Financial Services

Gunster Yoakley's Financial Services Practice Group is an industry-focused, multidisciplinary team comprised of regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, securities, broker-dealer, investment adviser, general corporate, international, litigation and creditors' rights attorneys. A commitment to personalized attention combined with decades of legal and practical experience in varied, complex matters have prepared our team to quickly assess issues faced by all types of financial institutions.

Members of Gunster Yoakley's Financial Services Practice Group recognize that clients should expect the very best -- and are committed to delivering just that. With skills, practical experience and extensive resources that are grounded in reality, our attorneys provide clients with workable solutions in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner.

"We were looking to expand our banking operations from Florida into Georgia and had two potential transactions on the table, a merger and a branch acquisition. Georgia law required us to have an approved banking presence in the state before we could complete the branch acquisition. Our Gunster Yoakley attorneys negotiated and structured both deals so we were able to get a Georgia presence in the merger transaction. This presence allowed us to immediately close the branch acquisition.

Gunster Yoakley has been an integral partner in Capital City Bank Group, Inc.'s acquisition team. We have engaged the Gunster Yoakley team early in our acquisition opportunities and have found their insight and advice on structure, terms and strategy to be invaluable."

William G. Smith, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
Capital City Bank

"Gunster Yoakley's services were fundamental to our bank's growth and development. We started as a small Florida savings bank and rapidly expanded through internal growth and acquisitions to become a Florida chartered commercial bank with $3.1 billion in assets. Ultimately, we were acquired by Wachovia Bank, N.A. Gunster Yoakley handled our conversion, assisted us in all bank regulatory aspects of our acquisitions, and helped establish our trust department. The Firm's attorneys also guided us through the many regulatory hurdles along the way and made it possible for us to achieve our goals in a quick, efficient manner."

Rudy E. Schupp
Chairman and CEO
Republic Security Bank
(merged with Wachovia Bank, N.A.)

Financial Services Attorneys

Contacts
Michael V. Mitrione (Domestic Services)
Clemente Vazquez-Bello (International Services)

Service Areas

Mergers & Acquisitions
Securities
Regulatory Compliance
Broker Dealer Activities
Investment Adviser Activities
International
Corporate Structuring

ERISA
Labor & Employment
Insurance
Trust Powers
Fiduciary Responsibilities
Immigration
Finance

Representative Matters

Assisted Capital City Bank Group in connection with implementation of its Stock Incentive Plan, and its successor, the Associate Incentive Plan, as well as the awarding of common stock, options, stock appreciation rights and other equity-based incentives to key employees. The Plans were registered with the SEC on Form S-8 statements.
Represented Atlantic States Bank throughout preparations and opening of its first Florida office, located in Fort Meyers, and counseled the institution on Florida's banking and lending laws as they applied to a federal savings bank. A subsidiary of First-Citizens BancShares, Inc., Atlantic States Bank is a sister depository to First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, the fifth largest bank in North Carolina, based on deposits.
Advised First Peoples Bank on matters relating to its formation as a Florida chartered nonmember bank headquartered in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

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