Press Release

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (August 20, 2020) – Gunster, one of Florida’s oldest and largest full-service business law firms, is pleased to announce that 86 of the firm’s attorneys have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America©. This is an 11.6% increase over the previous year and the publication recognizes only 5% of lawyers in the United States.  Gunster’s 86 Best Lawyers® were ranked in over 45 different practice areas.

Additionally, twelve attorneys in twelve different practice areas and five different geographic regions within Florida have been named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers. Five additional attorneys were recognized with the inaugural recognition as “Ones to Watch.”

The “Lawyer of the Year” award is based on an attorney receiving extremely high overall feedback during the research process which is specific to a practice area and metropolitan region. The following Gunster attorneys were recognized as a "Lawyer of the Year":

Fort Lauderdale
Gunster attorney Rick Burgess
Rick J. Burgess
Environmental Law
Tallahassee
Gunster attorney Greg Munson
Gregory Munson
Energy/Regulatory
Jacksonville
Gunster attorney John Cole
John P. Cole
Litigation - Trust & Estates
Jacksonville

Thomas M. Jenks
Real Estate Law
Jacksonville
Mike Tanner
Michael G. Tanner
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Jacksonville
Gunster attorney David Wells
David M. Wells
Litigation, Securities
Tampa
Bill Schifino
William J. Schifino, Jr.
Arbitration
West Palm Beach

Elaine M. Bucher
Trusts and Estates
West Palm Beach
Gunster attorney Tom Hickey
Thomas A. Hickey
Corporate Law
West Palm Beach

Adi Rappoport
Tax Law
West Palm Beach
Gunster attorney Brian Seymour
Brian M. Seymour
Litigation, Land Use and Zoning
West Palm Beach
Gunster attorney Mike Simon
Michael D. Simon
Litigation, Trusts and Estates

Five Gunster attorneys were recognized in the newly introduced “Ones to Watch” category. These awards is given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. The "Ones to Watch" recipients typically have been in practice for 5-9 years.

Tampa

Justin Bennett
Commercial Litigation
Tampa

Madison E.M. Gardiner
Real Estate Law
Fort Lauderdale
Gunster attorney Stephanie Quinones
Stephanie Quinones
Corporate Law
Fort Lauderdale
Gunster attorney Debbie Madden
Deborah K. Madden
Environmental Law
West Palm Beach
Gunster attorney Elizabeth A. Bowers
Elizabeth A. Bowers
Trust and Estates
 

Best Lawyers is the only purely peer review guide to the legal profession.  For almost 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers lists are published in leading local, regional, and national publications across the globe.

Lawyers named to The Best Lawyers in America publication were recognized by their peers in the legal industry for their professional excellence in 148 practice areas. Gunster has consistently ranked well across many practice areas over the years. Best Law Firms’ first edition was published in 2010.

The following Gunster attorneys were recognized as Best Lawyers by The Best Lawyers in America 2021:

Administrative / Regulatory Law
Beth Keating
George S. LeMieux
Gregory M. Munson
Lila A. Jaber

Appellate Practice
Angel A. Cortiñas
Jack J. Aiello
John A. Schifino
Michael G. Tanner
Thomas R. Julin

Arbitration
William J. Schifino, Jr.

Banking and Finance Law
Michael V. Mitrione

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Kenneth G.M. Mather

Bet-the-Company Litigation
David M. Wells
John B.T. Murray, Jr.
Michael G. Tanner

Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Michael R. Freed
Michael V. Mitrione

Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
Michael V. Mitrione

Commercial Litigation
Angel A. Cortiñas
Aron U. Raskas
David M. Wells
David R. Atkinson, Jr.
Edward A. Marod
George S. LeMieux
Gregor J. Schwinghammer, Jr.
Jack J. Aiello
John B.T. Murray, Jr.
John W. Little III
Joseph G. Santoro
Joseph L. Raia
Lauren Purdy
Linda A. Conahan
Mark J. Ragusa
Megan K. Moon
Michael B. Green
Michael G. Tanner
Michael R. Freed
Nicole K. Atkinson
Preethi Sekharan
Stephen C. Page
Thomas R. Julin
Traci Rollins
William E. Adams, Jr.
William J. Schifino, Jr.
William K. Hill

Construction Law
David M. Wells
Julia M. Holden Davis

Corporate Law
David G. Bates
Jeffery Q. Jonasen
Mahesh H. Nanwani
Mark J. Scheer
Michael V. Mitrione
Robert C. White, Jr.
Thomas A. Hickey

Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Amy Brigham Boulris
Brian M. Seymour
Gregory S. Rix
John W. Little III
Juan M. Muñiz

Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Arthur S. Meyers
James B. Davis

Employment Law - Individuals
Michael R. Freed

Employment Law - Management
Arthur S. Meyers

Energy Law
Beth Keating
Lila A. Jaber

Energy Regulatory Law
Beth Keating
Gregory M. Munson
Lila A. Jaber

Environmental Law
Elizabeth Ross
Gregory M. Munson
Luna E. Phillips
Rick J. Burgess

First Amendment Law
Thomas R. Julin

Government Relations Practice
Derek E. Bruce
Gregory M. Munson
J. Larry Williams
Lila A. Jaber

Health Care Law
Bruce D. Lamb
Mark J. Ragusa
Samantha L. Prokop

Immigration Law
Sarah Lea Tobocman

Land Use and Zoning Law
Brian M. Seymour
Christopher P. Benvenuto
Heidi Davis Knapik
James M. Crowley
Mario Garcia-Serra
Staci Rewis

Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
David M. Wells

Litigation - Antitrust
David M. Wells

Litigation - Banking and Finance
David M. Wells
John B.T. Murray, Jr.
Linda A. Conahan
William K. Hill

Litigation - Bankruptcy
Kenneth G.M. Mather

Litigation - Construction
David M. Wells
Kellie M. Humphries

Litigation - Environmental
Rick J. Burgess

Litigation - ERISA
Arthur S. Meyers

Litigation - First Amendment
Thomas R. Julin

Litigation - Intellectual Property
Preethi Sekharan
Stephen C. Page

Litigation - Labor and Employment
John A. Schifino
Joseph G. Santoro

Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
Brian M. Seymour
Christopher P. Benvenuto
John W. Little III

Litigation - Real Estate
David M. Wells
John W. Little III
Linda A. Conahan
Stephen C. Page

Litigation - Securities
David M. Wells
William J. Schifino, Jr.

Litigation - Trusts and Estates
Brian C. Sparks
Debra L. Boje
John B.T. Murray, Jr.
John C. Moran
John P. Cole
Michael D. Simon
Stephen C. Page
Steven A. Lessne
Thomas M. Karr
William T. Hennessey

Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Alan S. Lederman
Brian C. Sparks

Media Law
Thomas R. Julin

Mergers and Acquisitions Law
David G. Bates
Michael V. Mitrione

Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
John B.T. Murray, Jr.

Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
David M. Wells

Real Estate Law
Daniel M. Mackler
Danielle DeVito-Hurley
Frank E. Miller
H. William Perry
Heidi Davis Knapik
Paul K. Hines
Scott Brown
Spencer N. Cummings
Thomas M. Jenks

Securities / Capital Markets Law
Mahesh H. Nanwani

Tax Law
Adi Rappoport
Alan S. Lederman
Brian C. Sparks
James B. Davis
Louis Nostro Jr.
Mark J. Scheer
Martin R. Press
Matthew Comiter

Technology Law
David G. Bates
Robert C. White, Jr.

Trusts and Estates
Brian C. Sparks
Daniel A. Hanley
Debra L. Boje
Elaine M. Bucher
James B. Davis
John C. Moran
Lisa A. Schneider
Louis Nostro Jr.
Mary E. Karr
Mitchell D. Schepps
William T. Hennessey

Utilities Law
Lila A. Jaber

Water Law
Gregory M. Munson

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