Brett Lockwood

Brett Lockwood is a Partner in the Corporate Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP and chairs the Firm’s Technology Law Practice Group.

Mr. Lockwood devotes a substantial portion of his practice to acting as principal outside counsel with his clients, advising on corporate and technology issues and significant transactions matters. His practice areas include corporate governance, commercial and venture finance, mergers and acquisitions, corporate technology transactions, licensing law, outsourcing, strategic alliances, distribution arrangements and executive compensation and general business law matters.

Mr. Lockwood has written and published numerous articles on business and legal topics in both regional and national publications and has spoken widely on business and technology-related legal topics.

Representative Corporate Transactions

• Advising nationwide medical billing services company on $80 million+ sale to major private equity firm and re-investment of portion of sales proceeds.
• Advising regional insurance company in sale of its assets and business to national insurance brokerage and major private equity firm.
• Advising multi-state retailer of flooring products on numerous acquisitions and $100 million+ syndicated credit facility.
• Serving as general counsel to Southeast-based worldwide precious metals recovery and refining business, including advising on major supply arrangements and $100 million+ syndicated credit facility.
• Advising international software manufacturer on $75 million+ syndicated credit facility.
• Advising major bank lender on $20 million+ revolving credit and term loan facility for national building products retailer.
• Advising transportation industry equipment and software supplier with restructuring of U.S. and non-U.S. business operations and related capital raise for expansion.
• Advising major regional bank on sale of $300 million+ credit card portfolio to national credit card company and to another national banking institution.
• Advising major North American specialty papers manufacturer in its acquisition of another national specialty papers company.
• Serving as principal counsel to national alliance consulting organization on both technology and non-technology alliances and collaboration programs, principally with Fortune 500 companies.
• Serving as lead counsel for international flight training company, including on joint ventures and alliances with partners in Middle East and Asia Pacific regions.

Representative Software and Technology Transactions

• Advising patent licensing company with proprietary foundry casting technology on licensing and development arrangements with major US automakers and in joint venture with Canadian metals producer.
• Serving as principal external licensing counsel for major international retail industry software licensor on significant licensing agreements throughout North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
• Advising major US airline on numerous software licensing and implementation transactions throughout its carrier system.
• Advising major South American airline on substantial software licensing acquisition to support worldwide reservations and customer service applications.
• Advising UK-based medical device manufacturer on terms for sale and licensing in U.S. of its medical device products.
• Advising German parent company on contribution of instrumentation intellectual property assets and licenses into joint venture with US-based distribution organization.
• Advising web server software company on exclusive reseller and alliance agreement with leading United Kingdom interactive content management company.
• Advising Southeast-based hospital operating company on multi-facility, multi-state back office management and billing software license and implementation.
• Advising home networking software provider on worldwide OEM agreement with major home electronics manufacturers and distributors.

Mr. Lockwood is AV Rated (top rating) from Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as a Georgia Super Lawyer. His current professional affiliations include serving as a Board member and officer of the Southeast Chapter of the Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals, a member of the Executive Committee of the State Bar of Georgia’s Technology Law Section and as a member of the Licensing Executives Society (through which he holds the Certified Licensing Professional designation) and the Association for Corporate Growth.

Mr. Lockwood previously served as a Board member and/or officer of the Business & Technology Alliance, the Atlanta Electronic Commerce Forum, the Georgia Technology Forum, Literacy Volunteers of America — Metro Atlanta, the Emory University Law School Alumni Council and as the Editor-in-Chief of the Georgia Bar Journal.

Mr. Lockwood received his B.A. degree, cum laude, from the University of North Florida, performed graduate studies at Columbia University’s School of International Affairs and received his J.D. degree, with distinction, from Emory University School of Law. During law school he served as Executive Managing Editor of the Emory Law Journal and received the Laughlin Award for excellence in legal research and writing.