Kelly Dunn Waters
Partner
41st Floor
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Kelly serves as corporate counsel to variety of clients, including public and private companies, funds, investors and investment advisors. With over a decade of experience, she offers seasoned legal advice to clients on complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, capital raises, divestitures and restructurings. Kelly provides support to clients as...
Kelly serves as corporate counsel to variety of clients, including public and private companies, funds, investors and investment advisors. With over a decade of experience, she offers seasoned legal advice to clients on complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, capital raises, divestitures and restructurings. Kelly provides support to clients as outside general counsel, advising on general corporate matters, corporate governance and commercial needs. In addition to her corporate practice, Kelly advises public companies on securities law reporting requirements. Kelly works with clients to understand their businesses, goals and areas of concern in order to foster a collaborative approach to legal needs and problem solving.
outside general counsel, advising on general corporate matters, corporate governance and commercial needs. In addition to her corporate practice, Kelly advises public companies on securities law reporting requirements. Kelly works with clients to understand their businesses, goals and areas of concern in order to foster a collaborative approach to legal needs and problem solving.
Experience
Experience
- Counseled clients in over $1.3 billion in buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions across various industries, including real estate, construction, manufacturing, transportation, medical technology and financial institutions
- Represented investors and investment managers in over $1.2 billion in real estate joint venture transactions
- Counseled public companies on SEC compliance and disclosure requirements
- Assisted companies with a variety of corporate matters throughout their life cycles including entity formation, structuring, capitalization, private offerings, contract negotiations, executive employment matters and non-profit engagement
Representative Matters
- Represented public company in $360 million divestiture of real estate business segment
- Represented public company in tax-free spin-off transaction
- Represented manufacturer of construction materials in $625 million recapitalization transaction
- Represented architecture firm in $185 million sale transaction to private equity buyer
- Represented medical device company in $97 million cross–border merger transaction
- Represented manufacturer of construction materials in $90 million multi-facility acquisition
- Represented private equity backed industrial services company in various acquisitions
- Represented publicly traded automotive testing company in $30 million cross-border acquisition
- Represented credit union in multiple credit union merger transactions
- Represented gas station and convenience store chain in $50 million strategic acquisition
- Represented youth sports facility in sale transaction to private equity buyer
Educational Activities
- Florida State University College of Law
- Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society
Education
- Florida State University College of Law, JD (2013)
- Florida State University, BS, Finance and Business Management (2010)
Admissions
- Florida
Practice Areas
Experience
- Counseled clients in over $1.3 billion in buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions across various industries, including real estate, construction, manufacturing, transportation, medical technology and financial institutions
- Represented investors and investment managers in over $1.2 billion in real estate joint venture transactions
- Counseled public companies on SEC compliance and disclosure requirements
- Assisted companies with a variety of corporate matters throughout their life cycles including entity formation, structuring, capitalization, private offerings, contract negotiations, executive employment matters and non-profit engagement
Representative Matters
- Represented public company in $360 million divestiture of real estate business segment
- Represented public company in tax-free spin-off transaction
- Represented manufacturer of construction materials in $625 million recapitalization transaction
- Represented architecture firm in $185 million sale transaction to private equity buyer
- Represented medical device company in $97 million cross–border merger transaction
- Represented manufacturer of construction materials in $90 million multi-facility acquisition
- Represented private equity backed industrial services company in various acquisitions
- Represented publicly traded automotive testing company in $30 million cross-border acquisition
- Represented credit union in multiple credit union merger transactions
- Represented gas station and convenience store chain in $50 million strategic acquisition
- Represented youth sports facility in sale transaction to private equity buyer
Educational Activities
- Florida State University College of Law
- Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society
Media
Recognitions
- Best Lawyers in America® Ones to Watch
- Corporate Law (2025-2026)
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2025-2026)
- Real Estate Law (2025-2026)
- Securities Regulation (2026)
- M&A Deal of the Year (between $100,000,000 and $250,000,000), The M&A Advisor (2021)
- Professional Services - B2B Deal of the Year, The M&A Advisor (2021)
- Florida Super Lawyers 'Rising Star' (2020, 2023-2025)
Kelly serves as corporate counsel to variety of clients, including public and private companies, funds, investors and investment advisors. With over a decade of experience, she offers seasoned legal advice to clients on complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, capital raises, divestitures and restructurings. Kelly provides support to clients as... outside general counsel, advising on general corporate matters, corporate governance and commercial needs. In addition to her corporate practice, Kelly advises public companies on securities law reporting requirements. Kelly works with clients to understand their businesses, goals and areas of concern in order to foster a collaborative approach to legal needs and problem solving.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Experience
- Counseled clients in over $1.3 billion in buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions across various industries, including real estate, construction, manufacturing, transportation, medical technology and financial institutions
- Represented investors and investment managers in over $1.2 billion in real estate joint venture transactions
- Counseled public companies on SEC compliance and disclosure requirements
- Assisted companies with a variety of corporate matters throughout their life cycles including entity formation, structuring, capitalization, private offerings, contract negotiations, executive employment matters and non-profit engagement
Representative Matters
- Represented public company in $360 million divestiture of real estate business segment
- Represented public company in tax-free spin-off transaction
- Represented manufacturer of construction materials in $625 million recapitalization transaction
- Represented architecture firm in $185 million sale transaction to private equity buyer
- Represented medical device company in $97 million cross–border merger transaction
- Represented manufacturer of construction materials in $90 million multi-facility acquisition
- Represented private equity backed industrial services company in various acquisitions
- Represented publicly traded automotive testing company in $30 million cross-border acquisition
- Represented credit union in multiple credit union merger transactions
- Represented gas station and convenience store chain in $50 million strategic acquisition
- Represented youth sports facility in sale transaction to private equity buyer
Educational Activities
- Florida State University College of Law
- Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society
Education
- Florida State University College of Law, JD (2013)
- Florida State University, BS, Finance and Business Management (2010)
Admissions
- Florida
Practice Areas
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- General Counsel Services
- Corporate Governance
- Private Equity
- Public Company Compliance & Counseling
- Real Estate Capital Markets
- Construction and Construction Transactions
Industries
- Best Lawyers in America® Ones to Watch
- Corporate Law (2025-2026)
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2025-2026)
- Real Estate Law (2025-2026)
- Securities Regulation (2026)
- M&A Deal of the Year (between $100,000,000 and $250,000,000), The M&A Advisor (2021)
- Professional Services - B2B Deal of the Year, The M&A Advisor (2021)
- Florida Super Lawyers 'Rising Star' (2020, 2023-2025)
