Overview
In every sector of the economy, business is significantly impacted by the policies and decisions of state government. It is no longer enough for businesses to simply react to proposed change. The most effective approach to overcoming obstacles, creating opportunity and protecting the bottom line involves working with decision makers and thought leaders outside of conventional financial and legal arenas to successfully address even the most complex governmental and community concerns. Conforming to established regulations and drafting and shepherding legislation requires teaming with counsel who offer not only deep industry experience and relationships, but who also have mastered the technical and procedural aspects of the legislative, regulatory and administrative policy making process.
Gunster’s Government Affairs team is dedicated to offering legal services that are broad, deep and dimensional. Our professional experiences include preparing businesses for presentations to state governing bodies, obtaining government approvals for pending projects, assisting in implementing regulations and policies, and lobbying at the legislative and executive agency levels. Our attorneys, consultants and political analysts strive to provide the range of services required to achieve our clients’ objectives in the areas of legislative counsel and consulting, transactional and regulatory insurance law and consulting, Public Service Commission (PSC) regulatory counsel and general administrative and regulatory law.
Gunster’s mission is to deliver a powerful combination of commitment, charisma and political savvy when it comes to navigating and influencing government. In an age of unprecedented government intervention in private industry, Gunster seeks to offer more than just a clear understanding of the state agencies to which businesses are accountable. The firm’s objective is to quickly reach and positively influence the right audience. Collaboration is at the heart of our Government Affairs practice. Gunster attorneys are committed to teaming with consultants and to moving government officials toward our client’s position. The key relationships our attorneys strive to develop over decades of practice help streamline the process and promote the right message to government officials about our clients.
Industry knowledge is often a prerequisite to acting as a catalyst for change. Gunster’s industry familiarity spans the spectrum of regulated and unregulated Florida business. Our attorneys have represented commercial and individual interests across a cross-section of industries, including:
- Energy
- Public and private utilities
- Natural gas
- Water and wastewater
- Insurance
- Telecommunications
- Cable
- Alcoholic beverage
- Hospitality
- Entertainment
- Retail
- Gaming
- Transportation
- Travel and tourism
- Health care
- Internet marketing
- Affordable housing
- Education
- Non-profit
Gunster’s Government Affairs professionals endeavor to connect clients, industry and communities to legislators, policy makers and government agencies to enhance client relationships and facilitate favorable resolutions. With an office in Tallahassee, the epicenter of government affairs in Florida, our attorneys are strategically positioned both at the capital and in our offices across the state to monitor legislative and regulatory activities as they occur, as well as work with leaders between sessions when important planning is in motion. Our attorneys seek to maximize their long-term relationships with government representatives in order to highlight possible adverse implications of a proposed bill or to modify current legislation.
Gunster cultivates the diverse public and private sector backgrounds needed to strive to deliver impactful and effective advocacy in Tallahassee. Members of Gunster’s Government Affairs team include experienced lobbyists and consultants, a former PSC commissioner and chair, and a former Chief Legislative Assistant for the Speaker of the Florida House and key policy advisor and liaison with government and community groups. Team members served in multiple positions with the Department of Environmental Protection, including as Legislative Affairs Director, deputy secretary for water policy and ecosystem restoration and General Counsel. In addition, another member of our team served three State of Florida Chief Financial Officers, was appointed Insurance Consumer Advocate, and worked as Director of the Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation in the Florida Department of Financial Services.
Gunster attorneys aspire to provide the foresight, vision and creativity needed to achieve positive results. Our Government Affairs team advocates our client’s position at all levels of state government: executive, administrative, legislative and regulatory. Additionally, Gunster attorneys are involved in trade and industry organizations, and seek to serve in leadership positions in order to help shape policies and priorities that are important to our clients. Gunster has provided legal and business advice to Florida companies for nearly a century. Our firm’s philosophy includes the development of important and enduring relationships with key players in Florida, as well as a commitment to gaining a unique understanding of how policies are made in the state capital and can affect business throughout the state.
