The Best Companies to Work For in Florida program was created by Florida Trend and Best Companies Group and endorsed by the HR Florida State Council. One hundred companies were recognized in the small, medium and large company category. Gunster is listed in the large company category.

“Companies that retain the best employees with strong workplace programs are frequently the very same companies that serve their clients exceptionally well,” says Florida Trend publisher Andy Corty.  “It’s our pleasure to recognize these great companies and encourage others to join them in building Florida’s competitive advantage.”

To be considered for participation, companies or government entities had to employ at least 15 workers in Florida and be at least a year old. Companies that chose to participate in the process underwent a two-part survey process. The first part consisted of evaluating each company’s workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure employee satisfaction. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration, survey and analysis process and determined the final ranking. Companies were not required to pay a participation fee to go through the online assessment process.

For a complete list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in Florida go to:
www.floridatrend.com/bestcompanies

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm’s status as Florida’s law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with over 150 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

(July 16, 2010) Miami, FL - Member's of Gunster's Immigration practice authored a chapter on Immigration Law for the National Association for Healthcare Recruitment manual. This is the second time this practice has been asked to contribute their expertise in this manual. 

The thirteen-page chapter covers various immigration laws and protocol that a healthcare recruitment professional will need to acknowledge in addition to the numerous forms and different classifications that are available. The National Association for Healthcare Recruitment serves as the primary organization providing the tools to promote the expertise and influence of health care recruiters.

Gunster's Immigration practice develops comprehensive and pragmatic strategies to further the business objectives of clients who require the services of foreign nationals. They handle the full range of employment-based visas (both temporary and permanent), represent foreign investors, and prepare the relevant policies and procedures for companies' Human Resources departments. They also train management on how to implement these procedures.

Rappoport concentrates his practice in various areas of tax law, estate planning, corporate law, and tax-exempt organizations.

He and his wife Shaina founded The Jacob Isaac Rappoport Foundation, which funds research and programs for families affected by spinal muscular atrophy, in honor of their late son, Jacob Isaac Rappoport. Each year since 2003, the Rappoports have organized "Jacob's Run, Walk and Roll to Cure Spinal Muscular Atrophy," a community event which raised over $91,000 this year for Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Inc., for which Rappoport serves as a director.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (June 30, 2010) --- The law firm of Gunster announced today that Florida State Senator Joe Negron has joined the firm as a shareholder. He will focus his practice on business litigation and environmental and land use, working primarily from the firm's West Palm Beach and Stuart offices."

Joe Negron's experience as a lawmaker in Tallahassee, his knowledge of land use and proven abilities as a litigator adds an additional dimension to these two very deep practice groups at Gunster," said H. William Perry, chairman and managing partner. "He fits well into our firm's culture, being a native of the state and passionate about protecting its interests."

Negron started his law career in private practice in Stuart, Fla. nearly 25 years ago, before joining the law firm of Crary, Buchanan, Bowdish, Bovie, Roby, Beres, Negron & Thomas. He most recently served Of Counsel at Akerman Senterfitt in West Palm Beach.

"Joining Gunster will allow me to be closer to my family and to reconnect with my career as a litigator on the Treasure Coast," Negron said. "I look forward to becoming part of this preeminent practice group that is so well respected around the state."

Negron was first elected to the Florida State House of Representatives in 2000 and served until 2006. Last year, voters elected him serve in the State Senate representing District 28. The district runs from Palm Beach County north to Indian River County.

Negron has a bachelor's degree from Stetson University, a law degree from Emory University and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University. He has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1986. He is past-chairman of the Safe Florida Foundation, past-president of the Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce and has served on the board of directors of the Martin County Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 2009, he received the Claude Pepper Memorial Award for Service to Senior Citizens.  

About Gunster

Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with over 150 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

The following Gunster attorneys have been named to Florida Trend's Legal Elite 2010:

• William E. Adams, Jr., Jacksonville
• Gregory K. Bader, Fort Lauderdale
• David G. Bates, West Palm Beach
• Michael Cavendish, Jacksonville
• G. Joseph Curley. Jr., West Palm Beach
• Thomas M. Karr, Miami
• Mahesh H. Nanwani, Miami
• David C. Scileppi, Fort Lauderdale
• Brian M. Seymour, West Palm Beach
• Daniel A. Thomas, West Palm Beach
• David M. Wells, Jacksonville
• Edward M. Whelan, Jacksonville
• Robert C. White, Jr., Fort Lauderdale
• Gaida G. Zirkelbach, West Palm Beach

This year's list of 918 Legal Elite attorneys represents less than 2% of the nearly 63,000 Florida Bar members practicing in Florida.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with over 150 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

“Prior to Gunster’s Boardroom Brief, there wasn’t a single resource that allowed business leaders to stay current with the issues that affect Florida,” said Chairman and Managing Partner H. William “Bill” Perry, who has been with Gunster for more than 20 years. “Our goal with this site is to provide not only the day’s top business news from the major markets, but informed insight and reactions from Florida’s business leaders.”

Gunster’s Boardroom Brief features weekly Q&A’s; interviews with leading Florida executives on the major issues facing their industries; a column offering legal insight on the top issues facing Florida businesses; and an interactive blog by Perry. It also provides links to all of the major daily newspapers in Florida, from the Panhandle to Miami. An easy-to-use drop-down menu facilitates access to the top business, legal, political, and technology stories from around the state, and local headlines from the viewer’s own community. There are also links to major national media outlets such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, CNN, Fox News and other TV networks.

For more information, visit www.boardroombrief.com.

About H. William “Bill” Perry

H. William “Bill” Perry serves as the Chairman and Managing Partner of Gunster. He specializes in complex commercial transactions, real estate development and finance, homeowner associations and condominiums, mining law and construction law. Perry was named CEO of the Year by the South Florida Business Journal in 2009 and one of the Best Lawyers in America by Real Estate Law for 2009-2010. He has been with the firm since 1986.

About Gunster

Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm’s status as Florida’s law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach, with over 150 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Cavendish was tapped as the special national correspondent on litigation management by the National Law Journal, and wrote two features on lawsuit and legal dispute management during the Great Recession for that publication. He is a contributing member of Legal OnRamp, the nationwide Web 2.0 community for legal management issues between corporate and private counsel, and he is frequently called on by leading U.S. corporations to devise legal portfolio management proposals for complex and multi-division corporate entities.

Cavendish, who concentrates his trial practice in complex commercial disputes, environmental law, real estate and finance, has been named to Florida Trend's Legal Elite six years in a row. He is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell, and was selected to the LawDragon 3000 list in the years 2006 and 2010. This is his second award from the Florida Bar; in 2000 he was awarded the Excellence in Legal Writing Award.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 150 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

The following Gunster attorneys have been named Leaders in Their Field:
Paul W.A. Courtnell, Jr., West Palm Beach office, Leisure and Hospitality (Nationwide)
David Atkinson, West Palm Beach office, Litigation: General Commercial
Gregory K. Bader, Banking & Finance, Regulatory and Transactional
David Bates, West Palm Beach office, Corporate/M&A & Private Equity
Clemente Vazquez-Bello, Miami office, Banking & Finance
James Brindell, West Palm Beach office, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
Rick Burgess, Fort Lauderdale office, Environment
James B. Davis, Fort Lauderdale office, Tax: Employee Benefits
Donald R. Hall, Fort Lauderdale office, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
Alan Lederman, Fort Lauderdale office, Tax
Luciana C. Melo, Miami office, Immigration
Michael V. Mitrione, West Palm Beach office, Corporate/M&A & Private Equity
Martin R. Press, Fort Lauderdale office, Tax
Sarah Lea Tobocman, Miami office, Immigration
David Wells, Jacksonville office, Litigation: General Commercial

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 150 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's Technology & Bioscience Committee hosts networking events to educate and update the community on advancements in innovation and technology. Each year, the committee presents the highly anticipated Technology Leaders of the Year Awards, which recognizes individuals who guide the effective use of technology to improve their company's business performance and have had a positive impact on the community. The 2010 Technology Leaders of the Year awards was attended by over 425 C-level technology professionals, raised $70,000 in sponsorships, and included 27 industry display tables.

"Kevin's reputation as an expert in technology law and his passion for promoting collaboration is now coupled with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's unparalleled platform for bringing our South Florida business community together, " said Alberto Dosal, Group Chair for Domestic Business Development for the Chamber and CEO of Compuquip Technologies.
"This creates a win-win opportunity for the technology industry in South Florida."

Levy is an AV Rated business, corporate and technology attorney and a member of Gunster's Technology & Entrepreneurial Companies practice. For over a decade, he has represented global technology companies, as well as local entrepreneurial ventures. Kevin has extensive experience providing strategic counseling and negotiating transactions for both U.S. and foreign-based clients. Kevin is frequently interviewed by the media on current technology law issues and trends, and he has received awards for his technology law practice from The Best Lawyers in America, Florida Trend, South Florida Business Journal and Super Lawyers.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach, with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

The following associates have been named ‘Rising Stars 2010':

Fort Lauderdale

• Jessica DeBianchi Rivera, Business/Corporate
• Aaron Jay Horowitz, Business Litigation
• Robert A. Malinoski, Environmental
• Jamie B. Schwinghamer, Business Litigation
• David C. Scileppi, Securities & Corporate Finance

Miami

• Joshua T. Jacobson, Securities & Corporate Finance
• Luciana C. Melo, Immigration
• Marina Olman, Banking
• Mariana Ribeiro, Immigration

Stuart

• Laura M. Leslie-Schuemann, Estate & Trust Litigation

West Palm Beach

• Christopher P. Benvenuto, Business Litigation
• Marc D. Brody, Tax
• Brian M. McPherson, Employment & Labor
• Cristina Papanikos, Estate & Trust Litigation
• Gaida G. Zirkelbach, Information Technology/Outsourcing

About Gunster
Established in 1926, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

West Palm Beach, FL (May 26, 2010)-Gunster is pleased to announce that twenty of the firm's shareholders have been named a ‘Super Lawyer 2010' by Florida Super Lawyers magazine, an annual publication that recognizes the top five percent of attorneys in the state. The list is compiled from peer nominations, a panel-review process and independent research on candidates. The following shareholders have been named Super Lawyers: 

Fort Lauderdale

• Linda A. Conahan, Business Litigation
• Robert S. Hackleman, General Litigation
• Alan S. Lederman, Tax
• Martin R. Press, Tax

Jacksonville

• Edward M. Whelan, Construction/Surety
• David Wells, Business Litigation. Wells has also been selected by Florida Super Lawyers as one of the Top 100 attorneys in Florida for the second year in a row.

Miami

• Arthur J. Furia, Business/Corporate
• Thomas Karr, Private Wealth Services
• Kevin M. Levy, Business/Corporate
• Sarah Lea Tobocman, Immigration
• Clemente Vazquez-Bello, Banking

West Palm Beach

• David G. Bates, Business/Corporate
• James R. Brindell, Land Use/Zoning
• G. Joseph Curley, Jr., Business Litigation
• Daniel A. Hanley, Estate Planning & Probate
• Michael V. Mitrione, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Lisa A. Schneider, Estate Planning & Probate
• Gregor J. Schwinghammer, Jr., Business Litigation
• Michael D. Simon, Estate Trust & Litigation
• Stephen G. Vogelsang, Estate Planning & Probate

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Jacksonville, FL (May 18, 2010)—James O. Birr, III, a shareholder in Gunster’s Jacksonville office, has been chosen to be part of Leadership Jacksonville’s Class of 2011. Over 50 professionals were selected for the year-long program which explores the dynamics of urban society, analyzes major areas of concern in communities and promotes relationship building to better improve the community as a whole.

Criteria for selection include demonstrated or emerging leadership skills, active involvement in the community and a willingness to invest the time and energy required by the program.

About Leadership Jacksonville
Leadership Jacksonville develops youth and adult leaders to assume greater responsibility as community trustees who improve the quality of life for self, family and community.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm’s status as Florida’s law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

The article, "Mandatory Redemptions Enable Hedge Fund Managers to Control Regulatory and Reputational Risks, Contain Costs and Accommodate Maturation of Investor Base," is a comprehensive look at mandatory redemption (when funds cash their investors out) provisions and how they affect both hedge fund managers and investors in the current financial markets.

The article quotes Cavendish at length on multiple issues concerning hedge fund management and the structure of hedge funds. Cavendish works for corporate and institutional clients from Florida to New York, with particular emphasis on legal problems in the financial markets and financial services industries. On the topic of hedge funds, Cavendish adds, "Hedge funds used to be an exotic animal in the financial jungle, but no more. Especially after the Great Recession and the collapse of some banks and investment firms, hedge funds have become vital, necessary cogs in our national monetary machinery. They are legally fascinating." Cavendish is the only Florida lawyer and Gunster is the only firm outside of the northeastern U.S. cited as authorities in the article.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Tobocman, who is chair of Gunster’s Immigration Practice, discussed considerations for employing a sponsored foreign national in the visa process and best practices in the current climate of increased government security.

About Gunster’s Immigration Practice
Gunster’s Immigration practice develops comprehensive and pragmatic strategies to further the business objectives of clients who require the services of foreign nationals. We handle the full range of employment-based visas (both temporary and permanent), represent foreign investors, and prepare the relevant policies and procedures for companies' Human Resources departments. We also train management on how to implement these procedures.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm’s status as Florida’s law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach, with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

(West Palm Beach, FL) May 4, 2010—Five attorneys from Gunster have contributed two chapters in the Florida Bar’s “Business Litigation in Florida, 6^th Edition,” a 22-chapter manual that covers a full range of business litigation topics such as initial considerations of jurisdiction and venue, pretrial and trial issues, and recovery of attorney’s fees.

Fort Lauderdale-based attorneys  Curtis Alva, Fabienne Fahnestock and Anne C. O’Connor co-authored the chapter “Pretrial Preparation and Trial Procedures; Direct Examination, Cross-Examination, Redirect, and Rebuttal.” Michael W. Marcil, also based in Gunster’s Fort Lauderdale office, and Michael Cavendish, from Gunster’s Jacksonville office co-authored “Punitive And Lost Profit Damages in Commercial Tort Cases.”

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm’s status as Florida’s law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

L to R:  Melanie Dickinson, President and Publisher of the South
Florida Business Journal, David Clarke, Managing Partner for
BGT Partners, Bill Perry, Managing Partner for Gunster

Lamb concentrates his areas of practice in mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity, general corporate and commercial law, and creditor's rights and corporate structuring.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach, with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Chase will concentrate his practice in the areas of business & corporate law. Prior to joining Gunster, Chase was an associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago, Illinois. At Kirkland, Chase represented private companies, private equity firms and venture capital firms on a variety of complex business transactions, including various strategic and leveraged acquisitions and divestitures, mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, debt and equity restructurings, executive compensation and incentive equity matters, and general corporate counseling and compliance.

Chase received his doctor of jurisprudence from Vanderbilt University and earned his A.B., cum laude, from Harvard University. He is also a member of the Illinois State Bar. While in law school, Chase was the Editor-in-Chief of the Vanderbilt Law Review. He was also the recipient of the Stanley D. Rose Book Award for Best Written Piece in the Fields of Jurisprudence or Legal History and Vanderbilt Scholastic Excellence Awards for the highest grades received in Legal Process and Criminal Law. A South Florida native, Chase graduated from Deerfield Beach High School in Deerfield Beach, Florida.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm’s status as Florida’s lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Ms. Tobocman acted as the moderator of the panel discussion and Mr. Carmichael was a featured speaker, along with other colleagues from across the country.

In speaking to the topic of "Hiring, Documenting, and Terminating H-1B Workers in a Climate of Increased Government Scrutiny" - Ms. Tobocman and Mr. Carmichael  spoke about compliance issues, the need for employers to apply by or as soon as possible on or after April 1 for one of the limited number of H-1B visas that will be available in October 2010; and ways to ensure employer compliance with governmental regulations relating to the employment, furlough, and termination of H-1B workers.

If you would like to view the webinar - please follow the directions below (sign up is required at the ELA website):

The Webinar is on the ELA website that includes audio and the Power Point presentation: www.employmentlawalliance.com.  You will first need to register - it takes only a moment.  Just click "create new account" and complete the requested information.  After you click submit, you will receive a message on how to create a password.  Once you have done that, you should be able to log in and click the webinar title in the box entitled "Employment Law Webinars" on the right side of your computer screen.  From there you will see a description of the Webinar and under that you will see the links to download the Power Point presentation and the Podcast (audio).
If you have any questions about this webinar - or other immigration related issues - please contact:

Sarah Lea Tobocman, Chair, Immigration Practice  |  stobocman@gunster.com  |  (305) 376-6065

Jay Carmichael, Of Counsel Shareholder, Immigration Practice | jcarmichael@gunster.com  |  (305) 376-6090

According to the Ordinance, an employer is liable for theft of wages if the employer fails to pay any portion of an employee’s wages within fourteen days from the date the work was performed. Employers have the ability to lengthen this time to a maximum of thirty days from the date the work was performed, but only by an express written agreement signed by the employee. An employee has up to 1 year to file a claim for Wage Theft.

If an employer has imprecise, inadequate or nonexistent time or payroll records, then the Employer has the burden of disproving the claim. In the event an employee proves Wage Theft, the employer will be ordered to pay wage restitution in the amount equal to three times the amount of back wages and the cost of the administrative process which could total thousands of dollars. The potential for additional penalties exists.  Additionally, the Ordinance allows for the possibility of class actions for Wage Theft.

Employers must act now to ensure their employment practices are in compliance with the newly enacted Ordinance. Employers need to make absolutely certain that they are properly recording the working hours of their non-exempt employees and are paying them all of their earned wages within fourteen days. If employers are not paying their employees within fourteen days they must immediately alter this practice or obtain written consent from their employees that they will be paid within at least thirty days. Employers should make certain that they properly classify their employees as exempt or non-exempt. Additionally, employers should preemptively work with their employment counsel to ensure wage and hour compliance, to prevent potentially paying an employee up to three times their salary and administrative fees to the county.  For additional information on the Wage Theft Ordinance or assistance in complying with the Ordinance, contact a member of Gunster’s Employment Practice Group.

Joseph Curley
Co-Chair
Employment Practice Group

Joseph Santoro
Co-Chair
Employment Practice Group

West Palm Beach, FL (March 23, 2010)-Gunster, Attorneys at Law is pleased to announce fifteen shareholders have been named Leaders in Their Field by Chambers and Partners, a leading legal directory that includes only the world's leading lawyers and law firms (http://www.chambersandpartners.com/). The directory will be published in June 2010.

The following attorneys have been named Leaders in Their Field:

• David R. Atkinson, Litigation: General Commercial
• Gregory K. Bader, Banking & Finance: Regulatory and Transactional
• David G. Bates, Corporate, M&A and Private Equity
• James R. Brindell, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
• Rick J. Burgess, Environment
• Paul W.A. Courtnell, Jr., Leisure & Hospitality
• James B. Davis, Tax: Employee Benefits
• Donald R. Hall, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
• Alan S. Lederman, Tax
• Luciana C. Melo, Immigration
• Michael V. Mitrione, Corporate/M&A and Private Equity
• Martin R. Press, Tax
• Sarah Lea Tobocman, Immigration
• Clemente Vazquez-Bello, Banking & Finance: Regulatory
• David Wells, Litigation, General Commercial

Each year, Chambers conducts in-depth research and interviews with clients and attorneys throughout the United States to identify the top lawyers in various practice areas. Inclusion in Chamber guides is based completely on their research and findings and cannot be initiated by a firm or attorney. The qualities on which rankings are assessed include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness/astuteness, diligence, commitment and other qualities most valued by the client.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Smith has extensive litigation experience, handling all aspects of construction defect, environmental liability, property damage, bodily injury, and professional liability coverage disputes.  He is admitted to practice law in the States of Florida, New York and Connecticut.

“Cyril’s insurer-side experience and litigation skills will be a great asset to the firm and its corporate policyholder clients,” said Robert Friedman, chair of Gunster’s insurance coverage practice.  “Insurance companies have plenty of skilled lawyers.  We are thrilled to have Cyril on the side of Florida’s businesses.”

Smith is a 1999 graduate of Brooklyn Law School, and a 1995 graduate of Hunter College, City of University of New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude.  Before joining Gunster, he was an associate for six years at Nixon Peabody LLP in New York City and, later, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Gunster’s fast-growing insurance coverage practice represents corporations throughout Florida, the United States, and the Caribbean. The firm also represents charities and non-profit organizations, and advises state governmental entities and key public officials on state-wide insurance policy and legislation.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

March 10, 2010-Mark J. Scheer, a shareholder for Gunster, Attorneys at Law, is among the honorees nominated for the "Tiffany Outstanding Service Award." The winner will be announced at the 9th Annual Men with Caring Hearts luncheon on April 23, 2010 at the Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton. 

This event honors men who have improved the quality of lives through their work with non-profit groups. In 2002, Scheer became a board member of the Florence Fuller Child Development Foundation, and helped organize the Foundation to support the Florence Fuller Child Development Centers. Since 2006, he has served on the board of directors for the Centers in several capacities including Treasurer and Secretary. Florence Fuller Child Development Centers, with two locations in Boca Raton, Florida, provides quality childcare services to children from low-income households. The Centers currently serve 625 children from six weeks to 11 years of age and offers the only Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Boca Raton.

Scheer is board certified in Tax Law by the Florida Bar. He concentrates his areas of practice in state, federal and international tax planning and business structuring, as well as estate planning with particular emphasis on the needs of international clients.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Birr, who joined the firm in 2008, concentrates his areas of practice in construction law and commercial litigation. He is board certified in construction law and was named a Florida Super Lawyer's Rising Star in 2009. He is a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association and is on the Board of Directors for the Jacksonville Public Library.

Dangler, who joined the firm in 2000, concentrates his area of practice in intellectual property litigation, computer and internet law and antitrust litigation in the firm's Business Litigation practice. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and is admitted to the Florida Bar, U.S. District Court for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Phillips, a Board Certified attorney, concentrates her practice exclusively in the areas of environmental and administrative law. Practicing law for 15 years, Phillips is a frequent lecturer on Florida water law and related environmental topics. She has earned the LEED Accredited Professional designation through the U.S. Green Building Council and has been named a Florida Super Lawyer's Rising Star and to Florida Trend's Legal Elite for Environmental Law. Prior to joining Gunster in 2007, Phillips was a senior attorney for the South Florida Water Management District. Phillips is a graduate of Mercer University Law School and is licensed to practice in Florida and Georgia.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's law firm for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

This letter addresses an issue with respect to the funding of an irrevocable life insurance trust (“ILIT”) to pay insurance premiums, as well as gifts to other irrevocable trusts in 2010. As we advised you earlier this year, under current law, the federal estate and generation-skipping transfer (“GST”) taxes are not applicable in 2010. 

Often, an ILIT will be set up so that the beneficiaries have withdrawal rights, in order for the transfers to the trust to come within the gift tax annual exclusion.  However, even though there is no taxable gift, the transfer often requires the use of the donor’s exemption from GST taxes (the “GST Exemption”), if the ILIT is to continue beyond more than one generation and not be subject to GST taxes.  For that reason, a donor to an ILIT will often file annual gift tax returns to allocate GST Exemption to the ILIT.  If a donor intends to allocate GST Exemption to gifts to an ILIT then the following discussion is important. 

Because the GST tax law is not applicable in 2010, a donor does not have any GST Exemption to allocate in 2010.  Therefore, a donor cannot timely allocate his or her available GST Exemption to an ILIT, for a transfer made to the ILIT in 2010.  The result is that any gifts made to an ILIT in 2010 will cause the ILIT to be partially subject to GST tax in the future.  Since insurance premiums are usually paid annually, there are a few alternatives to allow the ILIT to have the funds needed to pay the premiums without subjecting the ILIT to GST tax:

• To the extent the insurance policy owned by the ILIT has cash surrender value that can be borrowed against, borrow the amount needed for the current year’s premium from the policy.
• Instead of the donor making a gift to the ILIT for the annual premium, the donor could lend the funds to the ILIT.  The loan could be repaid next year either by a gift to the ILIT when the GST Exemption is available or ultimately from the death benefits from the policy.
• If the GST Tax is not reinstated in 2010, the donor could make a gift to the ILIT and plan to make a late allocation of GST Exemption as of January 1, 2011, when the GST tax is again applicable.  However, this strategy will not be effective if the donor dies during 2010, or if the donor does not have sufficient GST Exemption to allocate to the ILIT at that time, if the assets in the ILIT appreciate substantially during this year.

The concerns outlined in this letter would likewise be applicable for 2010 transfers to an irrevocable trust, other than an ILIT, to the extent the donor intended to allocate GST Exemption to the transfers. 

We urge you to contact us before making any gifts to an ILIT or other irrevocable trust in 2010.

GUNSTER PRIVATE WEALTH SERVICES

Bob White aka @soflatechlawyer

Bob White doesn’t just scratch the surface on Twitter, he takes advantage of all the free tools available to engage and make his networking as effective as possible.

Listen in to the recording of the call to hear:

• How Mr. White landed his first client on Twitter
• What tools he uses to save time and maximize his efforts
• How Mr. White is setting the example to the younger attorneys at Gunster

Prior to joining Gunster, Klitch was the Chief Legal Officer and Senior Vice President of Operations for Octagon Athletes and Personalities, an international sports management and representation firm. She also is a former professional tennis player ranked in the top 50 in the world. She is admitted to the Florida and Ohio bars and received her juris doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School and her Bachelor of Arts from the Ohio State University.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

The conference call will cover:

• How White uses Twitter in his practice
• What tools he uses to save time and maximize his efforts
• How White is setting the example to the younger attorneys at Gunster

To listen in:
Dial (712) 775-7200
Participant Access Code: 467033#

Adrian Dayton is the founder of the Adrian Dayton Company which helps firms develop and implement social media strategy. In the past year, he has been quoted by the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company Magazine, the ABA Journal, Above the Law, and by over 100 law blogs. His book Social Media for Lawyers: Twitter Edition has been published internationally by the ARK Group in conjunction with Managing Partner Magazine.

Mitrione, who was serving as the Chair-Elect for 2009-2010, has been on the Board of Directors for the Chamber since 2007. He is a shareholder in the Corporate practice at Gunster, Attorneys at Law in West Palm Beach.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm’s status as Florida’s lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

February 8, 2010 (Miami, FL) - Thomas M. Karr has joined Gunster, Attorneys at Law as a shareholder in the firm's Private Wealth Services practice. He will be the first Private Wealth Services attorney for the firm's Miami office and will help grow Gunster's presence within this area of practice in South Florida.

Karr, a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, cum laude, will concentrate his area of practice in Probate, Trust and Guardianship litigation. He has experience with complex probate and fiduciary litigation as well as commercial litigation, class actions, securities fraud, product liability, complex insurance matters and lender liability litigation.

He is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, co vice-chair of the Probate and Trust Litigation Committee of the Real Property Probate and Trust Law section of the Florida Bar, a member of the Executive Council of the Real Property and Trust Law section and is a circuit representative to the Executive Council from the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Seymour will discuss issues and matters of rural planning and how appropriate rural planning can benefit Florida. He will also moderate the lunchtime speaker's panel "Planning for Florida's Future."

The mission of Florida Earth Foundation is to bring people together through education, public outreach, and facilitation to ensure the future integrity of Florida's environment and quality of life. The 2-day Florida Module will cover topics as they relate to Florida including geology, geography, economics, government structure, history, urban and rural planning and will feature prominent professors, attorneys and researchers who are experts on the many facets of state of Florida.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

"At Gunster, we like to say that the rarest talents and the rarest experiences come from perfecting the business one is entrusted with, from understanding it down to the level of its smallest parts," said Cavendish. "It was a thrill to translate the analytical focus we use at Florida's firm for business to a live audience."

"Mike Cavendish's presentation was both intriguing and motivating," said Ken Jones, president of the Mortgage Banker's Association, Jacksonville chapter. "He touched on subjects that most people overlook, making everyone take a step back and re-evaluate his/her management style."

In legal and judicial circles, Cavendish is known equally as a practicing lawyer, a legal essayist, and a public lecturer on lawyering, legal ethics, and management issues. In 2009, he appeared in the National Law Journal and The Bencher, and delivered the Law Day key note address to the Marion County, FL bar association.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with over 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Hemmert will concentrate his practice in probate litigation and complex and disputed estate and trust administration. Prior to joining Gunster, he was a litigation attorney with a national law firm in Boca Raton, Florida. Mr. Hemmert has previously served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Office of the State Attorney for the 11th Judicial Circuit and as an Infantry officer in the United States Army Reserve.

Hemmert received his juris doctor from Boston University Law School and bachelor of arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is admitted to practice in both Florida and California.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-serve Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Gross earned her juris doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law, cum laude, in 2005. She attended Ashland University where she earned her bachelor of arts degree, summa cum laude, in 2002. More recently, Gross was an associate for Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, L.L.P. in West Palm Beach.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Costanzo is a graduate of the George Washington University Law School and the Elliott School for International Affairs, where she received her juris doctor, with high honors, and master of fine arts in 2007. She received her bachelor of arts, cum laude, from Tufts University in 1998. While in law school, Costanzo was a GW Law School Scholar, recipient of the Samuel M. and Mary T. Burgess Scholarship and the GW Columbian Women's Scholarship , a member of the Order of the Coif and a Law Review editor. She more recently was a law clerk to the Honorable William P. Dimitrouleas for the United States District Court in Fort Lauderdale.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

MIAMI, Fla. (December 8, 2009) --- More than 500 business and community leaders attended "Florida's Future and the Biotech Vision," a fascinating luncheon and panel discussion on December 2 at Jungle Island, hosted by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) and Gunster, Attorneys at Law. The event assembled senior executives from the top scientific research institutes from across Florida to discuss the future of the bioscience industry and the impact it will have on the economy, business sector and education in Florida, and within the Greater Miami area. The event included a special video message from Governor Charlie Crist who had to cancel his appearance due to a special legislative session, and featured updates on scientific research by Dr. Stephen J. Gardell of the Burnham Institute for Medical Research; Dr. Claudia Hillinger of the Max Planck Florida Institute; Barbara Noble of Scripps Florida; and Dr. Bart Chernow of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. H. William Perry, chairman and managing partner of Gunster, served as moderator.

"We are at the beginning of a new knowledge-based economy that plays a big part in shaping Florida's future," said Perry. "By organizing this discussion, we wanted our guests to appreciate the scope of this exciting industry, and that government, Florida's business community and its citizens play a role in positioning Florida as one of the world's leading centers for biotech." 

Burnham Institute for Medical Research, based in La Jolla, California recently dedicated its new campus at Lake Nona in Orlando, initializing a new hub for biotech called the "Medical City" that will also include the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, a University of Florida research and academic center, M.D. Anderson Orlando Cancer Research Center, Nemours Children's Hospital and the Orlando VA Medical Center. Burnham's research encompasses cancer; infectious and inflammatory diseases; neuroscience; aging and stem cell biology; diabetes and obesity; and childhood diseases.

"Key elements to Burnham's success are cutting-edge technology platforms, and translational research that is enabled through collaborations with clinical partners," said Dr. Stephen J. Gardell, Director of Translational Research Resources and Adjunct Associate Professor. "This is critical as we set our sights on new therapeutic solutions to diabetes and obesity."

The Max Planck Florida Institute is the first U.S.-based research institute for Germany's internationally acclaimed Max Planck Society. The planned 100,000-square-foot research facility with laboratories will be a neighbor to Scripps Florida on six acres at Florida Atlantic University's (FAU) MacArthur Campus in Jupiter. Research has begun in a temporary facility with the primary focus to further global knowledge of the way cells interact by using the most advanced techniques to visualize molecular processes in living tissue. Bioimaging provides a critical opportunity to study cells in the highest resolutions possible, with the goal of translating discoveries of basic research into clinical and patient-oriented applications. This will in turn improve medical diagnostics and the quality of care.

"The Max Planck Society was attracted to Florida because of the proximity to Scripps, and the possibility of close collaborations with many of the country's leading research institutes," said Dr. Claudia Hillinger, Vice President for Institute Development. "We are also committed to enriching education in the community, and plan programs with FAU and other universities to help foster the growth of future scientists and researchers in our own backyard."

Scripps Florida is a state-of-the-art nonprofit biomedical research facility also located at FAU's MacArthur Campus. Using the latest scientific technology, researchers at Scripps Florida - a division of The Scripps Research Institute headquartered in La Jolla, Calif. - focus on basic biomedical research and drug discovery. Additionally, researchers are developing advanced technologies, and applying these tools to the discovery of new therapeutic agents for a variety of devastating human diseases, including HIV/AIDS; Alzheimer's disease; cancer; depression; diabetes; hepatitis C; leishmaniasis (a tropical and sub-tropical parasitic disease); obesity; prion disease; Parkinson's disease; drug and alcohol addictions; and schizophrenia.

"Our researcher's at Scripps Florida have laid the scientific foundation to meet the most complex biomedical challenges to improve human health," said Barbara Suflas Noble, Director of External Affairs for Scripps Florida.

Founded in 1952, the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine was Florida's first accredited medical school. It is highly regarded for its research, clinical care, medical education, and biomedical innovations, and provides the medical staff for a large medical complex which includes University of Miami Hospital, Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Miami VA Medical Center. Plans are underway to build the UM Life Science Park, which will add up to an additional two million square feet of space adjacent to the medical campus. The UM Life Science Park will bring together academia and industry for collaboration in bioscience research and technology innovation.

"Biotechnology is important for Florida at so many levels. It may lead us to the development of pharmaceuticals and medical technologies that might improve health care and the quality of life," said Dr. Bart Chernow, Professor of Medicine and Anesthesiology, Vice- Provost for Technology Advancement and the Vice-President of Special Programs. "UM welcomes other research institutes brought to Florida by state funding because we believe that their success is our success and vice versa. We all need to collaborate to truly succeed."

Kevin Levy is a technology attorney in Gunster's Miami office and a member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's tech committee. "Biotech and technology have already changed the landscape of Florida and its academic communities, and the real excitement has only just begun. This forum gave us all a rare opportunity to hear from these great institutions at one time. This was a watershed event for technology in Florida and we are honored to have presented it to the South Florida community."

Sponsors of the luncheon included Gunster, Attorneys at Law; Compuquip Technologies; Check Point Software Technologies LTD; Darby & Darby; Novak Druce + Quigg LLP; IBM; Florida Trend; The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; and BioFlorida.

Lawyers being honored as "Lawyers of the Year" have received particularly high ratings from peer-review surveys based on more than 2.8 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers. Only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is being honored as the "Lawyer of the Year."

Mitrione, who has been with Gunster since 1979, serves on the firm's Board of Directors and previously served as chair of its Corporate Law Department for more than 20 years. He concentrates his practice in mergers and acquisitions; private equity and venture capital transactions; corporate finance and securities; joint ventures and partnerships; and other corporate, securities and finance matters. He and his team recently completed an $80.5 million public offering of stock for 1st United Bancorp, Inc.

Active in numerous civic and professional organizations, Mitrione is a member of the 2009-2010 Class of Leadership Florida, and was recently named chair-elect of the Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He also has been involved with the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, where he served as Chairman and on its Life Science Strategic Steering Group, the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Florida's Warrington School of Business, where he is currently on its Advisory Board; Florida Tax Watch, where he serves on its Board of Trustees; Fordham University School of Law, where he serves as the regional president for its Alumni Association; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Greater Palm Beach Chapter, where he served as its President; The Pine School, where he serves on its Board of Trustees; and the Gary Carter Foundation, where he serves on it Board of Trustees.

Named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" for corporate law each year since 1991, Mitrione also has been recognized as a "Legal Elite" by Florida Trend, a "Florida Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics, and a "Leader in their Field" by Chambers USA. Mitrione, who is fluent in Italian, is a member of the American Bar Association, The Florida Bar and New York State Bar Association.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Bates, who chairs firm's Technology and Entrepreneurial Companies practice, will help guide the BDB's mission to stimulate economic energy, promote business diversity and enrich the vitality of Palm Beach County through the relocation, retention and expansion of companies to our area.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from it offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

"As the Vice Prime Minister noted, there is a natural synergy between the entrepreneurial spirit and the technology communities of Florida and Israel," said Kevin Levy, a member of Gunster's Israel Practice and a founding board member of the FIBF. "Gunster and the Florida Israel Business Forum look forward to continuing to facilitate business relationships between Florida and Israeli companies to strengthen both economies and the ties that bind us."

Guests at the reception included Israel Consul General Ofer Bavly, who also introduced the Vice Prime Minister; Lt. Colonel Allen West; Rep. Yolly Robinson; Daniel Pedreira on behalf of Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen; Laura Raftovic on behalf of Senator Bill Nelson; Alberto Dosal, founder, president and CEO, Compuquip Technologies, Inc.; Juan Martinez, CFO, John F. and James L. Knight Foundation; Alejandra Aguirre, deputy editor and publisher, Diario Las Américas; and James S. Cassel, Vice Chairman and Senior Managing Director of Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

Minister Ya'Alon served a full career in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with many command positions that lead him to become head of Military Intelligence, Commander of Central Command, and finally the 17^th IDF Chief-of-Staff. He holds a Master's degree from Harvard University and is a member of Israel's inner cabinet of six ministers, serving as the government's point person on Iran.

The FIBF is a nonprofit economic development organization, supported by the Consulate General of Israel that seeks to actively promote bilateral trade, commerce and economic relations between Florida and Israel. For more information call (305) 925-9455.

About Gunster

Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach, with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Vogelsang, who concentrates his practice in trusts & estates, planning and administration, will help guide the museum's mission to excite curiosity and further the understanding and appreciation of science and technology.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach, with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

"While the financial services industry has experienced widespread uncertainty in the market, this strong public offering is a clear expression of the level of confidence sophisticated investors have in the 1st United's management team, which has a solid depth of experience and an excellent track record," said Michael V. Mitrione, a corporate attorney and shareholder in Gunster's West Palm Beach office who has chaired the firm's corporate law department for more than 20 years.
Gunster's team was led by Mitrione, David C. Scileppi and Marybeth Bosko, with additional support provided by Howard Burnston and Robert Arzonetti. They completed the public offering process in less than two months, which is about half the anticipated time frame.

1st United's 16.1 million shares of common stock were priced at $5.00 per share, and the company said in a press release that it "... intends to utilize the net proceeds from the offering to redeem some or all of its outstanding preferred stock, support anticipated balance sheet growth, finance possible future acquisitions of failed institutions that the FDIC has placed into receivership, finance possible future acquisitions of other financial institutions or their branches in negotiated transactions, and for general corporate purposes."

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach, with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

(October 6, 2009 Jacksonville, Fla.) The Jacksonville Public Library Foundation (JPLF) in partnership with IMPACTjax is proud to announce Loud at the Library, a young professionals networking event, to be held in conjunction with Art Walk on Wednesday, November 4, 2009. Admission is free with a valid public library card.

"Loud at the Library will help familiarize young professionals with the library and the library foundation. We want to enhance the YP community's perception of the library from a dated, staid institution to a fun, engaging place with services relevant to them," said JPLF Executive Director Maggie Hightower. "While books and a focus on literacy are the essence of the library, we host a diverse range of programs and services from movies in the courtyard and free downloadable movies, to tax filing assistance."

By joining forces with Art Walk, a free, self-guided tour of Downtown Jacksonville's galleries, museums, restaurants, businesses and cultural venues, Loud at the Library will raise awareness and interest in Jacksonville's vibrant downtown.

IMPACTjax, a program of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, seeks to recruit, develop, and retain Jacksonville's Next generation of leaders by engaging them in the community. IMPACTjax's participation in the ‘Loud at the Library' event encourages Young Professionals to take advantage of all the services our community has to offer.

Gunster Attorney James "Joby" O. Birr III and Deutsche Bank's Erik Simonsen will chair Loud at the Library which will be held in the Betsy Lovett Courtyard at the library's main branch from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Several hundred young professionals are expected to attend.

James (Joby) Birr III is a board certified construction attorney at Gunster, Attorneys at Law in Jacksonville. Birr has practiced law in Jacksonville since 2000 and served on the Jacksonville Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Board of Governors. He is the immediate past president of the University of North Florida Alumni Association and has been an Alumni Association board member since 2002.

Erik Simonsen is the chief operating officer of Deutsche Bank in Jacksonville, and a member of the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation Board.

Expected to attend the evening's festivities are: JPLF Board of Directors Betsy Lovett, Ann Hicks and Mike Hightower along with IMPACTjax Chair Kristin Nimnicht and Chair-elect Steve Kowkabany.

LOUD AT THE LIBRARY

Sponsored by:  The Jacksonville Public Library Foundation and IMPACTjax
Date:  Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Where:  The Betsy Lovett Courtyard of the Main Branch of the Library, 303 North Laura Street, Jacksonville
Time:  6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Admission: Loud at the Library is free with a valid public library card. If guests sign up for a library card that evening, admission is free. Without a library card, admission is $5.00.
R.S.V.P.:  impactjax@myjaxchamber.com

The Jacksonville Public Library Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation formed in 1986 through the support of concerned private donors and the Board of Trustees. Ever since its inception, the Foundation has built public-private partnerships for the library by encouraging investments for the future through a variety of giving opportunities, including donations, grants, endowment funds, memorials, planned giving programs and signature special events. http://www.jplf.org/

IMPACTjax is the young professionals program of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the premier venue for Jacksonville's next generation of leaders to connect with each other and the community. With more than 600 members, IMPACTjax serves as a network of professional contacts for 21-40 year-olds who currently, or are looking to live and work in the Jacksonville area. http://www.impactjax.com/

Seymour, based out of Gunster's West Palm Beach office, is the practice leader for Gunster's Environmental & Land Use practice, overseeing approximately 15 attorneys as well as paralegals, planners and staff. Recently, Mr. Seymour was appointed to the Florida Elections Commission by Governor Charlie Crist, after being nominated by Senate President Jeff Atwater. He is also a member of the Young Leadership Board of Directors for the Republican Jewish Coalition, and holds positions with the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County including Board of Directors, Vice Chairperson & Campaign Chairperson for its Business & Professions Division. Additionally, he is a member of the United Jewish Communities National Young Leadership Cabinet. Mr. Seymour's practice consists of representation of clients before state and local governmental bodies on matters of environmental permitting, land use, and development related issues, as well as litigating both property rights and business litigation matters in courts throughout Florida. Mr. Seymour is also one of the creators, along with Mr. Levy, of Gunster's Israel practice, focusing on representing Israeli companies doing business in Florida and clients doing business with Israeli companies.

Levy, based out of Gunster's Miami office, is a member of Gunster's Technology & Entrepreneurial Companies practice group and, along with Mr. Seymour, is one of the creators of Gunster's Israel practice. Mr. Levy is AV-rated and he was honored as one of the South Florida Business Journal 40 Under 40 in 2009 and named to The Best Lawyers in America for Technology Law 2007-2010 and Florida Trend Legal Elite 2007-2009. Mr. Levy is a founding member of the Miami Urban Technology Alliance and holds board of director and committee positions with several professional organizations, including the Florida Israel Business Forum, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Beacon Council and The Launch Pad at Toppel. Mr. Levy is often quoted by both legal and technology media on issues involving technology and the law. Mr. Levy is a member of the 2003 class of Leadership Miami. Mr. Levy also serves on the board of directors for several community foundations with the mission of improving the lives of children in the Miami community, including the Voices for Children Foundation and the Greater Miami Tennis and Education Foundation.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Scileppi, who concentrates his practice in the areas of banking and financial services and corporate and securities law, was named a Florida Super Lawyer Rising Star 2009 and is a member of Leadership Broward Class of XXVII. He is also co-founder of Orbis USA, Inc., a community service organization for local professionals who are dedicated to the growth and viability of the local economy. He graduated with honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2002 and is also a certified public accountant.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

John Haynie, John Smith & Mike Mitrione

Dr. Bert Sakmann, Mike Mitrione , Dr. Christiane Sakmann & Dr. Peter Gruss

Dr. Claudia Hillinger, Bill Perry & Dr. Sabine Zimmermann

Andy & Heather Lukasik, Nick Robbins

Reed, who concentrates her practice in labor and employment law, will assist the mission of the Urban League movement which is to assist African Americans and other minorities achievement of social and economic equality.

We are very pleased to welcome Tanya Reed to the Board of Directors of the Urban League of Palm Beach County and look forward to Ms. Reed's participation as a leader within the movement," said Andrew Ashby, Board Chair.

About the Urban League

The Urban League of Palm Beach County has been empowering communities and changing lives for the past 36 years. The fundamental objective of the Urban League is to enable those who are striving toward the mainstream to achieve economic self-reliance and to enjoy their rights as equal citizens under the law. For more information, visit www.ulpbc.org.

About Gunster

Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Out statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach, with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff. For more information, visit www.gunster.com.

During the leadership program, Mitrione and 55 others will participate in a nine-month educational program that encompasses addressing Florida's most critical issues; leadership skills assessment and training; and learning about Florida's history, demography, diversities and opportunities.

Mitrione, who has been with Gunster since 1979, serves on the firm's Board of Directors and previously served as chair of its Corporate Law Department for more than 20 years. He concentrates his practice in mergers and acquisitions; private equity and venture capital transactions; corporate finance and securities; joint ventures and partnerships; and other corporate, securities and finance matters.

Active in numerous civic and professional organizations, Mitrione was recently named chair-elect of the Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and has served on its Executive Committee for four years. He also has been involved with the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, where he served as Chairman and on its Life Science Strategic Steering Group; the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Florida's Warrington School of Business, where he is currently on its Advisory Board; Florida TaxWatch, where he serves on its Board of Trustees; Fordham University School of Law, where he serves as the regional president for its Alumni Association; the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Greater Palm Beach, where he was President from 2002-2004; The Pine School in Hobe Sound, where he is a Trustee; The Gary Carter Foundation, where he serves on its Board of Trustees; the South Florida Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors; and SunFest of Palm Beach County's Board of Directors.

Named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" for corporate law each year since 1991, Mitrione also has been recognized as a "Legal Elite" by Florida Trend, a "Florida Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics, and a "Leader in their Field" by Chambers USA. Mitrione, who is fluent in Italian, is a member of the American Bar Association, The Florida Bar and the New York State Bar Association.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach, with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (September 22, 2009)-Robert Malinoski, as associate for Gunster, Attorney at Law in Fort Lauderdale, has been appointed co-chair for the Pollution Assessment, Remediation, Management and Prevention Committee for the Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section (ELULS).

This committee is a forum for lawyers and consultants working in those areas of environmental law that involve environmental contamination, hazardous substance management, and environmental contamination, hazardous substance management, and environmental risk minimization. The Committee is committed to providing members with opportunities to stay on top of current developments in this area, including new regulations, case law, and technology, and to participate in ELULS activities such as seminars, networking events, and the section reporter.

Malinoski concentrates his areas of practice in environmental law, administrative law, environmental litigation, contamination and remediation issues and environmental counseling.

About Gunster
Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm with eight offices around the state, providing counsel to leading businesses and individuals. Our statewide presence and culture reflect the firm's status as Florida's lawyers for business. Gunster services clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach, with 140 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.