Ranked in 1 Practice Areas
4

Band 4

Corporate/M&A & Private Equity

Florida: South

4 Years Ranked

About

Provided by David Black

USA

Career

As former co-chair of Berger Singerman’s Business, Finance & Tax Team, David Black handles substantial, complex transactions on behalf of national and international clients across numerous industries including SaaS, construction, manufacturing and distribution, transportation/logistics, healthcare, and marine. He has led acquisitions spanning the globe and valuing well in excess of $500 million. Additionally, David regularly serves as general counsel to sophisticated business, advising in a broad array of matters. He has recently been recognized for professional excellence by the South Florida Business Journal, the M&A Advisor, and the Daily Business Review.

Professional Memberships

- Advisory Board Member, Posse Miami

Publications

- Black, D. K., & Duarte, M. M. (2022, October 21). Preparing Your Company for a Liquidity Event: Who Should Be on Your Team?. Daily Business Review. https://www.law.com/dailybusinessreview/2022/10/21/preparing-your-company-for-a-liquidity-event-who-should-be-on-your-team/

Work Highlights

- Represented Orange-Co in the $274 million sale of its 20,263 acres of orange groves and related businesses to agricultural giant, Alico Inc. Successfully structured the deal as a hybrid corporate and real estate transaction, advised in negotiating the letter of intent and definitive agreement, and assisted with diligence matters and pre-closing governance.

- Represented a 100+-store franchisee of a national quick-service restaurant chain in an investment bank-led sales process that generated aggregate sale proceeds of more than $200 million. The sales process encompassed multiple transactions with four unaffiliated sophisticated buyers, seven affiliated selling entities, a national franchisor with the power to block or influence the transaction, and assets located in multiple states, leading to a complex transaction negotiation and structure. Advised the client in connection with the marketing process, definitive agreements, and concurrent closings.

- Represented a Florida publicly-traded financial institution with the phased acquisition through an affiliated joint venture with the seller of: (i) a majority interest in a Florida contractor currently serving as the General Contractor for large multi-family apartment projects owned by affiliated special purpose entities; (ii) 100% of the equity in related development and management companies performing services for the special purpose entities and other completed multi-family apartment special purpose entities previously developed by the seller; and (iii) through separate affiliates of the buyer, the phased acquisition of the seller’s ownership interests in selected special purpose entities. The transaction’s immensely complex features included the partial or full acquisition of 14 existing entities, the creation of three new entities, the rollover partnerships from existing employees, phased buyouts, institutional lenders and investor partners all overlaid by a public reporting regime due to the buyer’s affiliate’s status as a publicly traded company.

- Represented the seller of an asphalt refinery business in Texas to a major private equity buyer for total consideration exceeding $100 million. Successfully navigated and counseled the client and transaction through complicated negotiations and legal considerations ranging from the private equity buyer’s financing arrangements to the bankruptcy process in which the assets were marketed and sold. Worked with the private equity buyer’s New York counsel, Kaye Scholer, to structure a letter of intent to commence the bankruptcy sale process, including debtor in possession financing and complex and limited exclusivity arrangements, Hart-Scott-Rodino filings, and challenging environmental and title issues. Negotiated the definitive transaction documents and coordinated local counsel’s involvement from the letter of intent through closing and adversarial post-closing matters.

- Represented Seitlin Insurance (Seitlin & Company and Seitlin Benefits Corporation) in its sale to Marsh & McLennan Agency. Seitlin Insurance, prior to its acquisition, was South Florida's largest privately held insurance brokerage firm and one of the Top 100 insurance brokers in the United States. Marsh & McLennan Agency is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, the world's largest insurance and consulting company. Advised Seitlin Insurance throughout the entire (marketing, letter of intent, definitive agreement and simultaneous signing and closing) sales process and on various corporate and corporate governance issues, including working closely with the Company's ESOP independent fiduciary, financial advisors and counsel.

- Represented the private equity arm and an affiliate of two publicly-traded companies in the $23.6 million acquisition of substantially all the assets and operations of a leading manufacturer and supplier of closet doors, wall décor, hardware and fabricated glass products headquartered in Toronto Canada with operations in Mississippi and the U.K. Assisted in structuring the client's bid in a competitive sales process, organizing the jointly owned acquisition entities, navigating and addressing the interests of the Seller's diverse stakeholders, negotiating a letter of intent and definitive acquisition agreement, and consummating the cross-border closing.

- Represented the owner of a manufacturer and worldwide distributor of HVAC and A/C equipment in an investment-bank led process that resulted in a $36 million stock sale to a private equity group. Advised the client and worked with the investment bank in connection with the marketing process, term sheet, diligence, and definitive agreement, including coordination with international offices, to ensure a timely closing before tax rates increased.

- Represented the successful plan proponent in a series of reorganization transactions for the largest hotel in Pittsburgh that included our client's acquisition of all the equity in the debtor. These transactions included: (a) restructuring the hotel's senior secured financing under BlackRock Capital's $49.6 million loan, (b) negotiating and implementing a new Franchise Agreement followed by a Hotel Management Agreement with Wyndham Hotels, (c) consummating $8 million of additional financing from Wyndham, secured by the Hotel's equity, (d) placing up to $11 million in junior mortgage financing from our client as Plan Proponent, and (e) resolving other secured and unsecured claims.

- Represented private equity fund in successful acquisition and restructuring of $24 million of senior and subordinated debt obligations of major supplier of car wash systems with international operations; structured acquisition to maximize income tax benefits and realize significant value for client.

- Represented Gulfstream International Group and its affiliates in connection with its bankruptcy reorganization, including pre-petition negotiations and agreements for aircraft and engine lease arrangements, debtor-in-possession financing, and ultimately, the sale of the going concern pursuant to a contested auction under Section 363. These transactions involved more than a $50 million of debt and other obligations.

- Represented the acquirer/borrower in what was then the largest REIT privatization transaction in United States history in connection with a $9 billion portfolio acquisition.

- Represented publicly traded fund client in the formation of a new $354 million fund and corporate reorganization.

- Represented private and public institutional investors in equity joint venture investments.

- Represented the lender in connection with a $78.3 million loan secured by cellular tower sites throughout the United States.

- Represented purchaser in connection with a $1 billion acquisition of various debt positions in commercial real estate loans.

- Represented purchaser in connection with an $800 million acquisition of 600 commercial real estate properties on the west coast of the United States.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

- Florida

- Massachusetts

Languages Spoken

- English

Education

Boston University School of Law

J.D.

Rutgers University

B.A.

Awards

America's Leading Business Lawyers

Chambers & Partners USA

2022

Rising Star

Florida SuperLawyers

2022

Young Lawyer on the Rise

Daily Business Review

2017

Top 40 Under 40

South Florida Business Journal

2016

Emerging Leaders Award

M&A Advisor

2016

Florida Legal Elite, Up and Comer

Florida Trend

2016

2013's Rising Stars: 40 Under 40

Gold Coast Magazine

2013

Chapter 11 Reorganization of the Year

M&A Advisor's 6th Annual Turnaround Awards

2012

AV® Preeminent™

Martindale-Hubbell

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