WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (July 5, 2017) – Gunster, one of Florida’s oldest and largest full-service business law firms, is pleased to announce the addition of Simone Marstiller, a former judge for Florida’s 1st District Court of Appeal, to its appellate law and government affairs law teams. She will be based in the firm's Tallahassee and Tampa offices.
“Judge Marstiller brings vast expertise and judicial system knowledge to both our government affairs and appellate practice groups,” says Lila Jaber, regional managing shareholder and head of the firm’s government affairs practice. “Her focus, experience and dedication to the state of Florida fit perfectly with Gunster’s mission of attracting diverse and world-class legal talent for our 13 statewide offices.”
Marstiller brings more than 20 years of experience after holding several leadership positions in Florida government. Most recently, she was attorney and principal at the Marstiller Firm in Tampa and Tallahassee, specializing in appellate, litigation, and government affairs consulting. Prior to that role, she served as a judge for Florida’s 1st District Court of Appeal, and as the executive director of the Florida Elections Commission.
Throughout her impressive career, she served as a senior policy adviser to Florida’s governor and attorney general. As associate deputy attorney general, she developed and implemented key policy initiatives requiring partnerships with other state and local organizations and substantial collaboration between state agency executives and various constituent groups.
Marstiller was tapped as secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, successfully leading the state’s largest regulatory agency, and held the position of state chief information officer, responsible for IT policy and planning across the enterprise.
She is a member of the National Association of Women Judges, the Tallahassee Barristers Association and Tallahassee Women Lawyers. Additionally, She serves as an adjunct professor at Florida State University College of Law and Stetson University College of Law. Marstiller earned her bachelor of business administration degree from Stetson University, and her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Stetson's law school.
Gunster’s government affairs law & lobbying practice represents commercial and individual interests across a cross-section of industries, including energy, public and private utilities, natural gas and water, among many others.
By joining the firm’s appellate practice, Marstiller will augment and diversify an already strong existing team of attorneys, which includes former Florida Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Bell and former appellate court judge Angel Cortinas.
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