japan.°
- Representation of an engineering/technical assistance company in its acquisition by a publicly traded company.°
- Representation of a motive battery company in a reverse takeover transaction with a publicly traded company.°
- Representation of an international shipping company in a reverse takeover transaction with a publicly traded company.°
- Representation of a Florida-based provider of health care IT solutions in its sale to a competitor.°
- Representation of one of the world’s leading Afrobeats record labels.
- Representation of a well-known comedian in launch of podcast on Sirius XM and in acting projects.
- Representation of a talent in negotiations with reality television and movie projects.
- Representation of a well-known international music festival in joint venture festival projects.°
- Representation of a privately held entertainment company in an investment, takeover, and operation of popular Miami night club.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Owens prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
Sukcesy i wyróżnienia
- Member, Team receiving Metropolitan Top-Tier Ranking in the 2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” report for Venture Capital Law
- Member, Team receiving Metropolitan Top-Tier Ranking in the 2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” report for Technology Law
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, M&A/ Corporate and Commercial - Venture Capital and Emerging Companies, 2022 and 2024
- “Other Key Lawyer,” 2022
- Listed, South Florida Legal Guide, “Top Up and Comers,” 2017-2021
- Listed, Florida Super Lawyers Magazine, Florida Super Lawyers, “Rising Stars,” 2018-2019
- Finalist, South Florida Business and Wealth Journal, “Up and Comer” Awards, 2017
- Listed, Daily Business Review, “Rising Star,” 2016
- Listed, Legacy Miami Magazine, “40 Under 40 Black Leaders of Today and Tomorrow,” 2014
- Recognized, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, “40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade County,” 2012
- Member, Board of Trustees, Florida Memorial University
- Member, Investor Funding Committee, Levan/NSU Broward Center of Innovation
- Life Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- Member, 100 Black Men of South Florida
- Licensed Member, Florida Bar Association
- Founding Member, Exit Planning Exchange, South Florida
- Member, Princeton Club of South Florida
- Member, National Black MBA Association
- Member, National Bar Association
Kwalifikacje
Wykształcenie
-
J.D., William & Mary Law School
- Notes Editor, Journal of Women and the Law
- M.B.A., William & Mary Mason School of Business
- A.B., cum laude, Princeton University
Posiadane uprawnienia
- Florida