MIAMI – May 31, 2018 – Greenberg Traurig, P.A. Miami office Co-Managing Shareholder Jaret L. Davis was named Attorney of the Year at the Daily Business Review’s 2018 Professional Excellence Awards event in Key Biscayne on May 30. The awards recognize exemplary work by attorneys in the legal profession and the South Florida community in 2017.
In addition, Miami Shareholder Marina I. Ross and West Palm Beach Shareholder Lauren R. Whetstone were also honored at the event as On the Rise attorneys.
“I am very honored to receive this distinction. I can’t think of a more exciting place to practice law: Miami has grown immeasurably in the last few years and its transformation is just beginning,” said Davis, who was born and raised in Miami. “As legal professionals and other business leaders continue to address the opportunities and the challenges presented by our city’s growth and development, I look forward to continuing to be a part of that good work. I have a strong belief in all we can accomplish when we work together for the benefit of South Florida.”
Davis was recognized for his work during a year that included two blockbuster deals. He spearheaded Medina Capital’s $3 billion joint venture deal with global multi-billion dollar private equity fund BC Partners to acquire 57 data centers worldwide and a portfolio of cybersecurity and data analytics companies to create Miami-based Cyxtera Technologies. He also led the legal team representing medical device company Exactech, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXAC) in its approximately $737 million merger with global, multi-billion dollar private equity fund, TPG Capital.
At the same time, Davis led The Miami-Dade Beacon Council as Chairman in 2017. Under his leadership, the Council submitted the proposal which resulted in Miami being selected to be among the top 20 finalists for consideration for Amazon’s second headquarters. He also chaired the Beacon Council’s search committee, which hired the current CEO, Mike Finney and created and implemented the organization’s Connect & Grow Initiative. The program is designed to convert Miami’s robust startup ecosystem into a “scaleup” ecosystem by creating connections between Miami’s established businesses and tech start-ups.
“We whole-heartedly congratulate Jaret on this very well-deserved distinction. From the time he joined Greenberg Traurig as a summer associate, we knew that Jaret had the type of qualities that are integral for success in this profession: exceptional skill, a deep sense of integrity, and genuine love for his community,” said Matthew B. Gorson, Senior Chairman of Greenberg Traurig. “We also congratulate Marina and Lauren for their commitment to the law, their clients, and to the South Florida community. They truly exemplify Greenberg Traurig’s core values of legal excellence and community service.”
Yosbel A. Ibarra, Co-Managing Shareholder of the Miami office of Greenberg Traurig said: “I can’t think of anyone more deserving than Jaret for the distinction of Attorney of the Year. He is an inspiration to so many attorneys, both at our firm and beyond, showing them how hard work and dedication can yield results. He is truly one of the finest attorneys and colleagues I have ever had the pleasure to know.”
Davis also is one of four founders and current General Counsel of the annual eMerge Americas technology conference, and current Chair of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, a thought leader in cultivating digital health solutions in Miami. In this capacity, he brokered a partnership between the hospital and StartupBootCamp, the largest accelerator in Europe and co-founder and lecturer in the Kellogg School of Management/Babson College/Miami Angels Investor Education Series, which each year seeks to unlock the significant wealth that resides in South Florida by training high net worth individuals regarding the nuances of angel investing.
On the Rise honoree Ross is a shareholder in the Real Estate Practice of the firm's Miami office. She has been practicing in Florida since 2002, focusing on commercial real estate and finance transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, development and construction. Ross has wide-ranging experience in the hospitality and leisure sector and represents developers in ground up development projects, along with real estate investment trusts (REITs) and private equity funds in a range of office, retail and multi-family projects.
She has served as a Big Sister Mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami program and is an active member of the Russian Bar Association. She also is active in CREW Miami and is a member of the Miami-Dade County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section. A Russian native, Ross came to the United States alone at the age of 16 with the hope of achieving a better life.
On the Rise honoree Whetstone is a litigation shareholder in the firm's Palm Beach County offices. She focuses her practice in the areas of complex commercial litigation and securities litigation and has broad experience representing domestic and international clients in state and federal courts, as well as before the American Arbitration Association and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. She has litigated matters involving contract disputes, business torts, products liability for manufacturers, securities class actions, shareholder and partnership disputes, corporate formation, and real estate litigation.
Whetstone is a member of the Economic Council of Palm Beach County’s Emerging Leaders Program. She serves on the Advancement Committee of the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County, and she will serve on the Board of Directors of the Coalition starting in June.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and is among the Top 20 on the 2017 Am Law Global 100. Web: www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.