Gunster, one of Florida’s oldest and largest full-service business law firms, is proud to announce that 147 attorneys were ranked in the Best Lawyers® 2026 Edition—its largest recognition to date. More than half of those listed earned recognition in multiple practice areas, underscoring the breadth of talent and versatility of Gunster's counsel.
Best Lawyers in America® listed 126 Gunster attorneys within 57 practices and specialties, among 11 Florida markets. Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch listed 21 attorneys within 12 practices and specialties, among seven statewide markets.
In addition, twelve Gunster attorneys across 10 practices and six Florida markets were selected to the Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” list. Those recognized are among the top five percent of lawyers practicing in the United States, as rated by the highest overall peer feedback. This distinguished list includes Craig E. Behrenfeld (Tax Law), John P. Cole (Litigation - Trusts and Estates), William T. Hennessey (Trusts and Estates), William K. Hill (Litigation - Banking and Finance), Beth Keating (Energy Regulatory Law), George S. LeMieux (Administrative / Regulatory Law), Juan M. Muñiz (Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law), Eric T. Olsen (Water Law), Luna E. Phillips (Environmental Law), Adi Rappoport (Tax Law), Gregory S. Rix (Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law) and William J. Schifino, Jr. (Litigation - Securities).
The following attorneys are included in the Best Lawyers in America® 2026 edition:
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Administrative/Regulatory Law
William P. Dillon
Lila A. Jaber
Beth Keating
George S. LeMieux
Robert A. Manning
Gregory M. Munson
Admiralty and Maritime Law
Peter A. Quinter
Appellate Practice
Jack J. Aiello
Kenneth B. Bell
Thomas R. Julin
Lauren Vickroy Purdy
John A. Schifino
Michael G. Tanner
Arbitration
William J. Schifino, Jr.
Banking and Finance Law
Scott M. Coffey
Michael V. Mitrione
David M. Wells
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Timothy S. Danninger
Jason W. Johnson
Kenneth G.M. Mather
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Jeffrey D. Fridkin
John B.T. Murray, Jr.
Michael G. Tanner
David M. Wells
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Michael R. Freed
Richard C. Grant
Michael V. Mitrione
Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
Michael V. Mitrione
Commercial Litigation
Jack J. Aiello
David R. Atkinson, Jr.
Nicole K. Atkinson
Timothy S. Danninger
Roger Feicht
Michael R. Freed
Jeffrey D. Fridkin
Michael B. Green
Michael V. Hargett
William K. Hill
Julia M. Holden Davis
Jason W. Johnson
Thomas R. Julin
George S. LeMieux
Barbara Bolton Litten
John W. Little III
Thomas G. Long
Michael W. Marcil
Edward A. Marod
Kenneth G.M. Mather
Brad McPherson
Megan K. Moon
John B.T. Murray, Jr.
Jon M. Philipson
Lauren Vickroy Purdy
Mark J. Ragusa
Joseph L. Raia
Aron U. Raskas
Traci Rollins
Joseph G. Santoro
William J. Schifino, Jr.
Gregor J. Schwinghammer Jr.
Preethi Sekharan
Asghar A. Syed
Michael G. Tanner
David M. Wells
D. Keith Wickenden
Community Association Law
Cheryl Lynn Hastings
Construction Law
Richard C. Grant
Julia M. Holden Davis
Kellie M. Humphries
Aaron Reichelson
David M. Wells
Corporate Law
Leslie J. Barnett
David G. Bates
Joseph P. Chase
Scott M. Coffey
Richard C. Grant
Richard A. Heinle
Thomas A. Hickey
Jeffery Q. Jonasen
Michael V. Mitrione
Mahesh H. Nanwani
Robert C. White Jr.
Criminal Defense: White Collar
H. Eugene Lindsey III
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Amy Brigham Boulris
John W. Little III
Juan M. Muñiz
Gregory S. Rix
Brian M. Seymour
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
James B. Davis
Employment Law – Individuals
Michael R. Freed
Joseph G. Santoro
Employment Law – Management
Brian McPherson
Joseph G. Santoro
Eduardo Suarez-Solar
Energy Law
Lila A. Jaber
Beth Keating
Energy Regulatory Law
Lila A. Jaber
Beth Keating
Gregory M. Munson
Timothy Riley
Environmental Law
Rick J. Burgess
Robert A. Manning
Gregory M. Munson
Eric T. Olsen
Michael P. Petrovich
Luna E. Phillips
Timothy Riley
Elizabeth Ross
FDA Law
Peter Quinter
First Amendment Law
Thomas R. Julin
Government Relations Practice
Derek E. Bruce
Lila A. Jaber
Gregory M. Munson
J. Larry Williams
Healthcare Law
Bruce D. Lamb
Samantha L. Prokop
Mark J. Ragusa
Immigration Law
Sarah Lea Tobocman
International Trade and Finance Law
Peter Quinter
Labor Law - Management
Eduardo Suarez-Solar
Land Use and Zoning Law
Christopher P. Benvenuto
James M. Crowley
Heidi Davis Knapik
Mario Garcia-Serra
Brian M. Seymour
Charles C. Whittington
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Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
William J. Schifino, Jr.
David M. Wells
Litigation – Antitrust
David M. Wells
Litigation – Banking and Finance
William K. Hill
John B.T. Murray, Jr.
Traci H. Rollins
David M. Wells
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Jason W. Johnson
Kenneth G.M. Mather
Litigation – Construction
Jeffrey D. Fridkin
Julia M. Holden Davis
Kellie M. Humphries
David M. Wells
D. Keith Wickenden
Litigation – Environmental
Rick J. Burgess
Eric T. Olsen
Michael P. Petrovich
Timothy Riley
Elizabeth Ross
Litigation – First Amendment
Thomas R. Julin
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Preethi Sekharan
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Brian M. McPherson
Joseph G. Santoro
John A. Schifino
Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
Christopher P. Benvenuto
John W. Little III
Brian M. Seymour
Litigation – Real Estate
Christopher P. Benevenuto
Jeffrey D. Fridkin
Michael V. Hargett
John W. Little III
Michael T. Traficante
David M. Wells
Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Lila A. Jaber
Litigation – Securities
Daniel P. Dietrich
William J. Schifino, Jr.
David M. Wells
Litigation – Trust and Estates
Debra L. Boje
John P. Cole
Jeffrey D. Fridkin
M. Travis Hayes
William T. Hennessey
Mary E. Karr
Thomas M. Karr
Steven A. Lessne
Rachel Albritton Lunsford
John C. Moran
John B.T. Murray, Jr.
William M. Pearson
Michael D. Simon
Brian C. Sparks
Michael T. Traficante
D. Keith Wickenden
Litigation and Controversy – Tax
Hunter J. Brownlee
David L. Koche
Alan S. Lederman
Brian C. Sparks
Media Law
Thomas R. Julin
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
David G. Bates
Michael V. Mitrione
Nonprofit / Charities Law
Leslie J. Barnett
Peter T. Kirkwood
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Devin Moss
John B.T. Murray, Jr.
Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Nicole K. Atkinson
David M. Wells
Real Estate Law
Tyrone T. Bongard
Scott Brown
Spencer N. Cummings
Danielle DeVito-Hurley
Erica L. English
Marc L. Faust
Howard L. Friedberg
Richard C. Grant
Michael V. Hargett
Cheryl Lynn Hastings
Paul K. Hines
Thomas M. Jenks
Heidi Davis Knapik
Daniel M. Mackler
Frank E. Miller
H. William Perry
Ellen Rose
Brian M. Seymour
Charles C. Whittington
Securities / Capital Markets Law
Scott M. Coffey
Mahesh H. Nanwani
Tax Law
Leslie J. Barnett
Craig E. Behrenfeld
Hunter J. Brownlee
Matthew M. Comiter
James B. Davis
Daniel J. Glassman
Peter T. Kirkwood
David L. Koche
Alan S. Lederman
Rachel Albritton Lunsford
Alexander L. Nostro Jr.
Lou Nostro
Martin R. Press
Adi Rappoport
Brian C. Sparks
Technology Law
David G. Bates
Robert C. White Jr.
Trusts and Estates
Leslie J. Barnett
Debra L. Boje
Elaine M. Bucher
James B. Davis
Daniel A. Hanley
M. Travis Hayes
William T. Hennessey
Mary E. Karr
Peter T. Kirkwood
David L. Koche
Rachel Albritton Lunsford
John C. Moran
Alexander L. Nostro, Jr.
Lou Nostro
William M. Pearson
Adi Rappoport
Mitchell D. Schepps
Lisa A. Schneider
Brian C. Sparks
Utilities Law
Lila A. Jaber
Beth Keating
Water Law
Luna E. Phillips
Gregory M. Munson
Eric T. Olsen
Elizabeth Ross
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The following attorneys are included in Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch 2026 edition:
Best Lawyers® is compiled entirely from peer-review evaluations and covers more than 200 metropolitan regions worldwide. This cycle, over 3.4 million evaluations were analyzed to vet about 130,000 nominees. Gunster has consistently earned top-tier rankings in the annual survey, further cementing its reputation as Florida’s premier business law firm.
The firm’s presence in leading industry accolades extends beyond Best Lawyers. Gunster is ranked nationally and statewide in the 2025 edition of Chambers USA across 13 practice areas, and its lawyers are consistently featured in Florida Super Lawyers and other benchmark publications—affirming the firm’s enduring commitment to excellence and client service throughout the state.
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About Gunster
Gunster, Florida’s law firm for business, provides full-service legal counsel to leading organizations and individuals from its 13 offices statewide. Established in 1925, the firm has expanded, diversified and evolved, but always with a singular focus: Florida and its clients’ stake in it. A magnet for business-savvy attorneys who embrace collaboration for the greatest advantage of clients, Gunster’s growth has not been at the expense of personalized service but because of it. The firm serves clients from its offices in Boca Raton, Coral Gables, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, Vero Beach, and its headquarters in West Palm Beach. With more than 320 attorneys and consultants, and 300 committed support staff, Gunster is ranked among the top 200 largest law firms by the National Law Journal and has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Diverse Law Firms by Law360. More information about its practices, industries, offices and news is available at www.gunster.com.
