WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2021) – Gunster, one of Florida’s oldest and largest full-service business law firms, is pleased to announce it has promoted eight associate attorneys to shareholders and one associate to an of counsel attorney.
"Each of these attorneys is distinguished by their dedication to the law and we commend their successful contribution to our firm and our clients,” said Bill Perry, managing shareholder of Gunster. “We look forward to seeing them continue to grow and play an even greater role in our firm’s future.”
Matthew M. Comiter
Tax Law, Corporate Law, Private Wealth Services
Located in West Palm Beach
Comiter practices Tax law and Private Wealth Services with a focus in domestic and international taxation matters for individuals and businesses. He advises clients on the tax aspects of corporate transactions, the establishment and acquisition of U.S. corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and assets by foreign companies. Comiter joined Gunster in 2013 and holds a B.S. and LL.M. from the University of Florida and a J.D. from the University of Miami.
Susan Lawton Copeland
Private Wealth Services
Located in Vero Beach and Stuart
Copeland focuses her practice on developing and administering the estate plans of high net worth individuals. She represents both individuals and corporate personal representatives and trustees by providing guidance through the probate and trust administration process, including advice regarding fiduciary responsibilities, assisting fiduciaries with both legal and familial issues, and facilitating intra family or multi-beneficiary matters. Copeland has been with the firm since 2012 and holds a B.A. from Mercer University, a LL.M. from the University of Florida and a J.D. from Nova Southeastern University.
Eric C. Edison
Business Litigation
Located in Fort Lauderdale
Edison has experience litigating complex commercial litigation actions, including breach of contract, business torts, banking and financial institution litigation, shareholder and partnership disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair trade practices, landlord-tenant, probate, employment and real property litigation before circuit, appellate, and federal courts throughout the State of Florida. He also serves as local counsel for out-of-state firms in state and federal litigation. Edison holds a B.A. from Duke University and a J.D. from Northwestern University.
Jamison C. Evert
Private Wealth Services, Dispute Resolution
Located in West Palm Beach
Evert practices Private Wealth Services and Dispute Resolution for the firm with a focus in probate, trust, and guardianship litigation and appeals arising from probate, trust, and guardianship proceedings. He represents beneficiaries, creditors, and individual and corporate fiduciaries involved in complex and disputed estate, trust, and guardianship matters. Evert joined Gunster in 2014 and holds a B.A. from the University of Florida and a J.D. from the University of Mississippi.
Kellie M. Humphries
Business Litigation, Construction Law
Located in Jacksonville
Humphries is a full-service commercial construction lawyer, where she advises clients participating in a multitude of project delivery methods and across industry sectors, including corporate owners, design-builders, EPC contractors, joint ventures and general contractors. Her typical cases range from contract drafting/negotiation to project consulting and pre-suit dispute resolution through trial/final hearing. Humphries joined Gunster in 2016 and holds a B.A. from the Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit and a J.D. from the Washington and Lee University.
Megan K. Moon
Business Litigation, Dispute Resolution, Creditor Rights & Bankruptcy
Located in Jacksonville
Moon practices Business Litigation and E-Discovery for the firm, where she focuses on complex commercial litigation, including contract disputes, professional liability defense, employment disputes and torts defense, as well as governmental affairs and telecommunications litigation. She also assists clients with electronic discovery, document review management and data organization and collection. In 2018, Moon received the Jacksonville Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” honor. She joined Gunster in 2013 and holds a B.A. and J.D. from the University of Florida.
Stephen C. Richman
Business Litigation, Professional Liability Defense
Located in West Palm Beach
Richman is a professional liability and legal malpractice defense attorney whose practice focuses on defending negligence and breach of fiduciary duty claims against professionals. He has experience defending lawyers, auditors, real estate brokers/agents and insurance brokers/agents in malpractice actions in state and federal courts as well as in arbitration. Richman joined Gunster in 2019 and holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and a J.D. from Tulane University.
John W. Terwilleger
Business Litigation, Appellate Law, Intellectual Property Litigation, Eminent Domain & Property Rights
Located in West Palm Beach
Terwilleger is a litigator who handles a variety of trial and appellate matters in both state and federal courts throughout Florida and in other states, including disputes regarding intellectual property and trade secrets, complex business issues, eminent domain & property rights, land use, contracts, professional services, insurance, and employment issues. He joined Gunster in 2013 and holds a B.A. from Baptist Bible College and a J.D. from the University of Florida.
Laura Leslie-Schuemann
Private Wealth Services
Located in West Palm Beach
Leslie-Schuemann is an of counsel attorney in the Private Wealth Services practice. She focuses her practice on wills and trusts, estate, gift and GST tax planning and compliance issues, charitable planning, fiduciary income taxation, trust and estate administration and fiduciary representation. Before joining Gunster, she worked as a Certified Public Accountant in a global high-net worth tax practice. In that capacity, she focused on individual, entity and fiduciary income taxation, transfer taxation and wealth transfer planning. She earned her undergraduate degree at FSU and her J.D. at the University of Florida.
In addition to the above promotions, Gunster had nine lateral hires in 2020, including shareholders Joe Jacquot, Milton A. Vescovacci, Scott M. Coffey, Aron U. Raskas and Arthur S. Meyers. Gunster has more than 200 attorneys throughout its 11 statewide offices.
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