ATLANTA (June 1, 2016) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Yash Dave has earned Board Certification in Labor and Employment Law by the Florida Bar. The highest level of evaluation, board certification recognizes an attorney’s special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice. Only seven percent of Florida attorneys are board certified and approximately 200 are certified in Labor and Employment Law. Mr. Dave’s practice is primarily devoted to labor and employment litigation. He represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, and defends… Read more

ATLANTA (May 27, 2016) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce the attorneys and practices selected for inclusion in the 2016 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. The prestigious legal guide, published annually by London-based Chambers & Partners, identifies leading lawyers and law firm practices based on interviews conducted by Chambers researchers with thousands of attorneys and their clients. Chambers USA ranked SGR in the areas of Environment, Corporate/M&A (Recognized Practitioner), Intellectual Property (Recognized Practitioner), and Tax (Recognized Practitioner) in Florida and/or Georgia. The following attorneys are also recognized in their respective areas of… Read more

ATLANTA (May 25, 2016) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce the firm served as legal counsel to Lamin-Art, Inc., a leading brand of decorative surfaces in North America, in the company’s acquisition by Arborite, a Montreal-based manufacturer of high pressure laminate. Based in Shaumburg, Illinois, Lamin-Art has earned distinctive brand recognition in the commercial interior design market. The acquisition by Arborite, a business unit of Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces, joins two long-standing commercial surfacing companies to offer customers expanded design and product selection with superior service. The SGR legal team included Partner Jay Schwartz and Associates… Read more

New York (May 9, 2016) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce announce the firm acted as legal counsel to Mesa Airlines, Inc. in a transaction recently awarded Regional Jet/Turbo Prop Deal of the Year for 2015 by Airfinance Journal, the leading commercial aviation industry publication. The accolade is in respect of the private placement of $246 million of enhanced equipment trust certificates (EETC) by Mesa Airlines, the first issuance of such type ever completed by a regional airline. Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank were the placement agents in the transaction and SGR represented Mesa Airlines as… Read more

ATLANTA (May 2, 2016) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that five of the firm’s attorneys have been selected as 2016 Super Lawyers and five have been named 2016 Rising Stars for New York. The 2016 Super Lawyers in SGR’s New York office and their specified areas of practice are: Neal T. Dorman (Estate & Probate and Business/Corporate) Marc D. Latman (Aviation and Aerospace and Transportation) Dana L. Mark (Estate & Probate and Tax) Stephen W. O’Connell (Real Estate) Eliot H. Zuckerman (Real Estate) The 2016 Rising Stars in SGR’s New York office and their… Read more

ATLANTA (May 2, 2016) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce the firm’s three attorneys who have been selected as 2016 Super Lawyers and 2016 Rising Stars for Washington, DC. The 2016 Super Lawyers in SGR’s Washington, DC office and their specified areas of practice are: Edward A. Pennington (Intellectual Property) Scott Woldow (Intellectual Property) The 2016 Rising Star in SGR’s Washington, DC office and his specified areas of practice is: Sean Phelan (Intellectual Property) Super Lawyers are chosen through a multi-phase, patented selection process which includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent research evaluation of candidates… Read more

ATLANTA (April 29, 2016) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce the firm’s representation of SASCO Chemical Group, Inc. (SASCO Chemical) and its shareholders in the company’s acquisition by Arsenal Capital Partners. The transaction joins SACSO Chemical with Arsenal’s specialty polymers and additives platform, Polymer Solutions Group (PSG). The acquisition combines the high value products, unmatched customer service, extensive research and innovative new offerings that SASCO Chemical and the PSG group of companies each bring to enhance the platform. The unique combination will continue SASCO Chemical’s global expansion in the anti-tack business. The SGR legal team… Read more

ATLANTA (April 22, 2016) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that the firm’s client, the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry (the National Grange), a national non-profit fraternal organization promoting the economic and political well-being of the community and agriculture, has recently prevailed in two federal trademark litigation actions involving its rights in its name and trademark “Grange.” In the District Court for the Eastern District of California, Judge William B. Shubb issued a 39-page decision on April 20, 2016 granting the National Grange a broad injunction and awarding attorney’s fees, holding… Read more

ATLANTA (April 15, 2016) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that the firm has been named to BTI’s Honor Roll of Most Recommended Firms for recommendations made by clients for the third year in a row. SGR’s ranking in the Client Recommendations Honor Roll in BTI Brand Elite: Client Perceptions of the Best-Branded Law Firms 2016 places the firm in an elite group of law firms positioned for growth and higher client satisfaction. BTI’s analysis measures the top-of-mind recognition of more than 400 law firms based on unbiased, direct feedback from more than 600 individual… Read more

ATLANTA (April 12, 2016) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce the addition of five new attorneys to the firm: Thomas Backes, Michael Glanzman, Jon E. Linder, Terra Martin, and Matthew Moore. “Smith, Gambrell & Russell is thrilled to welcome new associates to the firm,” said Stephen Forte, SGR’s managing partner. “Each brings a unique skill set that will enhance SGR’s already well-established practices.” Mr. Backes is an Associate in SGR’s Atlanta Intellectual Property Practice with an emphasis on patent prosecution and aiding clients in enforcing their intellectual property rights. He received a B.S. in Electrical… Read more