ATLANTA (January 2017) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce the acquisition of New York boutique law firm, Balber Pickard Maldonado & Van Der Tuin (BPMV), which expands its Real Estate and Litigation Practices. The acquisition brings seven new attorneys, Eric Balber, Roger Juan Maldonado, Michael Manzi, Todd Pickard, Robin Silberzweig, John Van Der Tuin, and Nicole Haff to the firm. In addition, the New York office has added three new attorneys, Alan S. Jacobs, Brenda T. Simensky and Danila Duo in an expansion of its domestic and international Mergers & Acquisitions/Corporate Practice and a newly-established Italian Practice.
In 2016, SGR also welcomed Partners Thomas S. Gallagher, Yoram Keinan, and Russell Wolfson to the New York office, which now totals 48 full-time lawyers. As part of its growth globally, the firm recently announced the opening of three new international offices in London, Southampton and Munich.
“Smith, Gambrell & Russell is pleased to welcome the BPMV team to our firm,” said Stephen M. Forte, SGR’s chairman and managing partner. “BPMV has built a stellar reputation within the New York legal community. We are also excited to welcome three experienced corporate attorneys to bolster our Mergers & Acquisitions Practice in New York. The trio will complement our recent European expansion into the UK and Germany with a new Italian Practice which further demonstrates the firm’s strategic growth within the U.S. and internationally.” Forte added, “We look forward to joining with our new Partners in the interests of adding depth and capabilities that will be helpful to our clients in New York.”
Mr. Balber is a Partner in the Real Estate and Corporate Practices. For more than 30 years, his practice has included advising operating companies as outside general counsel, guiding cooperative housing corporations, condominiums and their boards, and structuring mergers and acquisitions. In addition, Mr. Balber negotiates real property financings, acquisitions, dispositions, and leases, prepares and negotiates construction contracts, architect agreements, management agreements, and bid packages and drafts and negotiates software development and other technology agreements utilizing experience as an acknowledged information technology expert.
Mr. Maldonado is a Partner in the Litigation Practice. He has more than 35 years’ experience as a trial lawyer, commercial litigator and leader of the organized bar. Mr. Maldonado represents musicians, publishers, and record labels in litigation to enforce their copyrights and contractual rights. He also assists corporate and commercial institutions in litigation involving claims arising from software development/license disputes, lease agreements, and contract disputes.
Mr. Manzi is a Partner in the Real Estate Practice. He has practiced real estate law in New York for 25 years with a concentration on representing cooperative and condominium boards, as well as sponsors. Mr. Manzi also has extensive experience in a wide variety of real estate transactions including financing, leasing, sales and acquisitions.
Mr. Pickard is a Partner in the Real Estate Practice. He is a transactional corporate and real estate lawyer with more than 30 years’ experience. Mr. Pickard endeavors to work with his clients to determine both their needs and those of their counter-party to structure and close successful transactions. He has represented cooperative apartment corporations and condominiums in all manner of legal and business issues.
Ms. Silberzweig is a Partner in the Real Estate and Corporate Practices with more than 20 years’ experience. She counsels a wide range of business enterprises, from Fortune 100 to small entrepreneurs and start-up companies. Ms. Silberzweig negotiates and closes the purchase, sale, and leasing of commercial real property, advises corporate, institutional, and private clients in connection with building construction projects and negotiates and prepares construction-related contracts. She also handles mergers and acquisitions and mortgage, asset-based, and construction financing transactions.
Mr. Van Der Tuin is a Partner in the Litigation Practice. He has specialized in real-estate related and cooperative/condominium related litigation and dispute resolution for 30 years. Mr. Van Der Tuin has experience advising and representing cooperative and condominium boards, corporate and individual real estate owners, partners, commercial tenants and investors in a range of real-estate related matters including partner/deal disputes, commercial and residential lease disputes, shareholder and unit owner litigations, construction disputes, land-use and environmental matters and lien foreclosures.
Ms. Haff is an Associate in the Litigation Practice. She has prosecuted and defended a variety of disputes on behalf of corporations, closely-held companies, and individuals ranging from Fortune 100 companies to local music collectives. Ms. Haff has experience litigating and advising clients in the areas of contract, copyright, trademark, non-competitive agreements, fraud and other business torts, civil claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), and real estate.
Mr. Jacobs is a Partner in SGR’s Corporate Practice group. His areas of concentration include domestic and international private negotiated mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, business investment structures and transactions, corporate debt and equity finance, and corporate governance and family business succession.
Ms. Simensky is Counsel in SGR’s Corporate Practice group. She advises clients on a wide range of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, secured lending and brand licensing. Ms. Simensky also serves as outside general counsel for many clients, advising on their full range of corporate needs.
Ms. Duo is Counsel in the Corporate Practice group and Head of SGR’s new Italian Practice. Her practice focuses on various aspects of corporate law with an emphasis on commercial and corporate cross-border transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures. Ms. Duo also provides general legal support on an ongoing basis to Italian clients and their companies seeking to enter or expand their presence in the US and to US clients investing in Italy.
Mr. Gallagher is a partner in the Corporate Practice. He represents funds, financial entities, investment banks and consumer and commercial lenders in corporate, securities, and regulatory matters. Mr. Gallagher creates vehicles for clients to monetize their financial assets and advises promoters and investment managers on structuring, formation and operation of U.S. and offshore funds. He also advises clients wishing to create internet-based market-place lending platforms, single-investor funds, and private securitization vehicles.
Mr. Keinan is a partner in the Tax Practice. He focuses on U.S. and international taxation of financial products and institutions and represents multinational entities, banks, hedge funds, private equity funds, and REITs. His practice also includes representing high net-worth individuals and providing support to entities and individuals involved in IRS disputes. Prior to joining SGR, Mr. Keinan practiced for more than two decades in New York, Washington, D.C., and Israel.
Mr. Wolfson is a partner in the Construction, Litigation and Real Estate Practices. He has a commercially based practice with a heavy emphasis on construction, development and real estate in the New York City metropolitan area. His clients include owners, developers, contractors, architects and engineers. Mr. Wolfson also represents clients in many other business sectors including building management and maintenance, hospitality, staffing, and retail.
About Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP
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 more than 200 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 45 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, construction and employment law. Founded in 1893, SGR has offices in Atlanta, Austin, Jacksonville, London, Munich, New York, Southampton, and Washington, D.C.