WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (August 20, 2020) – Gunster, one of Florida’s oldest and largest full-service business law firms, is pleased to announce that 86 of the firm’s attorneys have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America©. This is an 11.6% increase over the previous year and the publication recognizes only 5% of lawyers in the United States. Gunster’s 86 Best Lawyers® were ranked in over 45 different practice areas.
Additionally, twelve attorneys in twelve different practice areas and five different geographic regions within Florida have been named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers. Five additional attorneys were recognized with the inaugural recognition as “Ones to Watch.”
The “Lawyer of the Year” award is based on an attorney receiving extremely high overall feedback during the research process which is specific to a practice area and metropolitan region. The following Gunster attorneys were recognized as a “Lawyer of the Year”:
Fort Lauderdale![]() Rick J. Burgess Environmental Law | Tallahassee![]() Gregory Munson Energy/Regulatory |
Jacksonville![]() John P. Cole Litigation – Trust & Estates | Jacksonville![]() Thomas M. Jenks Real Estate Law |
Jacksonville![]() Michael G. Tanner Bet-the-Company Litigation | Jacksonville![]() David M. Wells Litigation, Securities |
Tampa![]() William J. Schifino, Jr. Arbitration | West Palm Beach![]() Elaine M. Bucher Trusts and Estates |
West Palm Beach![]() Thomas A. Hickey Corporate Law | West Palm Beach![]() Adi Rappoport Tax Law |
West Palm Beach![]() Brian M. Seymour Litigation, Land Use and Zoning | West Palm Beach![]() Michael D. Simon Litigation, Trusts and Estates |
Five Gunster attorneys were recognized in the newly introduced “Ones to Watch” category. These awards is given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. The “Ones to Watch” recipients typically have been in practice for 5-9 years.
Tampa![]() Justin Bennett Commercial Litigation | Tampa![]() Madison E.M. Gardiner Real Estate Law |
Fort Lauderdale![]() Stephanie Quinones Corporate Law | Fort Lauderdale![]() Deborah K. Madden Environmental Law |
West Palm Beach![]() Elizabeth A. Bowers Trust and Estates |
Best Lawyers is the only purely peer review guide to the legal profession. For almost 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers lists are published in leading local, regional, and national publications across the globe.
Lawyers named to The Best Lawyers in America publication were recognized by their peers in the legal industry for their professional excellence in 148 practice areas. Gunster has consistently ranked well across many practice areas over the years. Best Law Firms’ first edition was published in 2010.
The following Gunster attorneys were recognized as Best Lawyers by The Best Lawyers in America 2021:
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About Gunster
Gunster, Florida’s law firm for business, provides full-service legal counsel to leading organizations and individuals from its 11 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, Orlando, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, Vero Beach, and its headquarters in West Palm Beach. With over 200 attorneys and 200 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.
Contact:
Jenni Garrison
Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications
561-804-4350, jgarrison@gunster.com