U.S. Senator George LeMieux to Return to Gunster

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- H. William "Bill" Perry, CEO and Managing Partner of Gunster, one of Florida's oldest and largest full-service business law firms, today announced that U.S. Senator George LeMieux will return to the firm as a shareholder and chairman of the Board of Directors, effective January 4th.  Sen. LeMieux will resume his legal practice and provide corporate counseling to the firm's clients.  He and Perry will jointly lead Gunster in advancing its strategic plan to expand to every major business center in Florida.

"We look forward to having George return to his professional home.  George will bring his common sense approach and experience back to Gunster and its clients," said Perry. "The time George spent in Washington serving the people of Florida gives him a unique perspective on the challenges facing Florida businesses."

"Gunster's attorneys and clients are at the center of many of the critical issues facing Florida," said Sen. LeMieux.  "I look forward to making meaningful contributions to help those efforts, and to help Gunster expand throughout Florida."

Sen. LeMieux served as Florida's 34th U.S. Senator and is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Commerce Committee, and the Special Committee on Aging. From 2007 to 2009, he practiced law at Gunster and served as chairman of the 150-lawyer firm. Previously, he served Florida as the Governor's chief of staff where he supervised all aspects of the Executive Office of the Governor, including the Governor's legislative agenda, policy initiatives and the management of all aspects of state business. Also, he managed more than 400 lawyers as Florida's deputy attorney general.  Sen. LeMieux has a long history with Gunster, first joining the firm in 1994. He is an AV-rated attorney who earned his J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, and graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Emory University.

As Managing Partner, Perry manages the law firm and runs Gunster's day-to-day operations.  Additionally, he focuses his legal practice on complex business transactions, real estate development and finance. He is an AV-rated attorney and has been centrally involved with numerous charitable and community organizations, including youth sports organizations, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Easter Seals of Palm Beach County.  Statewide, Perry is involved in the Florida Chamber Foundation Board of Trustees and Associated Industries of Florida.  He earned his J.D. with honors from the University Of Florida College Of Law, and his bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Sen. LeMieux will be based in Gunster's Fort Lauderdale office and Perry resides in the West Palm Beach office. To learn more about the firm, please visit: www.gunster.com.

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 160 attorneys and 200 committed support staff.

SOURCE Gunster