Smith Gambrell Russell Partner Justice Leah Ward Sears Selected to 2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America

ATLANTA (March 7, 2022) – Smith Gambrell Russell (SGR) is pleased to announce that Justice Leah Ward Sears (Ret.) has been selected to the 2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, an annual elite list distinction in the legal profession covering the best in all practice areas. The list, which is 40 percent female and 25 percent inclusive, represents the judiciary, public interest, dealmakers, plaintiff advocates, commercial litigators, disability lawyers, and more. This is the second year in a row that Justice Sears has been selected to this list.

A retired Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice, Justice Sears is now a partner in SGR’s Litigation Practice and serves on the firm’s executive committee. Since returning to private practice, she has concentrated on prosecuting appeals in the state and federal courts in jurisdictions across the United States. Justice Sears is also a trusted advisor to executives and institutions that face misconduct allegations including sexual harassment and other claims of bias, where she works to prepare and respond to claims, develop strategies to minimize legal exposure, and move swiftly to protect their reputations. Justice Sears defends businesses in a wide range of product liability, business torts, medical malpractice, employment, contract, and other commercial disputes.

Due to her distinguished career and continued involvement in the community, Justice Sears has been honored with numerous awards within the legal profession and from local organizations and regularly serves on various committees and boards. She was recently named to Atlanta magazine’s 2022 Atlanta 500. In 2021, Justice Sears was appointed Chair of the Federal Nominations Advisory Committee for Georgia, and in 2019, she was appointed by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to chair the City of Atlanta Task Force for the Promotion of Public Trust to explore ways to improve integrity, accountability and transparency in city government. Justice Sears has been consistently named to the Georgia Super Lawyers and the Best Lawyers in America^® lists. Additionally, she is a Fellow and a Board Member of the prestigious American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, an invitation-only organization limited to 500 lawyers who achieve distinction in their field.

Justice Sears was the first woman and youngest person to sit on Georgia’s Supreme Court when she was appointed in 1992 and the first woman to hold a position on the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia. She was twice on the President’s shortlist for appointment to the United States Supreme Court. Justice Sears retired from the bench in 2005 and returned to private practice in 2009.

To see the complete list of the 2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, click here.

About Lawdragon
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About Smith Gambrell Russell

SGR is a full service, international law firm that advises regional, national and global businesses on a wide range of legal matters. The firm’s 270 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 45 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, real estate, construction, employment law, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Founded in 1893, SGR has offices in Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Jacksonville, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Munich, New York, Southampton, and Washington, D.C.

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