Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP Elects 10 Attorneys to the Partnership

Press Release

December 9, 2025

2025 PR Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP Elects Eight Attorneys to Firm Partnership, Representing Four Offices and Eight Practice Areas 1.2

ATLANTA, Ga. (December 9, 2025) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP is pleased to announce the election of Danielle Comanducci, Audria Crain, Tyler Cunningham, Daniel Goldstein, Todd Heffner, Johnathon Koechley, Lisa Mazzone, Christopher Smith, Jacqueline Van Laningham and Mina Zhan to its partnership, effective January 1, 2026.

“We are pleased to welcome Danielle, Audria, Tyler, Dan, Todd, Johnathon, Lisa, Chris, Jackie and Mina to our partnership,” said Stephen M. Forte, SGR’s chairman and managing partner. “This class represents four offices and eight of our key practice areas. Each new partner has made an indelible impact on their clients and the firm, and we look forward to their continued success.”

Ms. Comanducci is a member of the Corporate, Intellectual Property and Real Estate Law practices in the New York office. She acts in an outside general counsel capacity and advises domestic and international clients on a multitude of corporate and financial matters.

Ms. Crain is a member of the Corporate practice in the Atlanta office. She advises domestic and international clients on a variety of corporate and transactional matters, including domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, cross-border business matters, capital raising, data privacy and cybersecurity matters, and commercial contract negotiation. In connection with her M&A practice, Ms. Crain assists clients with Hart-Scott-Rodino filings and related transactional antitrust issues.

Mr. Cunningham is a member of the Real Estate practice in the Atlanta office. His practice focuses on a variety of commercial real estate transactions across all major U.S. markets, including the acquisition, development, financing, leasing, and disposition of real estate. He regularly leads transactions involving all major property types, including retail centers, industrial facilities, timberlands, office buildings, hotels, and multifamily projects.

Mr. Goldstein is a member of the Litigation and Labor and Employment practices in the New York office. His practice focuses on commercial litigation and employment law. He regularly handles cases before state and federal courts, appellate courts, arbitration forums and administrative agencies.

Mr. Heffner is a member of the Construction Law practice in the Atlanta office. He focuses his practice on construction and energy law, with a specialization in litigating high-stakes construction claims and other highly technical disputes.

Mr. Koechley is a member of the Litigation practice in the Chicago office. He has represented domestic and international clients in a wide variety of complex disputes and routinely advises family businesses and licensed professionals seeking trusted legal guidance.

Ms. Mazzone is a member of the Litigation practice in the Chicago office. She concentrates her practice on civil litigation involving contract claims, legal malpractice, business torts, and other complex commercial matters in both state and federal court.

Mr. Smith is Head of the International Arbitration and Cross-Border Disputes practice, and he is based in the firm’s Atlanta office. He represents businesses in various industries in their cross-border disputes with other businesses and foreign governments. Mr. Smith has over a decade of experience representing clients in international disputes, as well as cross-border litigation matters.

Ms. Van Laningham is a member of the Litigation practice in the Jacksonville office. Her practice focuses on civil litigation involving contract claims, business torts, fiduciary duty and estate-related disputes, Section 230 immunity issues, and administrative rule-challenge proceedings.

Ms. Zhan is a member of the Corporate and International practices in the Atlanta office. Her practice focuses on the areas of corporate formation and compliance, commercial transactions (including M&A, joint ventures, and buy-sell), HR and employment, customs and trade issues, and trademark counseling and prosecution.

About Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP
Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP is a full-service, international law firm that advises regional, national and global businesses on a wide range of legal matters. The Firm’s nearly 350 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 50 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, real estate, insurance/reinsurance, construction, employment law, international, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Founded in 1893, Smith Gambrell has 14 domestic and international offices, including Atlanta; Austin; Charlotte; Chicago; Jacksonville; London; Los Angeles; Miami; Milan; Munich; New York; Southampton; Tampa; and Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit: