Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP’s Global Transport Practice and Attorneys Recognized in The Legal 500 UK 2027

Firm News

October 15, 2026

LONDON, U.K. (October 15, 2026) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP is pleased to announce that its Global Transport Practice and attorneys have been recognized in the Legal 500 UK 2027. The practice received a Tier Four ranking in the London - Transport Finance & Leasing category and a Tier Five ranking in the London - Transport: Aviation category. Partner Adrian Beasley was recognized as a Leading Partner, and Partners Ben Graham-Evans, Gareth Hawes, Mark Turnbull, and Rachel Thomasen received mentions.

SGR’s UK Global Transport Practice also received positive feedback from clients, with The Legal 500 UK noting: “The SGR Aviation team delivers on every transaction. The team understands our business and offers expertise and commercial awareness. The team consistently handles complex cross-border transactions for our company under significant time pressure.”

Founded in 1987, The Legal 500 provides independent research and analysis of law firms and legal professionals across more than 100 countries.

Adrian Beasley is a Partner and a member of SGR’s Global Transport Practice. He advises clients on international asset finance and leasing transactions, with a particular emphasis on the aviation industry. Adrian has been consistently recognized by The Legal 500 UK in aviation finance and commended for his client-centric approach.

Ben Graham-Evans, London office Managing Partner and co-founding UK Partner, is a member of SGR’s Global Transport Practice. He is an English-qualified transactional lawyer with more than 20 years of industry experience, advising international clients on aviation finance, aircraft trading, and leasing transactions. Ben combines strong legal and negotiation skills with a practical, commercially focused approach to helping clients complete complex transactions. He has also built a substantial legal team over the past decade, fostering a collaborative, industry-focused approach. Over the course of his legal career, Ben has been repeatedly recognized by The Legal 500 UK.

Gareth Hawes is a Partner and a member of SGR’s Global Transport Practice. He works across the full lifecycle of aircraft ownership and operation, supporting clients on the financing, leasing, sale and delivery of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft worldwide. Gareth regularly advises on new aircraft deliveries, operating leases, sale and leaseback transactions, novations and restructurings, and has particular experience acting for leading industry participants on cross-border transactions.

Mark Turnbull, co-founding UK Partner, is a member of SGR’s Global Transport Practice. He is a highly regarded practitioner who advises aircraft leasing companies, manufacturers, airlines, equity investors, financial institutions, and other aviation industry participants on new and used aircraft, engine, and parts transactions. Client feedback published in The Legal 500 UK notes that “Mark Turnbull is very knowledgeable and responsive to issues on deals.”

Rachel Thomasen is a Partner and a member of SGR’s Global Transport and Corporate Practices. She has extensive experience acting for lessors and financiers (debt and equity) on cross-border asset finance and leasing transactions, including full and limited recourse operating lease financings, export credit financings, portfolio acquisitions, sale and leaseback transactions, tax leases, finance leases, operating leases, restructurings and aircraft repossession.

Since the establishment of its London and Southampton offices in 2017, the UK practice has steadily expanded. 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. The Firm’s global transport capabilities in the U.K. have continued to develop with the recent additions of Associate Eric Zhang and Senior Associate Victoria White as well as disputes partners Simon Kilgour, Patrick Swain, and Gordon McAllister. In addition, Global Transport partner Simone Riley recently joined the Firm’s New York office from Vedder, where she was a shareholder in the Global Transportation Finance Group. 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 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 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.