Firm Leadership

Since its inception in 1925, Gunster has enjoyed a tradition of attracting and cultivating many of Florida’s most prominent lawyers. This legacy continues today where Gunster employs a collaborative, “one firm” management approach. This strategy provides our clients with a proactive partner who can recognize the complexities of the big picture while focusing on the fine print.

Gunster’s lead attorneys constitute an elite corps of highly respected professionals who have distinguished themselves both in and out of the courtroom.

Board Principals

George S. LeMieux, Chairman of the Board

Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux is a shareholder and serves as chairman of the firm’s board of directors. Previously, he was a shareholder at Gunster, working with the firm from 1994 through 2002 and again from 2008 until 2009, when he was appointed to serve as Florida’s 34th United States Senator. He previously served as the governor’s chief of staff and as deputy attorney general for the state of Florida. He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and focuses his practice on business litigation and corporate strategic counseling.

H. William Perry, Managing Shareholder

H. William (“Bill”) Perry, managing shareholder of the firm, has been with Gunster for all of his legal career and for much of Florida’s explosive growth of the last 25 years. He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is part of Gunster’s real estate practice. Mr. Perry focuses on complex commercial transactions, real estate development and finance, homeowner associations and condominiums, and mining and construction law. He was part of an advisory group to former Florida Gov. Crist and is active in the Economic Council of Palm Beach County. Mr. Perry takes a lead role in Gunster’s support of Easter Seals Florida and the American Heart Association.

Board Members

Elaine Bucher

Ms. Bucher’s practice is dedicated exclusively to sophisticated estate planning, estate and trust administration and fiduciary litigation.

Mario Garcia-Serra

Mr. Garcia-Serra is Gunster’s Miami office shareholder. He focuses his practice on local government law, particularly land use and zoning.

Julia Holden Davis

Ms. Holden Davis is a trial lawyer focused on the construction and transportation sectors.

Joseph Santoro

Mr. Santoro is a founding board member who serves in the firm’s Office of General Counsel for employment.

William Schifino Jr.

Mr. Schifino is a board certified specialist in the area of business litigation.

General Counsel

David R. Atkinson, Co-General Counsel

David Atkinson is a shareholder who joined Gunster in 1988. In addition to serving as the firm’s co-general counsel, Atkinson chairs Gunster’s Professional Liability and Legal Malpractice Defense group. He also serves on the Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professional Ethics and is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.

Clinton R. Losego, Co-General Counsel

Clinton Losego was appointed co-general counsel after previously serving on the firm’s board of directors since 2013. He represents businesses and individuals in all areas of dispute resolution, including litigation, arbitration and mediation. His clients have included Fortune 100 companies, national and international banks, real estate developers, hospital systems and entrepreneurs, among many others.

Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer

Stephen F. McDermott

Mr. McDermott is the chief financial officer and chief operating officer at Gunster. Mr. McDermott is responsible for managing the firm’s billing, trust, collection, office operations, accounting and reporting functions. Prior to joining Gunster in 2003, Mr. McDermott was a senior manager at Ernst & Young LLP.

Chief Strategy Officer

Carrie Hanna

Carrie Hanna has worked as a legal marketing professional for more than 25 years, and has spent the majority of her career at Gunster. As Chief Strategy Officer, she works with firm leadership to guide the firm’s strategic direction and advancement.

Office Management

Gunster’s Office Managing Shareholders work closely with the firm’s Managing Shareholder to advance the firm’s strategic direction, which includes recruiting and integrating top talent and enhancing the firm’s visibility and community impact throughout Florida.

John P. Cole, Jacksonville Office Managing Shareholder

Derek E. Bruce, Orlando Office Managing Shareholder

Beth Keating, Tallahassee Office Managing Shareholder

John A. Schifino, Tampa Office Managing Shareholder

Practice Group Leaders

The Practice Group Leader (PGL) is the business manager of each of the eight major practice areas within the firm. This includes managing productivity and profitability of the business unit and quality control for client service. Additionally, the PGLs manage the business plan of the group to ensure alignment with the firm’s strategic plan, communicate to the attorneys of the practice group on matters relevant to firm initiatives, and liaise with firm management to successfully recruit and integrate lawyers into the firm.