Firm Leadership

Since its inception in 1925, Gunster has enjoyed a tradition of attracting and cultivating many of this State’s most prominent lawyers.  This legacy continues today where Gunster employs a collaborative, “one firm” management approach to provide our clients a proactive partner who can recognize the complexities of the big picture while focusing on the fine print.

Gunster’s lead attorneys constitute an elite corps of highly respected professionals who have distinguished themselves both in and out of the courtroom.

Board Principals

George LeMieux, Senator George S. LeMieux, Chairman of the Board
Senator George LeMieux is a shareholder and serves as Chairman on the firm’s Board of Directors. Previously, Senator LeMieux was a shareholder with Gunster, working with the firm from 1994 through 2002 and again from 2008 until 2009, when he was appointed to serve as Florida’s 34th United States Senator. Senator LeMieux previously served as the Governor’s Chief of Staff and as Deputy Attorney General for the State of Florida. Senator LeMieux is an AV rated attorney and focuses his practice on business litigation and corporate strategic counseling.

H. William Perry, Managing Shareholder
H. William (Bill) Perry, managing partner of the firm, has been with Gunster for all of his legal career and much of Florida’s explosive growth in the last 25 years. An A-V rated attorney who is part of Gunster’s Real Estate practice, Mr. Perry focuses on complex commercial transactions, real estate development and finance, homeowner associations and condominiums, and mining and construction law. He is part of an advisory group to Governor Crist and is active in the Economic Council of Palm Beach County. Mr. Perry takes a lead role in Gunster’s support of Easter Seals Florida and the American Heart Association. He studied in the Kings College Exchange Program of the University of London and graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Law.

Donald J. Beuttenmuller Jr., General Counsel
The general counsel for Gunster, Donald Beuttenmuller has been with the firm since 1980 and served as managing shareholder from 2002 through 2008. Mr. Beuttenmuller is a graduate of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and his J.D. is from the University of Florida.

Board Members

Linda Conahan
Ms. Conahan joined Gunster in 2001. She has distinguished herself as a formidable counselor in the areas of commercial, property, and estate and trust litigation.

Robert S. Hackleman
Mr. Hackleman, who joined Gunster in 1990, specializes in the prosecution and defense in both federal and state courts of substantial lawsuits involving a variety of business matters. He is now the shareholder in charge of practice management.

Michael V. Mitrione
Mr. Mitrione joined Gunster in 1979, following four years of practice in New York City. Among his key areas of counsel are mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, and joint ventures and partnerships.

Clemente L. Vazquez-Bello
Mr. Vazquez-Bello is highly regarded in both domestic and international banking circles for his longstanding career as counsel to domestic and foreign banks. He joined Gunster in 1979.

Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer

Stephen F. McDermott
Mr. McDermott is the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. McDermott is responsible for managing the Firm’s Billing, Trust, Collection, Office Operations, Accounting and Reporting functions. Prior to joining the Firm in 2003, Mr. McDermott was a Senior Manager at Ernst & Young LLP.