Overview
Gunster works with law firms across the country that require Florida counsel on mergers & acquisitions (M&A) and other complex business transactions. We are experienced in handling local counsel engagements and dedicated to getting these deals over the finish line in a timely and resourceful manner. We are focused on making life easy for lead counsel by leveraging our deep bench of experience in connection with these transactions. We have served as Florida counsel for numerous nine and ten figure M&A transactions.
Gunster has 13 offices across Florida. We have deep roots and broad experience connecting lead counsel to our attorneys in the practice areas that matter to dealmakers working to get complex business transactions done, including corporate law, real estate and land use law, labor & employment law, construction law, healthcare regulatory and licensure issues, and environmental law.
We strive to provide capabilities that go beyond what is typically found in most full-service law firms. Our healthcare lawyers navigate Florida's unique and challenging regulatory environment. Among our environmental and land use attorneys are the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's former deputy secretary for water policy and ecosystem restoration, a general counsel and former top attorneys at Florida water management districts. Our energy attorneys include a Florida Public Service Commission attorney with over a decade of service.
Because we frequently engage local counsel outside of Florida, we know what lead counsel is looking for when selecting local counsel. We are committed to being loyal co-counsel who provide strategic advice on local issues. We believe in respecting lead counsel’s clients by referring them back on other matters as needed. We tend not to compete with most firms that we co-counsel with due to our Florida-only business model.
Many times, local counsel—while highly skilled from a technical standpoint—are not deal lawyers and do not understand the importance of being on "deal time". They deliver highly technical treatises when succinct language that can be dropped into due diligence memoranda is needed. We know this because we, as lead counsel ourselves, have experienced these and many other challenges in working with local counsel. As a result, our approach to problem solving is about making lead counsel’s life easier by listening carefully, responding promptly, and understanding the need to move quickly—regardless of the time of day or the day of the week.
Gunster is skilled in providing written work product that provides the clear, focused, and succinct guidance that dealmakers need, whether in the form of inserts for master due diligence memoranda or as stand-alone due diligence memoranda. We efficiently review and comment on due diligence requests and prepare follow-up in a manner that reflects what matters and avoids untailored (and less helpful) "kitchen sink" requests.
As local counsel, we designate a corporate lawyer with relevant experience to lead our team in a coordinated effort. We have developed robust processes and resources that facilitate best-in-class service. Our objective is to remain flexible and assimilate lead counsel's preferred protocols and forms.
