ATLANTA (August 3, 2022) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Partner David J. Burge has been accepted as a Fellow in the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA), a professional group comprised of 500 experienced real estate finance attorneys across North America. A lawyer considered qualified for election as an ACMA Fellow may be nominated by another Fellow and confirmed after a formal consideration process. Lawyers who are accepted have distinguished themselves as practitioners in the field of real estate mortgage law through their skills and practice experience, bar association activities, lecturing, authoring articles… Read more

ATLANTA (August 2, 2022) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that the Firm served as legal counsel to Big V Property Group (Big V) in its acquisition of Lake Pleasant Pavilion, a 178,403-square-foot destination shopping center in Peoria, Arizona, located in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. The transaction closed on August 1, 2022 and is Big V’s first acquisition in Arizona. Located at the intersection referred to as Peoria’s ‘Four Corners’ just outside Phoenix, Lake Pleasant Pavilion’s tenant roster consists of approximately 88% national retailers, including Marshalls, Bed Bath & Beyond, Downeast Home & Clothing, BevMo!,… Read more

ATLANTA (July 28, 2022) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that attorney Edward J. Heppt, of the New York office, has been appointed to serve on the New York City Bar Association’s (City Bar’s) Council on Judicial Administration for 2022-2023. The Council on Judicial Administration coordinates the work of several of the City Bar’s court committees on issues that impact New York’s state and federal courts. Mr. Heppt previously served as Secretary of the City Bar’s State Courts of Superior Jurisdiction Committee. The Council includes representatives from several City Bar committees, along with other experienced… Read more

ATLANTA (July 21, 2022) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Robert A. Rees, Jr. has joined the Firm as chief human resources officer (CHRO). In this role, he oversees the Human Resources (HR) Department, its practices, and operations, including strategic business advisory to firm management, staff performance and compensation management, compliance and employee relations, and management of the Firm’s retirement savings plan and insurance programs. Most recently, Mr. Rees led global human resources operations for King & Spalding. “We are thrilled to welcome Robert as our new head of HR,” said Stephen M. Forte,… Read more

ATLANTA (June 30, 2022) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that the Firm served as legal counsel to Superior Pine Products Company (Superior Pine), a family-owned forestland and natural resource company based in southern Georgia, in its acquisition of more than 58,000 acres of high-quality pine forestland near El Dorado, Arkansas and Monroe, Louisiana. The property, marketed as the “Castle Timberland property,” was acquired from the Molpus Woodlands Group. Superior Pine purchased the pine forestland as a part of a plan to increase market reach by geographically diversifying its asset holdings beyond southern Georgia and… Read more

ATLANTA (July 11, 2022) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce the Intellectual Property (IP) attorneys who have been recognized in the IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals of 2022. Gregory Kirsch, Dr. Judy Jarecki-Black, and Michael Riesen are recognized for their work in patent prosecution (patent procurement). Additionally, SGR has been recognized as a firm for its patent work for the U.S. State of Georgia. Mr. Kirsch is a Partner in and the Department Head of SGR’s IP Practice. His practice encompasses the entire range of patent law, including patent procurement, strategic patent… Read more

ATLANTA (July 11, 2022) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Partner Alan Wachs and Associate Joshua Gostel have been selected as Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite 2022 for their work in Commercial Litigation. Mr. Wachs is designated as Legal Elite, and Mr. Gostel is an Up & Comer. Now in its 19th year, Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite presents the state’s top licensed and practicing attorneys selected by their peers, and only 1.4% of Florida lawyers appear among the exclusive list. Alan Wachs is a Partner in SGR’s Jacksonville Litigation Practice where he focuses… Read more

ATLANTA (June 28, 2022) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that the Firm served as legal counsel to Big V Property Group in its acquisition of Glade Parks Town Center in Dallas, Texas. Glade Parks, a best-in-class shopping center consisting of 559,457 square feet, is Big V Property Group’s fourth Texas property, its first in Dallas. Glade Parks Town Center offers a diverse roster of nationally recognized retailers including Homegoods, Michaels, Ulta Beauty, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Total Wine & More, Cinépolis, and more. The assortment of fashion and lifestyle retail offerings has established Glade Parks… Read more

ATLANTA (June 24, 2022) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce the attorneys that have been selected to the 2022 Florida Super Lawyers list. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. The SGR attorneys in the Jacksonville office selected to the 2022 Super Lawyers list and their specified areas of practice: Dana G. Bradford II (Civil Litigation: Defense) Alan S. Wachs (Insurance Coverage) Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from… Read more

ATLANTA (June 15, 2022) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that partners Elizabeth Borland (Copyright star, Patent star, Trademark star), Dale Lischer (Patent star), and Edward Pennington (Patent star) have been recognized nationally and in their respective regional jurisdictions in the 2022 Edition of IP STARS. Additionally, SGR has been recognized as a firm in the Georgia and Washington, D.C regional jurisdictions. IP STARS is the leading specialist guide to IP law firms and practitioners worldwide. Managing IP’s legal directory has evolved over the years: the publication started in 1994 but was rebranded in 2013… Read more