One law office comes to mind when local businessmen Collin Austin and Joe Lowry Jr. need an attorney: the Gainesville branch of Bogin Munns & Munns, P.A.
Austin has turned to Bogin Munns & Munns, headed by managing partner Adam Towers, for work ranging from partnership buyouts to document reviews for his two businesses, New Scooters 4 Less and Gulejo Coffee.
“Adam and his team are my go-to legal advisors,” Austin said. “There has never been a job too big or too small.”
“Adam’s expertise and representation have been critical to the decisions I have made as a business owner,” Austin said. “It’s reassuring to have that kind of legal expertise behind me.”
Lowry, the managing partner of Lowry Financial Services, said he works with the firm because the people are very professional and “not afraid to aggressively pursue a case.”
Lowry recommends the law firm to his clients, and they are always satisfied with the results, he said.
Towers helped one of Lowry’s clients make last-minute changes to his estate plan shortly before the client’s death.
“Adam was both compassionate and efficient,” Lowry said.
AN ARRAY OF LEGAL NEEDS
The versatility of the office’s four attorneys is important to clients, Towers said.
“People often need help with more than just one aspect of the law,” he said. “When you are starting a new business or expanding, you should consider how your ‘exit strategy’ fits into your overall estate plan. If you’re going through a divorce, you need to consider the ramifications to your business and may need to modify legal documents. If your loved one has died as a result of the negligence of another person, you will need attorneys that handle the probate and wrongful death aspects of the case.”
“We pride ourselves in being a one-stop shop as much as possible,” he added.
The local office’s attorneys primarily handle the following areas of the law:
• Towers – business and real estate litigation, probate and estate planning
• Phil Kabler – business, real estate and banking transactions
• Bill Galione – personal injury and PIP insurance litigation
• Greg Buckley – family law, including divorce and support actions
The Orlando-based law firm has 10 offices that support clients throughout the state.
“Attorneys in the firm experienced in other practice areas often come here to meet with clients so they don’t have to travel out of town,” Towers said.
STRONG COMMUNITY TIES
The office’s staff is also active in the community.
“Many people are familiar with Bogin Munns & Munns because of our TV ads, but they may not realize that most of the team members in our Gainesville office are longtime local residents who are heavily invested in the community,” Towers said.
“We see our clients at church, soccer league sidelines, and horse shows,” he explained.
The team’s civic involvement includes supporting many social service organizations and charities.
Towers took a personal interest in the Child Advocacy Center, which he learned about in 2011, when his Leadership Gainesville group focused on protecting children from Internet crimes.
“The experience really opened my eyes to the needs that exist, and I provide financial support to the Center whatever I can to help,” he said.
Kabler serves as a board member with GAIN. Galione volunteers for Three Rivers Legal Services. The office also regularly donates money or supplies to various local groups, including the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation, local schools, and the Guardian ad Litem program.
Church and family are also important to Towers. He served for five years as a lay bishop of one of the local congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, and he now serves on the leadership council for the area.
Towers’ wife, Lauren, teaches toddlers to swim. His daughter Molly plays travel soccer with the Gainesville Soccer Alliance, his son Landon is in Buchholz’s Academy of Entrepreneurship, his daughter Maggie plays in the Kanapaha Middle School band, and his son Gordon, who attends Hidden Oaks Elementary School, is a Cub Scout.
Towers moved to Florida from southern California to be close to his extended family, and he opened the local office of Bogin Munns & Munns in 2007.
“We love being part of the community and making a difference,” he said.