Optimizing a Deal: How Sellers and Their Advisors Drive Exceptional Outcomes

Doug Starcher is the Managing Partner of the Orlando office of Nelson Mullins, an AmLaw 75 law firm. He is also head of the firm's Florida M&A team. Doug has spent his entire career counseling entrepreneurial business owners from start-up to exit.

Dan Boggio is the Executive Chairman of PBK. Dan started the firm with a vision of advancing innovative design solutions for educational facilities delivered with a strong commitment to excellence in client service. Under his leadership, PBK has developed into one of the largest and most prolific multi-discipline planning and design firms in the United States.

As Executive Chairman, Dan is focused on the firm’s strategic planning, quality initiatives, business performance, acquisitions and continued growth. He leads and inspires PBK employees to embrace the firm’s culture of “obsessive client service”, high integrity and world-class design. Under Dan’s leadership, the firm has received more than 450 awards for excellence in the field of educational architecture. PBK was recently ranked the #1 education design firm by Engineering News-Record (ENR), the nation’s largest K-12 architecture firm by BD+C, and the largest architecture firm by Houston Business Journal.

Dan is a licensed architect in numerous states and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB) and is LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. He is a Past President of the Southern Region of the Council of Education Facility Planners, International (formerly CEFPI, now A4LE). He is also the recipient of the Planner of the Year Award from this organization as well as a former International Board Member. He is a Founding Member of America’s Schoolhouse Council, a national “think tank” organization of entrepreneurs dedicated to excellence in planning and designing our nation’s schools.  

Dan is an active member of the Houston community and is engaged in many local and national charitable organizations. He currently serves on the Board of Governors and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Katy Area Economic Development Council (KAEDC). Dan is also a member of the Board of Advisors of Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston. He is the recipient of the George B. Carlisle Distinguished Service Award, the Children’s Assessment Center Humanitarian Award, the Interfaith Ministries Humanitarian Award and the Helenka Pantaleone Humanitarian Award from UNICEF, along with many other honors and awards he has received for his dedication to community service.

Peter's areas of focus include corporate and tax. His corporate practice includes formation of corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships, operating matters, private offerings, and mergers and acquisitions.

His corporate and tax practice also include structuring and implementing ownership of complex business ventures, such as complex real estate developments. Peter has structured and negotiated dozens of joint venture projects on behalf of developers, including 50 joint ventures for three different national developers since 2015 with total combined equity contributions exceeding $1 billion.

Peter's tax practice includes representation of clients with respect to corporate income tax matters (including tax–free reorganizations), partnership tax matters, tax–exempt organization matters, individual income tax matters, and state and local tax matters. He also counsels clients on the tax effect of various formations, equity offerings, acquisitions, and other transactions.

He graduated first in his class from the University of Florida Levin College of Law L.L.M. Tax program and is a member of the University of Florida Hall of Fame.

Dara Shareef is a Managing Partner with Benchmark International, where he helps lead the firm’s sellside M&A advisory services. With extensive experience in deal execution, analysis, and strategic growth, Dara guides clients through complex transactions, ensuring optimal outcomes. His leadership and expertise helps drive Benchmark International’s success, helping businesses owners achieve their goals with personalized, results-driven solutions.