WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 26, 2016) – Gunster, one of Florida’s oldest and largest full service business law firms, continues to grow with the promotion of four shareholders to leadership positions.
The announcement was made by H. William "Bill" Perry, the firm’s managing shareholder, at Gunster’s recent semiannual meeting in Fort Lauderdale. The newly created positions are a significant expansion to the firm’s management team, which adopted a corporate structure in 2008.
Promotions include Lila Jaber, of Tallahassee, to regional managing shareholder; Derek E. Bruce and Allison E. Turnbull to Orlando office managing shareholders, and Bill Adams to Jacksonville office managing shareholder. The new responsibilities are in addition to their legal practices and are effective immediately.
Jaber, the newly named regional managing shareholder, will work closely with Perry to advance the firm’s strategic direction, including recruiting and integrating top talent in north and central Florida, and enhancing the firm’s presence in Tampa, Orlando and Tallahassee. Bruce and Turnbull will focus on Orlando while Adams oversees the growth of Gunster’s Jacksonville office. The new management team brings diversity in experience, as well as in terms of practice and geographic areas.
“Developing our leadership team is the next step in advancing our singular focus on Florida,” said Perry. “Local knowledge helps us have a greater impact in these communities, and attracts the best talent to Gunster.”
Jaber leads the government affairs practice for Gunster and is the founder of Florida’s Women in Energy Leadership Forum. A former chair of the Public Service Commission, Jaber also served on Workforce Florida’s board and as a former chair of Leadership Florida. She remains actively involved at state and local leadership levels, helping to promote civic engagement and economic development. As a local businesswoman and entrepreneur, Jaber is a founding member of the Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce, where she promotes growth and support for women and minority-owned businesses, which earned her recognition by the Tallahassee Democrat in 2015 as one of the “25 Women You Need to Know.”
Bruce is based in the firm’s Orlando office and practices in government affairs, primarily representing clients before state and local governments throughout Florida on procurement and regulatory matters. He will serve as one of two Orlando managing shareholders. Derek is an AV-rated lawyer who is also active in his community. He has served on the boards of numerous statewide and local community organizations, including Leadership Florida, the Central Florida Foundation, the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida (past president), BusinessForce (past chair) and the African-American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, to name only a few.
Turnbull works from Gunster’s Orlando and Winter Park offices with a practice focused on real estate development, navigating the complexities of Florida land use and zoning laws. Her experience extends throughout central Florida and beyond, coupled with lobbying experience at both the state and federal levels. Allison serves as a director on the boards of the Central Florida YMCA and the After School All Stars. Additionally, the Orlando Business Journal named Allison to its “40 Under 40” list in 2015.
Adams co-founded the firm’s Jacksonville office in 2007 and practices as a business litigator. He’s a current member of the board for Downtown Vision, Inc., an active alumnus of Leadership Jacksonville and is the past president and board member of Episcopal Children’s Services. He owns First Coast CrossFit and is active in the Jacksonville community.
Gunster is a Florida-focused business law firm with more than 180 attorneys. In addition to the recent promotion of these four attorneys, in 2016 Gunster hired four shareholders, 10 associates, and one of counsel shareholder. The firm recently added two offices, located in Winter Park and Boca Raton.
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Read related:
- Gunster growth continues with promotion of 4 shareholders to leadership positions, other additions (FloridaRecord, 10/28/16)
- Bill Adams taking on larger role as managing shareholder in Gunster's Jacksonville office (Financial News & Daily Record, 10/3/16)
- Gunster expands leadership beyond South Florida (Daily Business Review, 9/28/16) - note: subscription required.
- Here's how this law firm's new regional leader plans to bolster Tampa growth (Tampa Bay Business Journal, 9/27/16) - note: subscription required.
- Personnel note: Gunster law firm promotes Lila Jaber, 3 others (Florida Politics, 9/28/16)
