ATLANTA (January 31, 2018) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that the firm served as legal counsel to Artemis Partners LLC (Artemis), a private equity firm, in its sale of 204 Fifth Avenue in New York City to Porcelanosa, the Spanish interior design and ceramics retailer, for $42,400,000. Purchased by Artemis in 2017, the four-story Beaux-Arts style building at 204 Fifth Avenue is situated across from Madison Square Park in NYC’s fashion manufacturing mecca, the Garment District. With an adjacent location to Porcelanosa’s current flagship store at 202 Fifth Avenue, which was purchased in 2012,… Read more

ATLANTA (January 29, 2018) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that the firm served as legal counsel to Genesee General (Genesee), a leading managing general agency and wholesale insurance broker, in its acquisition by JenCap Holdings (JCH), a premier national specialty insurance business. Through its partnership with JCH, the Alpharetta, Georgia based Genesee has found a shared commitment to product development and superb client service. This is the seventh transaction by JCH since its formation by The Carlyle Group and JCH management in March 2016. The Genesee acquisition makes it one of the largest wholesale… Read more

ATLANTA (January 24, 2018) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Partners James Bikoff, J. Rodgers Lunsford III, and Bruce McDonald have been recognized on World Trademark Review 1000 list (WTR 1000) of the world’s leading trademark professionals of 2018. Additionally, SGR has been recognized as a leading firm within the Washington, D.C. Metro. This year marks the eighth edition of the research directory. Focusing exclusively on trademark practices and practitioners, The WTR 1000 has firmly established itself as the definitive ‘go-to’ resource for those seeking legal trademark expertise. As with previous editions, to arrive… Read more

ATLANTA (January 19, 2018) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that William Long has joined the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) Practice. He will be based out of the Atlanta office. “Bill is a welcome addition to SGR’s large and growing IP legal practice,” said Greg Kirsch, Head of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department. “He is a well-regarded and seasoned litigator and will significantly enhance our patent and IP litigation practices.” Mr. Long’s practice focuses on patent and other intellectual property and technology-related disputes. In this capacity, he has tried and arbitrated numerous cases involving a… Read more

ATLANTA (January 18, 2018) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Joshua D. Gentner has joined the firm’s Global Transport and Corporate Practices, based out of the New York office. Mr. Gentner represents and counsels clients in connection with a wide variety of debt, equity and lease financings, including U.S. and cross-border leveraged leases, mortgage financings, operating leases, project financings, export credit agency supported financings and securitizations. In this capacity, he handles matters related to aircraft, rolling stock, vessels and other machinery and equipment financing. Mr. Gentner has extensive experience with cross-border leasing transactions, including… Read more

ATLANTA (January 16, 2018) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce the addition of Brandon C. Dodd, Perry J. McGuire, Jonathon D. Pressley and Nicholas C. Rueter to its partnership effective January 1, 2018. “The firm is thrilled to elect four of our attorneys to partnership,” said Stephen Forte, SGR’s chairman and managing partner. “These new partners have contributed to the firm’s success through their outstanding dedication to serving SGR’s clients, and we are proud to formally recognize this achievement in their careers.” Brandon Dodd is a Partner in the Real Estate Practice of SGR’s Jacksonville… Read more

ATLANTA (December 22, 2017) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that the firm served as legal counsel to Avianca in its pre-delivery payment (PDP) financing by SMBC Aviation Capital (SMBC) for 11 Airbus aircraft, including nine A320 NEO aircraft, scheduled to deliver in 2018 and 2019, along with two standalone A321 NEO aircraft, which delivered in the third and fourth quarters of 2017. The new aircraft on order to which the PDP financing transaction relate will provide Avianca with improved operating efficiencies and increased customer satisfaction. As Avianca and SMBC’s largest purchase and leaseback transaction… Read more

ATLANTA (December 18, 2017) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce the firm served as legal counsel to Patrick Yarn Mill, Inc. (Patrick Yarns), a world-leading manufacturer of high performance industrial yarns, in its acquisition by Coats Group PLC (Coats), the world’s leading industrial thread manufacturer. Benefitting from Coats’ strong corporate brand and global footprint, the acquisition creates market growth opportunities for Patrick Yarns while enhancing Coats’ capabilities in the engineered textile industry. Based in North Carolina, Patrick Yarns uses innovative technology and “Green” processes such as solar installation along with recycled Earth-friendly materials, including its… Read more