David Wells

Overview

David Wells is a trial lawyer and a member of Gunster's Business Litigation practice. He formerly served on the firm’s board of directors and co-chairs the Pro Bono Committee.

David’s trial practice is nationwide, focusing on bet-the company litigation in the financial services, construction and professional liability arenas. David is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in ten categories, and is a nine-time recipient of The Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” in Jacksonville.

David’s clients include closely-held and publicly-owned corporations, financial services institutions, high net worth individuals and service professionals, as well as partnerships and sole proprietorships. His litigation practice spans multiple aspects of dispute resolution, ranging from alternative dispute resolution, to litigation, through trial and on appeal.

Honors

  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • AV Preeminent rating as independently determined by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Jacksonville Business Journal, "Ultimate Attorneys: Best of the Bar," 2020
  • The Best Lawyers in North America®
    • Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants "Lawyer of the Year" in Jacksonville, 2020, 2022
    • Securities Litigation "Lawyer of the Year" in Jacksonville, 2019, 2021, 2024
    • Banking & Finance Litigation "Lawyer of the Year" in Jacksonville, 2013, 2018, 2019
    • Construction Litigation "Lawyer of the Year" in Jacksonville, 2016, 2025
    • Construction Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Jacksonville, 2015
    • Real Estate Litigation "Lawyer of the Year" in Jacksonville, 2012, 2015, 2025
    • Bet-the-Company Litigation "Lawyer of the Year" in Jacksonville, 2011, 2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 1995-25
    • Antitrust Litigation
    • Banking & Finance Law
    • Banking & Finance Litigation
    • Bet-the-Company Litigation
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Construction Law
    • Construction Litigation
    • Defendants Legal Malpractice Law
    • Defendants Professional Malpractice Law
    • Real Estate Litigation
    • Securities Litigation
  • The Best Lawyers in America® Business Edition: The Litigation Issue, 2021
  • Chambers & Partners, "Leaders in Their Field," Litigation: General Commercial, 2009-24
  • Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-24
    • "Top 25 Lawyers in Northeast Florida," 2018
    • "Top 25 Lawyers in Jacksonville," 2019-24
    • "Top 100 Lawyers in Florida," 2007, 2009-10, 2012-13, 2019
  • Florida Trend
    • "Legal Elite," 2005-22
    • "Hall of Fame," 2012-present

News & Insights

Involvement

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • Chester Bedell Inns of Court, Master

Education

  • University of Miami, J.D., magna cum laude, 1980
    • University of Miami Law Review, editor-in-chief, 1979-80
  • Florida International University, B.S., summa cum laude, 1977

Admissions

  • Florida, 1980
    • United States Court of Appeals
  • Eleventh Circuit, 1992
  • United States District Court Southern District of Florida, 1982; Middle District of Florida, 1991; Northern District of Florida, 2006
    • U.S. Supreme Court, 1995

News & Insights

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