David G Bates

Practice Areas

- Corporate Law

- Technology Law

- Emerging Companies

- Securities Law & Corporate Governance

- Cyber Security & Data Protection

- Franchise & Distribution

- Mergers & Acquisitions

Career

David G. Bates is a shareholder who leads Gunster’s Corporate Law practice. He formerly served on the firm’s board of directors.

David joined the firm in 1992 after graduating from Tulane University with his JD/MBA in 1991. For over 30 years, David has counseled clients in the areas of technology law, venture capital, licensing and distribution, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance and securities. David has represented companies and investors in a wide variety of industries and at all stages of growth, from private start-up ventures to large public companies. David provides strategic counseling on mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt financings, corporate governance and joint ventures. David also advises clients on technology issues, corporate structuring and restructuring, automobile dealerships, employment non-compete arrangements, securities, franchising and licensing, distribution and other business agreements. David is a multi-year chair of the Palm Beach Tech Association and served on the Board of Directors of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, the Palm Beach Photographic Centre and the Wild Dolphin Project. David is the former multi-term president of the Gold Coast Venture Capital Association and two-term chairman of the Enterprise Development Corporation. David’s honors include being repeatedly named Corporate Lawyer of the Year for West Palm Beach by Best Lawyers in America, as well as one of the Top 100 lawyers in Florida by Florida Super Lawyers. He has been listed among Florida Trend’s Legal Elite for more than 20 consecutive years, and continually recognized in Best Lawyers in America for corporate law, mergers & acquisitions law and technology law.

Publications

“Cybersecurity: An Integral Approach” webinar, co-presented with Marcum LLP, April 21, 2016