Smith, Gambrell & Russell Welcomes 10 New Attorneys

Press Release

December 29, 2016

ATLANTA (December 29, 2016) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce the addition of 10 new attorneys to the firm: Partners Yoram Keinan and Russell Wolfson along with Associates Jasmine Chean, Nicole Chong, Joseph Crawford, Sasha Greenberg, Jonathan Hurt, Valentin Karpenko, Erin Peterson McCallum, and Jeremy Schara.

Mr. Keinan is a partner in SGR’s New York Tax Practice. He focuses on U.S. and international taxation of financial products and institutions and represents multinational entities, banks, hedge funds, private equity funds and REITs. Prior to joining SGR, Mr. Keinan practiced for more than two decades in New York and Washington, D.C. with several firms including Carter Ledyard & Milburn, Greenberg Traurig, and Shearman & Sterling. He was also with Ernst & Young in Israel.

Mr. Wolfson is a partner in SGR’s New York Construction, Litigation and Real Estate Practices. He has a commercially based practice with a heavy emphasis on construction, development and real estate in the New York City metropolitan area. Prior to joining SGR, Mr. Wolfson most recently had his own law practice and previous to that was with a prominent New York City law firm.

Ms. Chean is an associate in SGR’s New York Litigation Practice. She received her B.A. from Columbia University and earned her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. Ms. Chean is passionate about consumer financial protection law and intends to continue this work by volunteering in the New York City Civil Court as part of the Volunteer Lawyer for the Day Program in Consumer Debt.

Ms. Chong is an associate in SGR’s New York Corporate Practice where she specializes in aircraft purchases and sales, leasing and financing. She received her B.S. from New York University Stern School of Business and her J.D. from Emory University School of Law and additionally earned a transactional law certificate. Ms. Chong also studied tax law and earned her LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law.

Mr. Crawford is an associate in SGR’s Jacksonville Litigation Practice where his focus is primarily on representing employers in labor and employment law, and in defending employers with respect to claims of employment discrimination, wage and hour compliance, unfair labor practices, and employment torts and contract disputes. He received his B.A. from the University of Central Florida and earned his J.D. from the University of Florida.

Ms. Greenberg is an associate in SGR’s Atlanta Litigation Practice, specializing in commercial and employment-related litigation. She received her B.B.A. and a Certificate in Personal and Organizational Leadership from the University of Georgia. She earned her J.D. from Duke University School of Law.

Mr. Hurt is an associate in SGR’s Atlanta Corporate Practice where he represents domestic and international clients on various corporate and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, and corporate governance. He received a B.A. from Transylvania University in Lexington, KY. He earned his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law where he graduated in the top 5%.

Mr. Karpenko is an associate in SGR’s Atlanta Immigration Practice where he uses his nearly a decade of legal experience in the area of business immigration. He has particular focus in the area of employment-based business immigration law. Mr. Karpenko earned his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from Emory University School of Law.

Ms. Peterson is an associate in SGR’s Atlanta Corporate Practice and a member of the Air Transportation Industry Group where she serves domestic and international clients in a variety of corporate and transactional matters, with an emphasis on aircraft transactions. She received her A.B.J. from the University of Georgia and her J.D. from UGA’s School of Law.

Mr. Schara is an associate in SGR’s New York Real Estate Practice specializing in representing buyers and sellers in the purchase, sale, leasing, and financing of residential and commercial properties. He received his undergraduate degree from Stony Brook University and earned his J.D. from Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Schara was in the United States Navy.

About Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP

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 200 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 45 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, construction and employment law. Founded in 1893, SGR has offices in Atlanta, Austin, Jacksonville, New York, Washington, D.C. and Frankfurt, Germany.