Overview
Gregory K. Bader has been with Gunster for more than 30 years and leads the firm’s Financial Services practice. He advises public and private companies and financial institutions on a wide range of corporate, securities, and regulatory matters, including:
- Securities offerings and fund formations
- Public company reporting and compliance
- Financial institution and fintech regulatory matters and formations
- Registered investment adviser and broker-dealer compliance
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Lending licensure and compliance
Greg serves as a strategic adviser to management teams and company boards on high‑stakes business decisions. He often leads legal teams for clients involved in complex business combinations, reorganizations, conversions, and financings, including cross‑border and multi‑jurisdictional matters. For larger acquisitions, he also covers the antitrust and premerger notification aspects of the deal.
He regularly heads legal teams for clients raising capital or forming funds, and guides issuers and underwriters through securities offerings and related disclosure obligations.
He also counsels clients on a wide range of regulatory and compliance issues, including holding company and bank formations, trust company operations, investment adviser and broker‑dealer compliance, lending licensure and compliance, executive compensation, corporate governance, and ongoing public company SEC reporting.
Greg is dedicated to both the business and civic communities. He has served as vice chair of the Broward County Chapter of the American Red Cross and as a director for the Association for Corporate Growth, Junior Achievement of South Florida, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. He currently serves on the board of Premier Title Company, Ltd. He is also active in the Florida Bankers Association, the Society for Corporate Governance, and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, among other professional and civic organizations.
Honors
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Governance Law, 2016-19
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2013-14, 2017-18
- Florida Trend, “Legal Elite,” 2008-18
- AV Rated as independently determined by Martindale-Hubbell
- Chambers & Partners, “Leaders in Their Field,” Banking & Finance: Transactional, 2008-25
- South Florida Legal Guide, "Top Lawyer,” 2011-18
- Cornell International Law Journal
News & Insights
- "Companies wrestle with when to merge as they assess Harris and Trump," Yahoo Finance, October 2024
- "Banks Face New 36-Hour Cyber Incident Reporting," American Bankers Association Compliance Magazine, September 2022
- "2019 Banking Developments," Speaker, Florida Bankers Association 34th Annual Florida Bank Directors Forum, Naples, FL, October 3, 2019
- "Overview of Banking and Industry Issues," Speaker, Florida Bankers Association 6th Annual CFO Symposium, Orlando, FL, May 25, 2017
- "Bank Executive Compensation and Employee Retention: Get It Right or Forget Doing a Bank Merger," Florida Bankers' Association annual meeting, Miami Beach, FL, June 2016
- “Marketplace lending: A hot new industry looking for crowdfunding,” The Securities Edge, February 2015
- “Despite First Amendment concerns, the conflict minerals rule is here to stay,” The Securities Edge, September 2014
- “Bank Secrecy Act: Broker-Dealers Must Also Comply,” The Securities Edge, May 2014
- “Publicly Traded Banks Illustrate the Side Benefits of EDGAR,” The Securities Edge, November 2013
- “Protect Your Board from Merger and Acquisition Lawsuits with These Five Critical Considerations,” The Securities Edge, October 2013
- “Uniform Fiduciary Standard for Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers? Proceed with caution!” The Securities Edge, August 2013
- “Securities Law 101 (Part V): Issuing Shares of Stock for Mergers and Acquisitions,” The Securities Edge, May 2013
- “Stress Tests: Making Sure the Large Banks Can Weather Another Storm,” Westlaw Journal Bank & Lender Liability, 2013
- “Separating the positions of CEO and Chairman: The debate rages on,” The Securities Edge, February 2013
- “Regulation A+: Raise the Capital You Need Without the Hassle or Expense,” The Securities Edge, September 2012
- “Securities Law 101 (Part II): Avoiding the pitfalls in a private placement,” The Securities Edge, September 2012
- “Fiduciary Responsibilities: Heightened Penalties Make Compliance Critical,” ABA Trusts & Investments, November/December 2003
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Involvement
Professional Associations & Memberships
-
Society for Corporate Governance
- Premier Title Company, Ltd., Board of Directors, 2017-present
- Association for Corporate Growth, South Florida chapter
- National Association of Corporate Directors
- Florida Bankers Association
- South Florida Banking Institute
- LaserPro, Network Counsel for Florida
- Greater Ft. Lauderdale Alliance
- American Bar Association
Civic & Community Service
- American Red Cross, Broward County Chapter
- Vice Chair, 2019-21
- Board of Directors, 2012-21
- Association for Corporate Growth, Board of Directors, 2019-22
- Junior Achievement of South Florida, Board of Directors, 2012-14
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, Board of Directors, 2011-12
Practices
Education
- Cornell Law School, J.D., 1994
- University of California, Irvine, B.A., cum laude, 1991
Admissions
- Florida, 1994
