Gunster acquires Sarasota's Icard Merrill, adds 28 lawyers on Florida's west coast

What's the deal? GunsterDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, one of West Palm Beach's oldest law firms, has acquired Sarasota-based Icard MerrillDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, bringing on 28 of its lawyers. The deal, announced in October 2026, has undisclosed terms.

What does Icard Merrill do? The firm operated across Sarasota and Manatee counties, handling real estate work such as land use and litigation, plus estate planning and probate.

The expansion: The acquisition extends Gunster's reach into Florida's west coast, adding Sarasota and Manatee to its footprint. The move is a bid to grow the firm's presence on that side of the state.

Why now? Gunster is expanding as Florida's economy booms, picking up a local firm with established real estate, estate planning, and probate practices.

The signal: The deal reflects law firms consolidating around Florida's fast-growing markets, where real estate and wealth work are in demand.

Read more: palmbeachpost.com

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