ATLANTA (September 6, 2023) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Jacksonville Partner Richard Rivera has received the American Bar Association (ABA) Young Lawyers Division (YLD) 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award. The award, presented during the ABA 2023 Annual Meeting held in Denver, was given to Mr. Rivera for his extraordinary career characterized by exceptional contributions, unwavering dedication, and outstanding leadership to the YLD. This is only the second time that this Lifetime Achievement Award has been given out by the YLD.
Mr. Rivera has been involved with the ABA YLD for many years, including serving this past year as Managing Director for the YLD, reporting directly to the Chair and managing administration of the Division nationwide. This year, he was also elected to serve a three-year term as one of the Division’s four representatives in the ABA House of Delegates beginning September 1. Mr. Rivera served as a member of the Council for the ABA Section of Litigation from 2021 to 2023. In 2017 and 2021, he received the ABA YLD Star of the Year Award for his dedication and work, including the creation of new programs for young lawyers and his participation in the development of the YLD’s five-year strategic plan.
Mr. Rivera is a partner in SGR’s Jacksonville office and a member of the Litigation and Intellectual Property practices. His litigation practice is focused on commercial litigation, with a special emphasis in defending actions brought under consumer protection statutes, such as the FDCPA, FCRA, TCPA, and their state-level counterparts. Mr. Rivera’s intellectual property practice is concentrated in advising clients in matters involving intellectual property (trademark and copyright), compliance with state and federal laws governing sweepstakes and other promotional activities, software and internet technology, marketing, and licensing issues.
About American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division
The Young Lawyers Division is the American Bar Association’s home for new attorneys, providing members tools to navigate the early years of a career, opportunities to build a national network of peers and mentors, and vital resources to help members grow personally and professionally. For more information, visit www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers.
About Smith Gambrell Russell
SGR is a full-service, international law firm that advises regional, national and global businesses on a wide range of legal matters. The Firm’s nearly 400 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 50 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, real estate, insurance/reinsurance, construction, employment law, international, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Founded in 1893, SGR has 14 domestic and international offices, including Atlanta; Austin; Charlotte; Chicago; Jacksonville, FL; London; Los Angeles; Miami; Munich; New York; Southampton; Springfield, IL; Tampa, FL; and Washington, D.C.