Gunster, one of Florida’s oldest and largest full-service business law firms, is pleased to announce the five J.D. candidates selected to join the firm’s 2024 Summer Associate Program. The summer associate class will be based in Gunster’s Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa and West Palm Beach offices with access to attorneys and staff from the firm’s 13 offices statewide.
Each summer, Gunster offers a select group of law students who are preparing to enter their final year of law school the opportunity to develop their legal skills in ongoing client matters across multiple practices and offices. Summer associates gain real-world experience in a diverse, business-focused law firm, while receiving valuable guidance from an assigned mentor, and participating in attorney training and networking activities. Those students invited to participate in the highly competitive program are in excellent standing amongst their law school classmates.
Mary E. Baker earned a B.S. in Public Policy & Administration from St. Petersburg College and a B.S. in Nursing from Utica University. She is currently pursuing her J.D. and M.B.A. from Stetson University, where she serves on the Stetson Business Law Review. She works as a house supervisor for St. Petersburg General Hospital, and has gained experience as a summer associate at a Florida insurance defense firm and as a nurse with several regional health systems. Mary will spend her summer in Gunster's Tampa office.
Aisha Jehaludi graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a B.S. in Legal Studies and Business Administration. She currently attends the University of Miami School of Law, where she is pursing her J.D. and LL.M. in International Arbitration. In 2023, she served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Jose E. Martinez, and previous to that, worked as a legal assistant in a professional services-focused law office. Aisha will spend her summer in the firm's Miami office.
Matthew Lambertson received his B.A. in English from the University of Florida and is presently pursuing his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he serves on the Florida Law Review. Matthew was formerly a law clerk for the New Civil Liberties Alliance in Washington, DC, and prior, was an investigator intern for the Office of the Public Defender, 15th Judicial Circuit. Christopher will spend his summer in the firm’s West Palm Beach office.
Annie Ortega earned a B.S. in Public Relations and M.S. in Management from the University of Florida and is currently pursuing her J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School, where she serves as staff editor for the Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy. She previously externed for the Honorable Ryan T. Holte of the United States Court of Federal Claims and was also a judicial appointment coordinator in the Office of the General Counsel in Governor Ron DeSantis's Executive Office. Annie will spend her summer in Gunster's Jacksonville office.
Cristina Palazzese graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Psychology and currently attends Boston University School of Law, where she is pursuing a J.D. and serves on the Journal of Science and Technology Law. Cristina formerly gained legal experience as an intern for a North Miami-based law group and has also held roles in product/vendor management and marketing. Cristina will spend her summer in the firm's Miami office.
For more information about Gunster’s 2L Summer Associate Program, please contact Brad Sprayberry, the firm’s Chief Talent Officer.
###
About Gunster
Gunster, Florida’s law firm for business, provides full-service legal counsel to leading organizations and individuals from its 13 offices statewide. Established in 1925, the firm has expanded, diversified and evolved, but always with a singular focus: Florida and its clients’ stake in it. A magnet for business-savvy attorneys who embrace collaboration for the greatest advantage of clients, Gunster’s growth has not been at the expense of personalized service but because of it. The firm serves clients from its offices in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, Vero Beach, and its headquarters in West Palm Beach. With more than 290 attorneys and consultants, and over 290 committed support staff, Gunster is ranked among the National Law Journal’s list of the 500 largest law firms and has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Diverse Law Firms by Law360. More information about its practice areas, offices and insider’s view newsletters is available at www.gunster.com.
