Kristen is located in the Atlanta office, and she assists in all major aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation. Prior to joining Smith, Gambrell & Russell as an Associate, Kristen was a summer associate at SGR. Kristen earned her J.D. from the Emory University School of Law, where she graduated with honors and received a Certificate in Transactional Law and Skills. While at Emory, Kristen acted as Managing Editor of the Emory Law Journal and a student representative for LexisNexis. Kristen received her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia, where she majored in English Language and… Read more
Mr. Ihejirika earned his Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, graduating with distinction as a Thomas More Scholar, Illinois Judicial Council Scholar, and Finney Injury Law Scholar. Demonstrating his passion for legal education and leadership, he served as Lead Teaching Assistant for Professional Identity Formation, Vice President of the Real Estate and Construction Law Society, and Chief of Staff for the Midwest Region of the Black Law Students Association. Additionally, he was a valued member of Loyola’s Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition Team, where he honed his litigation skills through rigorous appellate advocacy. Mr. Ihejirika brings a… Read more
Ms. Jimenez Garcia earned her Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law. She was the recipient of the Rajesh “Raj” Mehta Memorial Endowment for Family Justice and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund scholarship, which were awarded annually to students based on academic merit and community involvement. While at the University of Georgia School of Law, Ms. Jimenez Garcia served as the Executive Managing Editor of Georgia Law Review, Vice President of the Hispanic and Latino Law Students Association, and Teaching Assistant—all of which demonstrate her passion for mentoring peers and contributing to the academic success of… Read more
Andrew is a corporate attorney who advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and commercial transactions. He has extensive experience in franchise and dealership matters, securities, and general corporate issues. Andrew regularly manages diligence for buy- and sell-side acquisitions, including transactions involving representation and warranty insurance. He also counsels emerging companies on structuring equity incentive programs and raising capital through convertible notes, SAFEs, and preferred equity. Andrew earned his J.D. from Emory University School of Law and a B.A. in Economics, Political Science, and Finance from Vanderbilt University. During law school, he gained in-house and academic experience as an… Read more
Her practice focuses on representing employers in labor and employment matters, including defending clients before the EEOC and NLRB, advising on workforce reductions, and counseling on labor relations. She has experience conducting workplace investigations, preparing position statements, representing clients in arbitrations and complex labor hearings, and providing management training on compliance with federal labor laws. Ms. Kerr earned her J.D., cum laude, from Georgia State University College of Law. While in law school, she was a member of the Student Trial Lawyers Association and externed with the DeKalb County District Attorneys’ office. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in… Read more
As part of the corporate group, Mackenzie handles a range of transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and general business counseling. She also supports clients in navigating complex commercial agreements and strategic business initiatives. Mackenzie previously was a Summer Associate with the firm. She earned her J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School, where she served as a mediator for the Notre Dame Clinical Law Center, an Articles Editor for the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy, and the President of the Business Law Forum. Mackenzie received her B.A. in Communication and Media… Read more
Austin’s practice focuses on construction defect litigation, property damage claims, mechanic’s liens, subrogation, premises liability, and contractual indemnification. He has experience managing cases from intake through pre-trial, handling discovery, depositions, dispositive motions, and oral arguments. Notably, he has defended real estate sponsors in high-stakes construction defect cases and successfully represented clients in arbitration, securing significant recoveries. Austin provides strategic litigation support, and helps clients navigate complex disputes with a practical, results-driven approach. Austin earned his J.D., graduating cum laude, from New York Law School. He was affiliated with the Center of Business and Financial Law, the Institute for Financial Services… Read more
Before joining as an Associate, Mr. Long was as a Summer Associate with the firm, working in a wide variety of practice areas. Mr. Long earned his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law, where he demonstrated academic excellence and a strong commitment to his legal education. While in law school, he served on the Managing Board for the Georgia Law Review. He also served as a judicial intern for Justice Charlie J. Bethel of the Georgia Supreme Court, and as a legal intern for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in their Enforcement Division. Prior to attending… Read more
Anca advises clients on a wide range of intellectual property matters, including global trademark and copyright protection, litigation, and anti-counterfeiting enforcement. Prior to joining SGR, Anca served as trademark counsel to Bristol-Myers Squibb. She also previously practiced at a major Washington, D.C. law firm and began her career as a trademark and copyright associate at a boutique intellectual property firm. As trademark counsel, Anca has extensive experience assisting clients with the selection, clearance, registration, maintenance, enforcement, and defense of trademarks worldwide. Her responsibilities include counseling on trademark infringement issues and representing clients in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the U.S…. Read more
Ms. Mirabella previously worked with Smith Gambrell as both a Summer Associate and Law Clerk, where she worked on a variety of litigation matters, including discovery, deposition preparation, and legal research. Ms. Mirabella also served as a Summer Legal Intern with Hydro Extrusion North America, where she assisted with contract drafting, compliance initiatives, and the development of internal policies and training materials. Ms. Mirabella earned her J.D., cum laude, from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. While at Loyola, she served as Lead Article Editor for the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal and received a Trial Advocacy Certificate. She also… Read more
