R. Alan Higbee is the Managing Partner of the Shutts & Bowen LLP Tampa Office, where he is a member of the Corporate Practice Group.
Mr. Higbee represents public and private companies and entrepreneurs in all facets of general business, corporate and securities matters, including public and private equity and debt offerings, mergers and acquisitions, business contracts, business transactions, joint ventures, corporate governance, and franchise matters. Mr. Higbee’s clients include both domestic and international persons and entities. Mr. Higbee has significant experience in the restaurant and hospitality, auto dealership, defense, homeland security, fertilizer, agricultural products, chemicals, metals, mining and manufacturing industries.
During his over 25 years of practice, Mr. Higbee has:
- Represented both issuers and underwriters in more than 25 public offerings and numerous private placements of securities and has represented both issuers and special committees in multiple going private transactions;
- Represented both Venture Capital providers and recipients in multiple venture finance transactions;
- Represented companies in the financing of aircraft, ship and rental car fleets;
- Served as counsel to public company boards and special committees in a variety of matters and represented public companies and their boards in matters ranging from annual reporting to investigations by the United States Securities & Exchange Commission and other governmental agencies;
- Served as general outside counsel and advisor to the boards of substantial non-profit arts corporations;
- Represented buyers and sellers in over $3.0 billion in domestic and international merger and acquisition transactions;
- Represented participants in major international and domestic joint ventures in industries ranging from regional restaurants to international defense.
- Represented both franchisors and franchisees in franchise relationships; and
- Provided general business and corporate representation to several hundred companies ranging from local businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
Mr. Higbee is an accomplished speaker and has participated in numerous Florida and local bar association seminars on business, corporate and securities related subjects, as well as other professional continuing education seminars.
Mr. Higbee is a member of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association, the Florida Bar and the Hillsborough County Bar Association.
Education
- University of Florida, J.D., with honors, 1981
- University of Florida, B.A., with honors, Economics, 1978
Bar Admissions
- The Florida Bar
Court Admissions
- Florida Supreme Court
- U.S. District Courts, Middle District of Florida
- United States Tax Court
