ATLANTA (May 18, 2023) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that the Firm served as legal counsel to TX Logistik AG, a major German rolling stock operator, in its acquisition of up to 65 locomotives from rail vehicle manufacturer Siemens Mobility. The contract includes the purchase of 40 modern Vectron locomotives, along with 25 additional Vectron locomotives as an option. The full-service contract, signed at the Transport Logistic trade fair in Munich, Germany, also includes locomotive maintenance to be performed by Siemens Mobility. The locomotives are scheduled for delivery in September 2024 and December 2025…. Read more

ATLANTA (May 17, 2023) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Partner Edward J. (“Jack”) Hardin has been selected as the 2023 recipient of the Hope Builder Award given by St. Vincent de Paul Georgia. Presented by former Mayor of Atlanta Shirley Franklin, the award recognizes Mr. Hardin’s outstanding leadership and commitment towards the betterment of the community. The award presentation was made during the Second Annual Morning of Hope, a breakfast event which focuses on why hope matters for individuals and families in poverty, amplifies voices of hope, and highlights exceptional work being done… Read more

ATLANTA (May 5, 2023) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Partner Erin McAdams Franzblau and Associate Katlyn DeBoer Krysan have been honored with the 2023 Award for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Presented by the Hon. Beth W. Jantz during the Court’s 23rd annual award ceremony held on May 1, the award honors lawyers who have served in the court and the community by providing pro bono representation and advocacy. Ms…. Read more

ATLANTA (April 19, 2023) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce Partner Emily C. Ward has been elected vice president of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Board of Directors for the 2023-2024 Atlanta Bar year and will be installed during the Annual Meeting on May 23. Most recently, Ms. Ward served as secretary of the Board of Directors. As a partner in SGR’s Atlanta Litigation Practice, Ms. Ward concentrates on white-collar defense and civil litigation including healthcare, business, and environmental litigation, as well as administrative and regulatory matters. Along with various positions on the Board of Directors,… Read more

Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) represented Spirit Airlines (Spirit) as legal counsel in its purchase and leaseback financing agreement for five new Airbus A320neo aircraft deliveries with Orix Aviation. The first delivery was on April 6 with the four remaining aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2023. SGR’s legal team included Global Transport Practice Partner Don Mitchell, along with Partner Joe Mandarino of the Tax Practice, and Associate Anna Stangle of the Global Transport Practice.

ATLANTA (April 5, 2023) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that the Firm served as legal counsel to Axea Solutions, Inc., a Georgia-based healthcare technology company, in its sale to AQuity Solutions, LLC, a North Carolina-based healthcare technology company. The purchase strengthens AQuity’s revenue cycle management portfolio, gaining Axea’s expertise in its revenue cycle solutions, consulting, and education strategies for revenue cycle professionals. Axea was established in 1999 by CEO Susan Gatehouse, who was recently chosen by CIO Women Magazine as one of the most influential women to watch in 2023. Axea was also named… Read more

ATLANTA (April 4, 2023) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that the Firm served as legal counsel to ERCO Worldwide (“ERCO”), one of the largest manufacturers of chlor-alkali products in the world, in an agreement to sell its North Vancouver, BC industrial land and co-locate a 15 TPD clean hydrogen plant in North Vancouver to HTEC, Canada’s leading clean hydrogen solutions company. As part of the agreement, ERCO will lease back a portion of the land on a long-term basis to continue its manufacturing operations, including the generation of by-product hydrogen gas through electrolysis. HTEC… Read more

ATLANTA (April 4, 2023) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that the Firm served as due diligence and corporate counsel to Via Transportation, the global leader in TransitTech, in its acquisition of Citymapper, the UK-based premier journey planning app and transit technology company. Through the Citymapper acquisition, Via accelerates its vision to build the end-to-end digital infrastructure for transit systems. While Via’s software enables cities and transit agencies to efficiently plan and operate their public transit networks, Citymapper empowers transit riders with the ability to navigate the urban transport network through intuitive and beautifully designed… Read more

ATLANTA and CHICAGO (April 1, 2023) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP and Freeborn & Peters, LLP announced today that they have completed their combination, effective April 1, creating a global Am Law 150 law firm operating under the Smith Gambrell Russell name. The combined firm is led by SGR managing partner and executive committee chair, Stephen M. Forte, with legacy SGR and Freeborn partners serving in other key leadership roles, including on the combined firm’s executive and compensation committees. The legacy firms – with a shared strategic vision and complementary high-value, top-tier markets and practice areas – announced on… Read more

ATLANTA (March 14, 2023) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Steven Fox has joined the Firm’s Corporate Practice as senior counsel in the Atlanta office. He joins SGR from Goldman Sachs. Previous to that, Mr. Fox was executive vice president and chief legal officer of Greensky, Inc., a publicly-held financial technology company that merged with Goldman Sachs in March 2022. Mr. Fox was also a founding partner of Rogers & Hardin LLP, the Atlanta law firm that combined with SGR in January 2021. “Steve is a highly respected attorney in the Atlanta legal community… Read more