“I am very honored to receive this distinction. I can’t think of a more exciting place to practice law: Miami has grown immeasurably in the last few years and its transformation is just beginning,” said Davis, who was born and brought up in Miami.
“As legal professionals and other business leaders continue to address the opportunities and the challenges presented by our city’s growth and development, I look forward to continuing to be a part of that good work. I have a strong belief in all we can accomplish when we work together for the benefit of South Florida.”
Davis has been active with the Law Alumni Association, serving as president in 2013-2014. Thanks to his generosity, a study room in Donna E. Shalala Student Center is named the Jaret L. Davis Collaborative Workspace.
Davis was recognized for his work during a year that included two blockbuster deals. He spearheaded Medina Capital’s $3 billion joint venture deal with global multi-billion-dollar private equity fund BC Partners to acquire 57 data centers worldwide and a portfolio of cybersecurity and data analytics companies to create Miami-based Cyxtera Technologies. He also led the legal team representing medical device company Exactech, Inc. in its approximately $737 million merger with global, multi-billion-dollar private equity fund, TPG Capital.
At the same time, Davis led The Miami-Dade Beacon Council as Chairman in 2017. Under his leadership, the council submitted the proposal which resulted in Miami being selected to be among the top 20 finalists for consideration for Amazon’s second headquarters. He also chaired the Beacon Council’s search committee, which hired the current CEO, Mike Finney and created and implemented the organization’s Connect & Grow Initiative. The program is designed to convert Miami’s robust startup ecosystem into a “scale up” ecosystem by creating connections between Miami’s established businesses and tech start-ups.
Davis also is one of four founders and current General Counsel of the annual eMerge Americas technology conference, and current Chair of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, a thought leader in cultivating digital health solutions in Miami. In this capacity, he brokered a partnership between the hospital and StartupBootCamp, the largest accelerator in Europe and co-founder and lecturer in the Kellogg School of Management/Babson College/Miami Angels Investor Education Series, which each year seeks to unlock the significant wealth that resides in South Florida by training high net worth individuals regarding the nuances of angel investing.
At Miami Law, Davis graduated magna cum laude in 1999 and received his A.B. in 1996. He was a member of the executive editorial board of the University of Miami Law Review, served as a member of the Moot Court Board, and was the Catsman Fellow for the School of Law's Center for Ethics and Public Service. He was the first African-American Chief of the Iron Arrow Honor Society, the leading honor society at the University of Miami.
“Jaret has always exemplified what it means to have impact in the community and in practice. He approaches everything with integrity and passion and with great intelligence,” said Patricia D. White, dean of Miami Law. “There are few who are more deserving of this honor.”
