Locke Lord LLP has enhanced its Corporate and Real Estate capabilities in South Florida with the hiring of leading transactional lawyers Mark S. Scott and Douglas L. O’Keefe as Partners in the Firm’s Miami office. Scott and O’Keefe will be members of Locke Lord’s Corporate and Transactional Department.
“Mark and Doug are highly accomplished lawyers who bring impressive experience in domestic and international transactions and deep connections to the Miami business community,” said Jonathan E. Cole, head of Locke Lord’s South Florida offices. “Both Mark and Doug share our commitment to providing our clients with outstanding legal counsel and we are thrilled to welcome them to Locke Lord.”
Scott, who was a partner at Arnstein & Lehr LLP and Holland & Knight in Miami prior to joining Locke Lord, regularly advises clients in corporate structuring and business planning, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, investment funds and private placements. A native German speaker, Scott has extensive experience in cross-border transactions. He frequently advises U.S. and German clients in negotiations during cross-border transactions and has represented private companies in their acquisition of telecommunications assets across Latin America and Europe.
Scott’s clients span a wide variety of industries, with a concentration in communications technology and life sciences. He serves as outside general counsel to telecommunications-related companies in five countries. In addition, Scott has a robust real estate practice, in which he advises corporate investors on structuring real estate investments and development projects.
Scott currently serves as Chairman of Crystal Academy, a school for children in the autism spectrum in Coral Gables. Previously, he was a member of the Life Science Steering Committee of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County and a member of the International Advisory and Inter-Governmental Relations Committees of The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County’s Official Economic Development Organization. He earned his law degree from Boston University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Tufts University.
“I began my career working with Jon Cole and it is a pleasure to be on the same team again,” said Scott. “Locke Lord offers the ideal platform and resources for my South Florida and internationally focused practice and I am excited to be part of this dynamic group.”
Added O’Keefe, “Locke Lord is home to one of the most esteemed private equity and venture capital practices in South Florida and has a long-standing tradition of supporting Florida-based startups and entrepreneurs. I look forward to working with my new colleagues in advising these dynamic innovative companies at all stages of growth.”
O’Keefe was a partner at Carey Rodriguez O’Keefe Milian Gonya, LLP in Miami, and headed their corporate and securities practice prior to joining Locke Lord. His practice focuses on all aspects of corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital and secured lending transactions, regularly representing both issuers and investors. His clients include venture capital funds, mezzanine debt funds, private equity and hedge funds, securities brokerages, investment banks and high net worth families. In addition, He advises numerous early stage companies.
O’Keefe is President and a founder of the Miami Innovation Fund, which encourages entrepreneurship in South Florida through mentoring and seed funding. He has served as a judge for early stage competitions, including the Miami Herald’s Business Plan Competition, the Cade Museum Prize, the Geek Tank – MIT Forum and the Fau Business Plan Competition. He earned his law degree, with honors, from the University of Florida College of Law and his undergraduate degree, with high honors, from the University of Florida.
Source: www.lockelord.com
