Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP Welcomes Associate Tom Coates to the London Office

Firm News

November 12, 2026

LONDON, U.K. (November 12, 2026) — Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (“SGR”) is pleased to announce the arrival of Associate Tom Coates to the firm’s London office.

Tom works closely with banks, aircraft lessors, and airline operators to structure, negotiate, and manage aviation finance transactions. His practice centers on asset-based lending, advising on secured lending arrangements, aircraft and engine trading, and helicopter transactions. Tom advises clients on a range of aircraft transactions, including negotiating lease terms, drafting security documentation, and coordinating with local counsel on registration and enforcement rights.

“We are pleased to welcome Tom to SGR,” said Ben Graham-Evans, Partner and London office Managing Partner. “He brings strong Aviation Finance experience to our team, and his arrival continues our steady expansion in London to meet client demand. Tom joins as SGR approaches its 10^th year of being established in the UK and as a firm as a whole, 100 years serving the aviation industry. We are always on the lookout for adding and integrating top-talented lawyers who see the benefits of working within our closely knit team.”

Since the establishment of its London and Southampton offices in 2017, the UK practice has steadily expanded over the past decade. This growth is part of SGR’s broader Global Transport Practice, which now includes over 40 lawyers across its offices in key locations such as Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Miami, and New York, positioning the firm to serve clients with comprehensive expertise across multiple jurisdictions. Tom’s arrival further strengthens the firm’s global transport capabilities in the U.K., which has further developed with the recent additions of Associate Eric Zhang, Senior Associate Victoria White as well as disputes partners Simon Kilgour, Patrick Swain, and Gordon McAllister. In addition, Global Transport partner Simone Riley joined the Firm’s New York office. To learn more, please visit: https://www.sgrlaw.com/capabilities/air-transport and https://www.sgrlaw.com/attorneys?do_item_search=1&office=8802.

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 more than 400 professionals provide legal counsel in nearly 100 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, SGR has 15 domestic and international offices, including Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Jacksonville, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Milan, Munich, New York, Southampton, Tampa, and Washington, D.C.