Our Areas of Practice
The law firm of Williams, Gautier, Gwynn, DeLoach & Sorenson, P.A. is dedicated
to providing quality legal counsel and services to our clients in a cost efficient manner.
Our firm combines the skills, personalities, integrity and high professional standards of
its attorneys, legal assistants and support staff to meet the needs of our clients.
Williams, Gautier, Gwynn, DeLoach & Sorenson, P.A. represents our clients in a variety of
civil legal matters including, but not limited to, the following practice areas:
Credit Union & Banking Law
Williams Gautier provides a broad variety of compliance services to its financial institution clients on federal, Georgia and Florida laws and regulations. Laws and regulations we frequently address include the Bank Secrecy Act, the Truth-in-Lending Act, NCUA Rules and Regulations, OFAC requirements, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and the ESIGN Act.
The firm handles numerous compliance issues for its clients on a day-to-day basis. Because clients often need immediate guidance, many such issues are addressed through telephone calls or e-mails. However, we are happy to provide on-site advice at the client’s office. Because of our focus on compliance, even our review of proposed contracts between clients and third parties include advice on compliance matters triggered by such contracts, e.g., the confidentiality requirements of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and FACTA.
In addition to "day-to-day" matters, we also provide clients with preventive compliance services. Our preventive services include a "legal audit" in which we review documents, policies and procedures related to loans, accounts, employment and other operational areas for compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The legal audit not only describes compliance problems, but also provides recommended solutions to such problems. Unlike an audit performed by an accounting firm, a legal audit is protected from review by examiners and third parties by the attorney-client privilege. Our preventive services also include on-site training at client offices on compliance-related subjects such as the Bank Secrecy Act, OFAC, trust accounts, business accounts, and FCRA/FACTA requirements.
Current clients of the firm for compliance services include Florida Credit Union of Gainesville, Florida; Atlantic Coast Bank of Waycross, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida; and Envision Credit Union of Tallahassee, Florida.
Real Estate
Williams Gautier has the real estate knowledge and experience that allows the firm to protect and advance our clients' interests in a broad range of real estate related matters. The firm's real estate practice includes representing clients in connection with acquisitions, sales, financing, leasing and development of commercial and residential properties, commercial and residential condominiums, closings, title insurance and eminent domain proceedings. The firm's clients include landowners, developers and financial institutions.
Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning and Probate
Williams Gautier has the experience to handle our clients’ needs from the basic estate to the complex. We assist our clients in minimizing estate and gift taxes in the transfer of wealth from one generation to the next. We advise our clients in the use of wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, family limited partnerships and business succession planning tools.
We also assist our clients in preparing for the possibility of incapacity during their lifetime through the preparation of a durable power of attorney, health care surrogate designation and living will.
Our experience in the administration of estates in probate and trust administration, including contested matters, will guide the client through the often-confusing process. There are also post-mortem planning tools available after the death of an individual which should be considered. Our goal is to help the client achieve a prompt and cost-effective administration of the estate.
Litigation
Williams Gautier provides experienced litigation counsel to manage risk and resolve business and commercial disputes aggressively and efficiently, representing clients in a wide range of substantive legal areas. Our clients include financial institutions (credit unions and banks) and businesses and individuals involved in any type of investigation, dispute or litigation arising from the financial services industry and business. Our firm has represented financial institutions and other businesses in lender liability disputes, work-outs, bankruptcy cases, surety matters, director and officer disputes and related litigations and arbitrations. We have also handled investigations and litigation involving check-kiting and Ponzi schemes, embezzlement, money laundering and related civil matters.
In addition to having the experience and resources necessary to successfully represent clients in litigation, Williams Gautier litigators understand the business needs of our clients developed through the representation of all types of business entities, as well as individuals.
Corporate & Business Law
Williams Gautier has developed extensive experience in corporate and business matters. This experience covers the area of corporate governance since it has taken on more importance to businesses. Our attorneys assist businesses on the focus of best practices and corporate governance for both for-profit and non-profit entities.
Our attorneys have extensive experience advising clients in connection with corporate governance involving boards of directors and board committee members. We assist our corporate and business clients in developing and implementing compliance and ethics programs and policies which address issues arising under federal and state laws, focusing on each client's needs to produce a tailored and integrated compliance structure for the client's business.
Additionally, Williams Gautier provides training opportunities for directors, senior executives and employees across a broad range of areas.
Our clients include financial institutions (credit unions and banks), retailers, real estate entities and other businesses. We have frequently served as special counsel to boards of directors, audit, supervisory and governance committees, as well as special committees formed in connection with particular transactions.
Our depth and range of experience allow us to handle complex transactions while also allowing us to provide services to businesses of all sizes efficiently and at a reasonable cost. We focus on the client's business objectives and on achieving our client's goals.
Collections & Bankruptcy
Williams Gautier is focused on representation of creditors in legal actions in both state and bankruptcy courts. The collections and bankruptcy practice area is structured to provide cost-effective but aggressive legal collection services and representation in bankruptcy court. The firm regularly represents clients throughout Florida and Georgia.
The services routinely provided to the firm's clients include the following: litigation to collect money through the state court system; litigation to recover collateral (replevins); litigation to foreclose mortgages; post-judgment collections; creditor representation in bankruptcy; bankruptcy litigation; and client training and consulting related to effective collection strategies and bankruptcy procedures.
In addition to representing clients in consumer bankruptcy cases, the firm also represents creditors in corporate Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 cases in Florida and throughout the country. In the last few years, the firm has represented clients in the Chapter 11 cases filed by Winn-Dixie, Alliance Leasing Corporation and Centrix Financial, LLC.
Current clients of the firm in collection and bankruptcy matters include Florida Credit Union of Gainesville, Florida; Atlantic Coast Bank of Waycross, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida; and Envision Credit Union of Tallahassee, Florida.
back to top