YOUR GUAM LAWYER

D. Graham Botha is licensed to practice in all courts of jurisdiction for Guam, USA.  He is admitted to practice before the US District Court for Guam and the Ninth Circuit Court.  A graduate of the Wharton School of Business, Graham obtained his Juris Doctorate at Boston University.  Botha is a member of the Guam Air National Guard serving as a Colonel with the Judge Advocate General and is widely experienced in all facets of military and administrative law with related judical proceedings.  Graham is a business law practitioner with deep experience in civil litigation, business structures, insurance law and all aspects of real property.  He also has expertise in local and federal regulatory compliance including but not limited to Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Communications Commission, Department of Transportation, Occupational Health and Safety Administration, Equal Employment Opportunity, Amnericans with Disabilities Act, Older Americans Act, Homeland Security and the Immigration and Naturalization Act.  Graham has appeared before the Merit Protection Board and has experience in appellate matters. 

Gary Wayne Francis Gumataotao is a Licensed Member of the firm Gumataotao & Pole and practices in all courts of jurisdiction in Guam and Washington, DC.  He is admitted to practice before the US District Court for Guam, the Ninth Circuit Court and the United States Supreme Court.   A graduate of the Washington and Lee University School of Law located in Lexington, VA, Mr. Gumataotao is a national finalist in the American Bar Association National Negotiating Competition and named to Who's Who in American Law Schools.  He has served as corporate counsel for the Schnitzer Group's Island Equipment Company, Isla Insurance Company and Guam Properties Partnership.  His experience includes service as the Deputy for the Civil and Solicitor Divisions of the Office of the Attorney General for Guam.  With training and experience as a bodily injury specialist with the AEtna Casualty and Surety, Gumataotao knows personal injury, surety bonding and insurance law.  He is a practitioner of senior law with advocacy for Older Americans and estate planning for purposes of probate and limiting probate through intervivos transactions.  Property law, commercial transactions, Uniform Commercial Code and bankruptcy round the specializations that support his general practice of law.  Mr. Gumataotao is the 14th District Captain (Prevention) in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and serves as District Staff Officer for Legal.   

William B. Pole is a licensed member of the Guam Bar Association and the Wisconsin Bar Association with trial experience as a Prosecutor with the Office of the Attorney General for Guam.  He is admitted to practice in the Superior Court of Guam, the United States District Court for Guam and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  In addition to his undergraduate studies, William holds a Masters in Economics.  William graduated with his Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin.  He served in the felony DUI, family violence and sex crimes units with the AG.  A Licensed Member of the firm Gumataotao & Pole, William provides insight and expertise in criminal defense as well as business litigation, administrative law and family law. 

George Butler was a principal with Butler Telford Butler and is presently retired.  Although he has been a general practitioner, he has become the foremost authority on bankruptcy in Guam with more than 25 years of concentrated experience in this field.  George understood early on that our community needed niche debt relief services thus has handled simple Chapter 7 cases, more complicated Chapter 13 cases and many complex business bankruptcies.  He continues to provide service to our community as Of Counsel to Gary W. Frank Gumataotao. 

Carol Telford Butler was also a principal of Butler Telford Butler and is also retired.  She and George Butler are graduates of Tulane University of New Orleans, Louisiana.  Carol built a general law practice with a concentration upon family law.  She has deep trial experience and has served as an administrative lawyer for the public school system.  Carol and George Butler are strong mentors and professional role models for Gary W. Frank Gumataotao.  Both George and Carol have a foundation in legal aid with experience in Chuuk and the Federated States of Micronesia.  The Butlers have strong ties to the community and have a tradition of legal service to those who are most in need.  It is this sensitivity and commitment that the practitioners of Your Guam Lawyer strive to continue.         

Our Practice Vision

After many years of practice, the attorneys developed Your Guam Lawyer in response to a need for traditional lawyers with the ability to relate to ordinary people with real life problems.  In this day and age of specialization, it is difficult for a client to locate a general practitioner with the knowledge, experience and interest in helping people understand the complexities of the law and a willingness to take the time to explain in a way that brings understanding to everyone.  Your Guam Lawyer is here to give assistance to all who seek help.  Call us.  Please give us the opportunity to serve your legal needs.  

SENIOR CITIZENS

The Law Offices of Gary Wayne Francis Gumataotao  nka Gumataotao & Pole held a contract for five years with the Government of Guam Public Health and Social Services Division of Senior Citizens to render legal services to our Senior Citizens.  Although limited in scope,goverment provided services are an entitlement to all qualified Senior Citzens aged sixty and above.  We are no longer the contractors for DPHSS, but we continue to offer certain pro bono and discounted legal services to senior citizens. Such include but are not limited to advocacy pertaining to administrative address of benefits, probate avoidance, discrimination in housing, elder abuse, guarianship, simple wills, powers of attorney, legal counseling and land conveyances. 

GEPB COUNSEL

Mr. Gumataotao is also the former legal counsel for the Guam Education Policy Board on an independent contractor basis.