David A. Barkus
David A. Barkus
+1.305.789.7560

Overview

David A. Barkus is co-leader of the firm's Corporate, M&A and Securities Practice Group and the leader of the firm's Private Equity Team. Mr. Barkus focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions and private equity. He has experience in the aviation and aerospace, computer software and information technology, construction, consumer products, education, energy, food and beverage, franchising, gaming, healthcare, logistics, media and restaurant industries.

Mr. Barkus also represents both insureds and underwriters in connection with transactional risk products, including the issuance of representations and warranties insurance policies.

Representative Experience

  • Represented founders in connection with the sale of a primary care practice with eight locations in South Florida to the portfolio company of a Denver-based private equity firm
  • Represented IVAX Corporation in its approximately $10 billion merger with TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., which, at the time, created the largest generic drug company in the world
  • Represented the Seminole Tribe of Florida and its subsidiary, Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment Inc., in the $1 billion acquisition of Hard Rock International Inc. and other related entities from The Rank Group PLC, which was the first purchase of a major international corporation by a Native American Tribe
  • Represented Global Nephrology Solutions (GNS), one of the nation's leading physician-led nephrology organizations, in connection with its strategic investment from Audax Private Equity (Audax)
  • Represented Audax Private Equity and their portfolio company Fastener Distribution Holdings in the 1) acquisition of PDQ Airspares, a Fordingbridge, U.K.-based distributor of aerospace consumables and provider of supply chain management services to MRO and airline customers, 2) acquisition of Blue Sky Industries, a Monterey Park, CA based distributor of c-class parts to aerospace and defense MRO and OEM customers and 3) acquisition of BTC Electronic Components, a North Carolina based franchised/authorized, stocking, and value-added assembly supplier of connectors, backshells and interconnect accessories focused on military, aerospace and industrial end markets
  • Represented MasTec Inc. in its 1) acquisition of SEFNCO Communications Inc., a leading wireline and fiber deployment construction contractor with operations in several Western states, predominantly servicing cable system operators; 2) sale of DirectStar TV LLC to Red Ventures LLC; 3) purchase of Wanzek Construction Inc., an infrastructure and alternative energy contractor; 4) purchase of Precision Pipeline LLC and its related affiliate, Precision Transport Company LLC, providers of pipeline construction services; 5) purchase of Pumpco Inc., a midstream oil and gas pipeline construction company; 6) purchase of Nsoro LLC, a wireless infrastructure management and construction company; 7) purchase of Power Partners LLC, a wind, solar and other alternative energy construction company; 8) purchase of 3 Phase Line Construction Inc., which specializes in construction and maintenance of overhead and underground utility systems; 9) purchase of CAM Communications Inc., an equipment construction and network services company for telecommunications carriers; 10) purchase of Fabcor TargetCo Ltd. and its subsidiaries, Canadian pipeline and facility construction services companies for the oil and gas industry; 11) purchase of EC Source, an electric transmission and substation projects company; 12) purchase of Halsted Communications Ltd., a residential installation contractor; 13) purchase of Optima Network Services Inc., a network services company for telecommunications carriers; 14) purchase of Culberson Construction Inc., an oil and gas services business; 15) purchase of Energy Erectors Inc., an electrical infrastructure construction company; 16) purchase of Bottom Line Services LLC, a provider of natural gas and petroleum pipeline infrastructure services; 17) purchase of Dynamic Tower Services Inc., a tower construction, installation and maintenance company; 18) purchase of Go Green Services LLC, an oil and gas services business; 19) purchase of Data Cell Systems Inc., a telecommunications services firm; 20) purchase of Big Country Energy Services Inc., a Canadian oil and gas pipeline, and facilities contractor; 21) investment in Cross Country Pipeline Supply, an Odyssey Investment Partners portfolio company; 22) purchase of Speed Wire Inc., a telecommunications services firm; 23) purchase of Dynis LLC, a telecommunications services firm; 24) purchase of Pacer Construction Holdings Corporation, a Canadian infrastructure construction company; 25) purchase of WesTower Communications, a telecommunications services firm focusing on construction and maintenance of communications infrastructure related to wireless networks; 26) acquisition of Phoenix Industrial Inc. a heavy industrial general contractor that provides a broad range of specialty contracting services for manufacturers, processors and material handling specialists in concrete, steel, piping and manufacturing industries; 27) acquisition of trucking companies and their subsidiaries, which taken as a whole, provide a broad range of construction and transportation services focusing on excavating, gravel hauling and trucking washing services for water, sewer and utility projects for utility companies, private contractors, developers and municipalities; 28) $600 million acquisition of Henkels & McCoy Group, one of the largest U.S. private electrical power transmission and distribution utility services firms and the fifth-largest U.S. utility contractor in the 2021 Engineering News-Record ranking; 29) acquisition of Foothills Energy Services Inc., a company that provides a broad range of contractor services related to underground and overhead electrical distribution and transmission and related infrastructure; 30) acquisition of Alvah Contractors Inc. and its four affiliated entities (Alvah Group); Alvah Group is a certified Minority Business Enterprise that conducts utility contracting work in California and several other states in the U.S.; 31) acquisition of a 50 percent interest in the following entities: FM Tech Holdings, FM Tech USA Holdings and ASC Holdings; the transaction expanded MasTec's presence in Puerto Rico; 32) acquisition of a telecommunications contractor providing a broad range of specialty contracting services related to communication networks and infrastructure, including for both telephone and cable multiple system operators; 33) acquisition of Intren LLC and Union Real Estate LLC, which collectively provide a broad range of utility specialty contracting and related services, including overhead electrical, directional boring/underground residential distribution, underground civil and electrical, gas distribution, storm restoration, transmission, professional services and other commercial and industrial, substation, vegetation management and related services for utility companies, private contractors, developers, municipalities and cooperatives; and 34) acquisition of QuadGen Wireless Solutions Inc., a company that provides a broad range of end-to-end telecommunications solutions to improve network capacity, reduce costs and optimize network performance
  • Represented Pine Tree Equity I LP in its 1) purchase of EnviroVac Holdings LLC, an environmental and industrial maintenance company, and its subsequent sale to RLJ Equity Partners LLC; 2) purchase of Hi-Tech Testing Services Inc., a nondestructive testing, inspection and consulting services company, and its subsequent sale to Professional Service Industries Inc., a portfolio company of Olympus Partners; 3) purchase of Hydrovac Industrial Services Inc., an environmental and industrial maintenance company, and its subsequent merger with EnviroVac Holdings LLC; 4) purchase of Celtic Capital Corporation, a provider of asset-based financing (i.e., revolvers and term loans) in the Western U.S., and its subsequent sale to Pacific Western Bank; and 5) purchase of Church Services, a provider of residential maintenance, repair and replacement services in the areas of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, electrical, plumbing and foundation repair, and its subsequent sale to Fort Point Capital
  • Represented Pine Tree Equity II LP in its 1) purchase of Applied Consultants Inc., a provider of inspection services in the oil and gas pipeline industry, and its subsequent sale to Nautic Partners; 2) purchase and subsequent sale of Federal National Payables Inc., Federal National Commercial Inc. and Federal National Services Inc., providers of factoring (i.e., accounts receivable financing) primarily for businesses with accounts receivable from federal, state and municipal governments; 3) purchase and subsequent sale of Fast-Fix Jewelry and Watch Repairs, a franchisor of jewelry and watch repair centers with more than 150 corporate and franchised locations throughout the U.S.; 4) purchase of Northwest Plan Services, a third-party benefit plan administrator and its subsequent sale to WestView Capital Partners; and 5) purchase of Bradley-Morris Inc., a military-focused recruiting firm, and its subsequent sale to Thompson Street Capital Partners
  • Represented Pine Tree Equity III LP in its 1) acquisition of Big State X-Ray Inc. and Be Safe LLC, providers of nondestructive testing and related services; 2) recapitalization of AMCOL Systems, a leading provider of revenue cycle management services; 3) acquisition of Veracity Technology Solutions LLC, a provider of nondestructive testing and related services to the global power generation and aerospace industries; 4) acquisition of Central Florida Internal Medicine Associates, a medical practice located in Central Florida by InHealth MD Alliance Acquisition LLC; 5) acquisition of Premier Care Professionals LLC, a medical practice located in Central Florida by InHealth MD Alliance Acquisition LLC; 6) purchase and subsequent sale of Community Medical Group, a provider of primary care physician services primarily to Medicaid-eligible patients, and its subsequent sale to Nautic Partners; 7) investment in BPI Sports, a developer, formulator and marketer of branded sports nutrition supplements; 8) repurchase and subsequent sale of Celtic Capital Corporation, a provider of asset-based financing (i.e., revolvers and term loans) in the Western U.S.; 9) investment in and subsequent sale of Smile Design Dentistry, a provider of comprehensive dental care services; 10) purchase and subsequent sale of All-American Safety & Training (CrossBridge Compliance), a provider of safety and training services (e.g., audit, consulting, inspection, training, etc.) required to meet safety regulations in the oil and gas pipeline and railcar industries; 11) investment in and subsequent sale of House Advantage, a provider of loyalty management software solutions for the casino and gaming industry; and 12) investment in and subsequent sale of InHealth MD Alliance, a provider of primary care physician services primarily to Medicare-eligible patients in Central Florida; 12) sale of North State Acceptance, LLC a specialty finance company that purchases and services retail installment sales contracts from automobile dealerships to a private equity company; 13) acquisition of I Care Autism Treatment Center to expand its Spectrum of Hope platform – a multilocation provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to individuals with autism and developmental delays
  • Represented Pine Tree Equity IV LP in its 1) acquisition of Shortridge Academy LLC, a leading therapeutic boarding school in New Hampshire that supports the cognitive, emotional and social development of bright, yet struggling adolescents; 2) acquisition and subsequent sale of iCare Medegy Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries, iCare Health Solutions LLC, Optilab LLC, iCare Health Options LLC, SV Paymaster LLC, Ocular Health Management Solutions LLC and iCare Health Solutions Tampa Florida LLC, a group of companies engaged in the businesses of providing integrated healthcare services concentrated on eye care, including healthcare services, manufacturing and distribution of eye care products, and owning and operating ophthalmological clinics; 3) acquisition of Innercept, LLC, an Idaho-based company engaged in the business of operating a private school with grades 7-12 and residential treatment facilities, including treatment centers for treating behavioral issues, including depression, addiction, anxiety and personality and eating disorders, and providing therapy, including psychiatric, psychological, mental health, behavioral health and substance abuse therapies; 4) acquisition of Speech Works Pediatric Therapy LLC for its Kids S.P.O.T. platform, a leading South Florida-based, multilocation provider of speech, physical and occupational therapy to children; 5) acquisition of Ironwood Maine therapeutic boarding school, as well as the real properties where the boarding school is located, to its growing behavioral health organizations platform; and 6) acquisition of Madame Rx LLC (doing business as Chemistry Rx), a Pennsylvania-based company engaged in the business of compounding and dispensing drug products and providing other ancillary services
  • Represented Pine Tree Equity portfolio companies, including 1) Church Services' acquisitions of Eagle Air Conditioning Service Inc., 4 Seasons Service Company, Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Inc., Southwest Plumbing Inc., Davis Service Company LLC and Mike's Plumbing; 2) Hi-Tech Testing Services Inc.'s acquisitions of Wilson Inspection X-Ray Services Inc., a provider of nondestructive testing and related services, and Western X-Ray Service LLC and Utah Inspection LLC, providers of nondestructive testing and related services; 3) Celtic Capital Corporation's acquisitions of loan portfolios from Sovereign Bank and Textron; 4) Applied Consultants Inc.'s acquisition of Central NDT Inc., a provider of inspection services to the oil and gas pipeline industry; 5) Northwest Plan Services' acquisition of CDM Retirement Consultants, a third-party benefit plan administrator; and 6) All-American Safety and Training's acquisition of C&R Compliance, a provider of safety and training services
  • Represented Generation Partners in its 1) investment in PayActiv, the largest provider of employment-based holistic financial wellness services; 2) acquisition of Westox Labs LLC, a toxicology lab providing toxicology lab services, including addiction treatment monitoring, medication monitoring, and drug and blood testing; 3) investment in ZirMed Inc., a health information and management company providing healthcare organizations with cloud-based financial and clinical performance management solutions; 4) purchase of Captivate Network, an IP-enabled digital place-based media network with more than 10,000 screens across more than 1,000 commercial office buildings in the U.S. and Canada, which was spun out from Gannett, as well as the subsequent add-on acquisition of Office Media Network Inc., which was a portfolio company of Lake Capital; 5) purchase of ReCept Holdings Inc., a provider of specialty pharmacy services; 6) investment in Donuts Inc., a leading domain name registry; 7) sale of its portfolio company Agility Recovery Solutions Holdings Inc., a provider of disaster recovery and business continuity solutions, to LLR Partners; 8) sale of its portfolio company MedVance Institute, a medical and allied health-related career training company to Education Affiliates Inc., a portfolio company of JLL Partners; 9) sale of its portfolio company Shopwiki Corp., an Internet shopping portal, to Oversee.net; and 10) investment in 3seventy, a provider of an enterprise class mobile messaging platform enabling businesses to dialog with their customers
  • Represented University Health Care in its $600 million sale to Cano Health Inc. (NYSE: CANO), a leading value-based primary care provider for seniors and underserved communities
  • Represented TRIARQ Health, a national management services organization, in its sale to become a wholly owned subsidiary of the largest health plan in Michigan; TRIARQ Health offers providers care management and clinical decision support, financial management, practice improvement and administrative services
  • Represented Pinnacle Family Services, a leading provider of home- and community-based services and programs for at-risk youth and their families, in its sale to Palladium Equity Partners LLC
  • Represented Heritage Carpet & Tile in its sale to Artisan Design Group, a portfolio company of The Sterling Group
  • Represented Quirch Foods, Co., a leading distributor and exporter of protein and Hispanic food products, and the Quirch family in connection with a significant investment by Palladium Equity Partners, LLC
  • Represented Cross Country Pipeline Supply Co. Inc., a portfolio company of Odyssey Investment Partners in its 1) purchase of Sideline Specialty Equipment LLC and Sideline Specialty Canada Ltd., providers of specialty pipeline equipment in the U.S. and Canada; 2) purchase of Nitrogen Services LLC, a provider of nitrogen services to the oil and gas industry; and 3) purchase of Stone Pump and Trench, a provider of rental equipment to the oil and gas industry
  • Represented Lincoln Road Global Management LLC, a Miami-based private equity firm, in connection with its investment in Pro-Tec Fire & Safety, a leading provider of fire extinguisher and safety services in the Southeastern United States
  • Represented Boyne Capital Management (BCM Fund I, LP) in its acquisition and subsequent sale of Ameribest Holding Corporation and its subsidiary, AmeriBest Home Care Inc., a provider of home healthcare services
  • Represented Fyffes plc (ISEQ: FQ3, LSE: FFY) in its acquisition of Canadian mushroom producer Highline Produce Ltd.
  • Represented Providence Apparel in its acquisition of Gerber Childrenswear LLC, a leading marketer of infant and children's apparel and related products, from Sun Capital Partners
  • Represented Gerber Childrenswear in its acquisition of Triboro Quilt Mfg. Corp – a leading marketer of newborn and infant bedding, layette, bath and safe sleep products
  • Represented the acquirer of Boxercraft Incorporated. Boxercraft, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a leading supplier of quality specialty apparel including spiritwear and licensed collegiate apparel. The company's mission is to build group spirit and pride by providing fun and unique spiritwear and cutting edge products to the youth, high school and collegiate markets
  • Represented Sol Bonan and Eliezer Elbaz, as the sellers of A.B. Property Services, Inc. (dba Happy Floors), a company engaged in the sale, marketing and distribution of flooring materials to Linsalata Capital Partners Fund VI, L.P.
  • Represented Pernix Group Inc. in its purchase of the BE&K Building Group from KBR
  • Represented Sentry Data Systems Inc., a provider of healthcare information technology solutions, including 340B solutions for contract pharmacies, in its sale to ABRY Partners
  • Represented Image International Holding Company LLC, a clinical skin care company, in the sale of a majority interest to MidOcean Partners
  • Represented Noven Therapeutics LLC, formerly known as JDS Pharmaceuticals LLC, in its sale of all rights related to the drug Lithobid to ANI Pharmaceuticals Inc.
  • Represented Sandow Media LLC and Fred Segal in connection with an equity investment in Fred Segal by Evolution Media Partners, a joint venture between Evolution Media Capital, an entertainment, media and sports merchant bank formed in partnership with Creative Artists Agency; TPG Growth, the middle market and growth equity investment platform of global investment firm TPG; and Participant Media, the global entertainment company founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll
  • Represented Rupari Foods, a supplier of ready-to-eat ribs and other barbecue products, in its sale to Wind Point Partners
  • Represented Ship Supply of Florida Inc. and its affiliates, global suppliers of high-quality goods and services to the maritime industry, including military vessels, cruise lines and other commercial vessels, in its sale to HIG Capital
  • Represented the owners of North Star Seafood, a leading distributor of premium fresh and frozen seafood products, in its sale to Trivest Partners
  • Represented Fortissimo Capital, an Israeli private equity firm, in its sale of Advanced Answers on Demand Holdings, a company providing integrated software and technology solutions for health care providers to Primus Capital
  • Represented Hencorp Becstone L.C. in its sale of Coffee Network LLC. to FCStone Group Inc., a subsidiary of INTL FCStone Inc.
  • Represented shareholders of Community Asphalt Corp. and related entities in their sale to Obrascón Huarte Lain S.A. for approximately $170 million
  • Represented QPay Inc., a payment processing systems company serving the cellular telephone industry, in its sale to InComm Holdings Inc.
  • Represented Europ Assistance Group, a global automobile, health, travel and family insurance company based in France, in its purchase of Global Medical Management Inc.
  • Represented Miami Research Associates, a multitherapeutic provider of clinical research services for drug development, in its sale to QPS LLC, a worldwide provider of preclinical and clinical research services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients
  • Represented World Fuel Services Corporation in connection with its investment in Amsterdam Software B.V., a Netherlands company that develops, sells and licenses aviation software
  • Represented the sole shareholder of Heritage Manufacturing Inc., a manufacturer of firearms, in the sale of 100 percent of the equity interests of heritage to Taurus Holdings Inc.
  • Represented a major public utility in the acquisition of approximately $80 million of wind power projects from Enron Corp.
  • Represented Live Nation Inc. and its affiliates in their approximately $79 million purchase of Signatures SNI Inc., a private company specializing in marketing and licensing of artists, celebrities and entertainment properties
  • Represented shareholders of Planning Group International Inc. in its sale to Sapient Corporation for $42 million
  • Represented a purchaser in a $42 million acquisition of a homebuilder
  • Represented Velocitude LLC, a mobile services platform company, in the sale of substantially all of its assets to Akamai Technologies Inc.
  • Represented Premier Healthcare Services LLC in the sale of its nurse staffing and allied business units to Advantage on Call LLC, a subsidiary of Advantage RN LLC
  • Represented Quality Transportation Services Inc., an international transportation and logistics firm, in its sale to Kuehne + Nagel Group
  • Represented Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) repair station High Standard Aviation Inc. in its sale to AMETEK Inc., a global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices
  • Represented a major consumer products company in the sale of a small appliance and personal care products division
  • Represented Room Service LLC, a furniture and accessories rental company, in the sale of substantially all of its assets to American Furniture Rentals Inc.
  • Represented Elite Aerospace Inc. in the acquisition of the membership interests of an aviation company
  • Represented Life Fitness Holdings Inc., operator of physical therapy centers, in the formation of a holding company and sale of a majority interest therein to U.S. Physical Therapy Inc.
  • Represented major franchisor and provider of child daycare services with facilities throughout the U.S. in connection with its sale to a competitor
  • Represented the purchaser in the acquisition of a boatyard in Miami, Fla.
  • Represented FRX Polymers Inc. in a round of equity financing from Israel Cleantech Ventures and Capricorn Venture Partners
  • Represented Berenson Holdings LLC in the joint acquisition with Sagewind Capital, of The Athene Group, a software and services company serving the wealth management industry
  • Represented Brenock Technology Inc., a software development and project management company. and its equity holders in connection in its sale and 50 percent equity investment to Tideworks Technology Inc.
  • Represented Code Zero Consulting, a privately held provider of consulting and implementation services for cloud-based Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ) and billing solutions in its sale to Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH)

Credentials

Education
  • University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D., high honors
  • University of Miami, B.B.A., Management and Entrepreneurship, cum laude
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • Florida
Honors & Awards
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Corporate Law, 2011-2025; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2018-2025; Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, 2020-2025; Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions, 2024, 2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Miami Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year, 2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Miami Mergers and Acquisitions Law Lawyer of the Year, 2022, 2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Miami Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law Lawyer of the Year, 2023
  • The Legal 500 USA, Government Relations, 2019; M&A/Corporate and Commercial – M&A: Middle-Market (sub $500M), 2021-2024; M&A/Corporate and Commercial – Private Equity Buyouts: Middle-Market (up to $500M), 2024
  • Chambers USA – America's Leading Lawyers for Business guide, Corporate/M&A & Private Equity (South), 2009-2024
  • M&A Leadership Award, 13th Annual Americas M&A Atlas Awards, 2022
  • Top Lawyer, South Florida Legal Guide, 2015-2021
  • Finalist, Top Dealmaker of the Year – Corporate Finance Category, Daily Business Review, 2015
  • Top Dealmaker – Domestic Corporate Category, Daily Business Review, 2010
  • Top Dealmaker Finalist, Miami Daily Business Review, 2009
  • Florida Super Lawyers magazine, 2013-2020
  • Top Up and Comer, South Florida Legal Guide, 2013-2014
  • The Legal 500 USA, 2008
  • Legal Elite, Florida Trend magazine, 2007
  • Order of the Coif
  • Phillip J. MacLennan Academic Scholarship, University of Florida Levin College of Law
  • Parker Prize for Top Management Student, University of Miami
  • F.W. Pearson Academic Scholarship, University of Miami
  • Undergraduate Business School Academic Scholarship, University of Miami