Edward Sarnowski Bio

Edward S. Sarnowski is a member of the firm's Corporate, M&A and Securities Group and serves as Executive Partner of Holland & Knight's Jacksonville office. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), advising emerging growth companies and successful startups, as well as representing angel and venture capital investment funds and other strategic investors in early-stage companies. Mr. Sarnowski has led many M&A transactions (both buy-side and sell-side deals) across various industries and has represented emerging growth companies and investors in countless capital raises ranging from early seed-stage investments in Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFEs) and convertible promissory notes to later-stage Series A, B, C, D and E Preferred Stock financings and venture debt financings, some of which are highlighted below. Mr. Sarnowski represents promising emerging companies throughout all stages of their life cycle, from the formation and launching of a company, to capital raises, to day-to-day governance and operations, and to a successful exit or M&A event. He also serves as outside general counsel to numerous successful, venture capital-backed emerging companies and has worked closely with large, international companies on their corporate venture capital (CVC) investment programs. Mr. Sarnowski has also worked with public companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Nasdaq and Over-the-counter (OTCQX) exchanges on reporting, corporate governance, regulatory, compliance and executive compensation matters. Additionally, Mr. Sarnowski regularly assists pro bono clients with matters involving corporate, real estate and other issues, including representing active-duty military personnel in civil legal disputes through the American Bar Association's Military Pro Bono Project. Mr. Sarnowski also actively participates in the firm's annual 9/11 Day of Service, for which he previously served as the Jacksonville office's Local Initiative Coordinator. He was also the Pro Bono and Community Service Partner for the firm's Jacksonville office for many years. In that role, he coordinated pro bono opportunities, community giving, and local community service and volunteerism efforts for the firm's Jacksonville attorneys, as well as chaired a committee of attorneys and staff that oversaw a pool of funds distributed to community organizations assisting at-risk children in north Florida. Mr. Sarnowski has always been active in the community, and he currently serves on the board of directors of the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida and is an active member of the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra. Mr. Sarnowski was previously a Florida Supreme Court judicial intern for the Honorable Barbara J. Pariente.