JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 1, 2024) – Holland & Knight has named Edward S. Sarnowski executive partner of the firm's Jacksonville office. Mr. Sarnowski will oversee the day-to-day management of the office, while continuing to manage his practice focused on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), advising startups and representing angel, venture capital and other early-stage investors. He succeeds Josh Roberts, who served as executive partner of the firm's Jacksonville office for seven years and will continue his commercial litigation practice with the firm.

"Under Josh Roberts' leadership, the Jacksonville office has grown its services in important areas and maintained a strong commitment to the community," said Holland & Knight Chair and Chief Executive Officer Bob Grammig. "We're excited to announce Eddie as our newest executive partner. As he steps into this new role, we're confident he will lead the office toward continued growth and strengthen the firm's relationships with the most successful and innovative companies in the Jacksonville area."

Mr. Sarnowski's practice focuses on 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. He has led many M&A transactions (both buy-side and sell-side deals) across various industries and represents promising startups and 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, to a successful exit or M&A event. He also serves as outside general counsel to numerous successful venture capital-backed companies and has worked closely with large international companies on their corporate venture capital (CVC) investment programs.

For many years, Mr. Sarnowski was the Pro Bono and Community Service Partner for the Jacksonville office, where he coordinated pro bono opportunities, community giving, and local community service and volunteerism efforts for the office's attorneys. He also chaired a committee of attorneys and staff that oversaw a pool of funds distributed to community organizations assisting at-risk children in north Florida. 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 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.

Attorneys in Holland & Knight's Jacksonville office focus on the transportation, logistics, healthcare, energy, real estate, technology, hospitality and financial services industries, as well as provide comprehensive representation for high-net-worth families and family-owned businesses. The firm is among the top corporate philanthropists in Jacksonville as reported by the Jacksonville Business Journal, contributing nearly $2.9 million in cash and donated services in 2022.