ATLANTA (August 8, 2022) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Partner Roger Juan Maldonado has been named to the 2022 Transportation Power 100 by City & State New York magazine for his leadership on the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA’s) new “Fareness” Blue Ribbon Panel. Covering New York’s local and state politics and policy, City & State New York compiled the Transportation Power 100 list to feature the most important figures navigating New York City’s complex and complicated transportation ecosystem. Mr. Maldonado was recently invited to serve on MTA’s “Fareness” Blue Ribbon Panel to address fare evasion through “education,… Read more

ATLANTA (August 8, 2022) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Gemma Patterson has joined the Firm’s Global Transport Group as a senior associate based in the London office. Ms. Patterson joins SGR from White & Case, LLP London where she was a member of the Energy, Infrastructure, Project and Asset Finance Group specializing in asset finance transactions. Ms. Patterson has more than a decade of experience working on a wide range of cross-border asset, project and corporate finance transactions involving export credit agency-supported financing, commercial debt financing, operating, finance and tax-based lease structures, restructurings,… Read more

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