Prentiss Q. Yancey

Prentiss Yancey is Counsel in the Corporate Section of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.

Mr. Yancey is a graduate of Villanova University and obtained a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Emory University Law School in 1969. Upon graduating from Emory University Law School, Mr. Yancey joined the Firm of Smith, Cohen, Ringel, Kohler and Martin, the predecessor firm of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP. Mr. Yancey entered the Firm in 1969 as an associate in the Merger and Acquisition Department of the Firm. Mr. Yancey was named a partner in the Firm in 1973. Mr. Yancey engaged in a corporate practice specializing in contract law (financing arrangements, franchising, distributorships, leasing, employment contracts, partnerships and joint ventures), acquisitions, corporate formation, municipal finance and sports law.

Mr. Yancey has been actively involved in the representation of Merrill Lynch Capital Markets/Public Finance, Volvo of America, Atlanta Public Schools, Roadmaster Industries, Farley Industries, Fruit of the Loom and H.J. Russell Enterprises, among others. Mr. Yancey served as General Counsel for the American Basketball Association (“ABA”) Players Association from 1972 until the merger of the ABA into the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) in 1976.

Mr. Yancey has been involved in major financings and refinancing for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (“MARTA”), Atlanta International Airport, Urban Residential Finance Authority for the City of Atlanta and the Building Authority of Fulton County and DeKalb County.

Mr. Yancey was a founder of Broadcast Corporation of Georgia and served as its President and as a Director. In 1978 Broadcast Corporation of Georgia obtained a permit to construct WVEU-TV (Channel 69), an independent television station in Atlanta, Georgia serving the metropolitan Atlanta area. Construction of the station was completed in 1982. WVEU-TV was sold to the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) in 1995.

In January of 1994 Mr. Yancey took a leave from Smith, Gambrell & Russell to serve as President and CEO of Africom Telecommunications Ltd.(“Africom”). Africom Telecommunications Ltd. is a development company formed to develop a comprehensive business plan, in partnership with AT&T, for the deployment and operation of a mobile satellite based telecommunications system for Africa. Mr. Yancey’s initial responsibilities included the management of a team of Africom and AT&T personnel, consultants and engineers formed to address technical, market, distribution, finance and organizational issues related to the development and deployment of a mobile satellite based telecommunications system for Africa. Subsequently, Mr. Yancey had the responsibility of identifying a senior management team and financing for an operating company formed to operate Africom’s satellite based telecommunications for Africa.

From May 1998 until August 2000, Mr. Yancey served as Director, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of African Continental Telecommunications Holding Ltd. (“ACTEL”) - a company formed by the shareholders of Africom to act as the operating company for the development, deployment and operation of Africom’s satellite based telecommunications system for Africa.

Mr. Yancey has had significant involvement in the Atlanta community. In 1971 and 9n 1993 he was a member of the Atlanta City Charter Commission that rewrote the Charter of the City of Atlanta. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of United Way of Atlanta, The Sears Foundation, Child Service and Family Counseling Service, The Lovett School, Atlanta University, Discovery Learning, Inc., The Atlanta Ballet, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce International Business Council, the Governor’s Commission on Criminal Justice and the Governor’s Commission on Higher Education. Mr. Yancey was a member of the Atlanta Olympic Organizing Comittee for the Olympic games in Atlanta.

Mr. Yancey has been a member of the Society of International Business Fellows and served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Southern Center for International Studies.