Profilo
John D. Owens, III is a Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, P.A., an Am Law 20 international law firm. He is based in the firm’s Miami office. John has significant experience: (1) representing private fund sponsors, institutional investors and corporate venture capital firms on seed capital arrangements, early and growth stage venture capital investments, secondary transactions in private companies, as well as secondary transactions involving interests in private funds, (2) representing institutional investors, including hedge funds and family offices, in connection with their investments in, and co-investments alongside other investors in, structured capital market transactions with public companies, (3) assisting entrepreneurs, early stage businesses, growth stage companies and emerging public companies in conducting securities offerings and assessing, strategically planning, and managing their legal needs as outside counsel as they progress through critical periods of growth and challenge, (4) representing private equity firms as well as corporate acquirors in mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, and (5) providing general counsel regarding compliance with federal securities laws, corporate governance practices, exchange listings compliance, and commercial transactions.
John’s legal practice spans many industries, including Consumer Goods and Services, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, FinTech, Cybersecurity, Space Technology, Digital Assets, E-Commerce and Digital Marketing, Clean Energy and Renewable Power, Health and Biotechnology, International shipping and Parcel Delivery, Entertainment, Media, Sports and E-Sports.
Concentrations
- Emerging growth and venture capital
- Secondaries
- Equity line transactions
- Private equity transactions
- PIPE transactions
- Roll-up strategy acquisitions
- Securities Law Compliance
- Sports and entertainment transactions
- Private Funds
- Mergers and acquisitions
Competenze
Esperienze Professionali - Attività Accademiche
- Lead shareholder of the team representing Pronghorn Investment Management, a leading investment firm and accelerator, in over 40 investments in early, growth and late stage spirits industry companies.
- Lead shareholder of the team representing an investment firm in its growth stage investment in the Snow League, the first professional winter sports league entirely dedicated to snowboarding and freeskiing.
- Lead shareholder of the team representing an institutional investor as the lead investor in a $40 million Series A financing round in a Web3 infrastructure technology venture.
- Lead shareholder of the team representing a Palm Beach County, Florida based venture capital firm in its early stage investments in spirits industry companies.
- Lead shareholder representing the family offices of prominent sports and music entertainment figures in their investments in early, growth and late stage companies.
- Lead shareholder representing a Washington, D.C.-based venture capital fund in connection with its early stage and emerging technology company venture capital financings.
- Lead shareholder of a team representing a Puerto Rico based institutional investor, as the lead investor, in an AI cloud computing company specializing in GPU accelerated infrastructure for AI workloads.
- Lead shareholder of a team representing a Miami, FL based venture capital fund in connection with its early stage and emerging technology company venture capital financings .
- Lead shareholder of a team representing a Fort Lauderdale, FL based venture capital fund in connection with its early stage and emerging technology company venture capital financings.
- Lead shareholder representing a European parcel delivery and freight forwarding company in its minority investments in U.S. based logistics businesses.
- Lead shareholder of a team representing a Washington, D.C.-based AI-driven platform for climate finance, providing counsel in its seed, Series A and Series B venture capital financings led by a major Silicon Valley venture capital fund.
- Lead shareholder of a team representing a Northern Virginia-based proprietary geospatial data platform, providing counsel in its seed, Series A and Series B venture capital financing transactions let by a major Silicon Valley venture capital fund.
- Lead shareholder of a team representing a Miami, Florida-based cybersecurity compliance technology company, providing counsel in its $3 million seed offering led by a major Silicon Valley venture capital fund.
- Lead shareholder of a team representing a decentralized global art exchange platform, providing counsel in its $3.3 million seed offering led by a New York/Miami based venture capital fund.
- Lead shareholder of a team representing certain Miami and New York based real estate developers, providing counsel in fundraising activities.
- Lead shareholder of a team representing a London and Nigeria based music entertainment company, providing counsel in its seed and Series A financings led by a major Silicon Valley venture capital fund.
- Lead shareholder of a team representing a Washington, D.C.-based cybersecurity company, providing counsel in its late stage securities offerings.
- Lead shareholder of a team representing a bourbon whiskey company in its initial fundraising and product launch activities.
- 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 a New York based broker-dealer.
- Representation of a Charlotte, NC based broker-dealer.
- Represented investment firms in crypto treasury transactions.
- 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 multiple equity line and PIPE investments in middle market and growth stage public companies.°
- 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.
Riconoscimenti e Premi
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, M&A/ Corporate and Commercial - Venture Capital and Emerging Companies, 2022 and 2024-2025
- “Other Key Lawyer,” 2022
- Member, Team receiving Metropolitan Top-Tier Ranking in the 2023 S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” report for Venture Capital Law
- Member, Team receiving Metropolitan Top-Tier Ranking in the 2023 S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” report for Technology Law
- 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 Directors, Miami-Dade Innovation Authority
- Life Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- Member, 100 Black Men of South Florida
- Licensed Member, Florida Bar Association
- Member, Princeton Club of South Florida
- Member, National Black MBA Association (South Florida Chapter)
- Former Member, Board of Trustees, Florida Memorial University
Formazione
Formazione
- Laurea magistrale in Giurisprudenza, William & Mary Law School
- M.B.A., William & Mary Mason School of Business
- A.B., cum laude, Princeton University
Abilitazioni
- Florida