Smith, Gambrell & Russell Welcomes Partner Kiyoaki (“Kiyo”) Kojima and His Team to Japan Practice Group

Press Release

June 1, 2017

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ATLANTA (June 1, 2017) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Partner Kiyoaki (“Kiyo”) Kojima has joined the firm’s Corporate and International Practices. He will be a part of SGR’s Japan Practice Group, which represents a number of U.S., Japanese, and Japan-related enterprises with operations in the U.S., Japan, and throughout the world. Working alongside Mr. Kojima are Law Clerks Akiyo Inoko Hewett and David Ahn.

“Kiyo and his team are outstanding additions to the firm’s Corporate and International Practices,” said Stephen M. Forte, SGR’s chairman and managing partner. “Kiyo’s expertise in advising the growing number of clients doing cross-border business, especially those relative to Japan, deepens SGR’s service capabilities for our global clientele.”

Mr. Kojima is a Partner in SGR’s Corporate and International Practices and will be based out of its Atlanta and New York offices. He advises clients in corporate formation, governance and compliance matters; mergers and acquisitions; secured transactions; joint ventures; leasing and licensing matters; distribution, franchise and finance arrangements; and a wide-range of commercial transactions. Mr. Kojima also counsels clients in virtually all areas of labor and employment law. As a part of his employment law practice, he routinely represents employers before government agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Department of Labor (DOL), and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

An important part of Mr. Kojima’s practice includes his work with international companies in relocating, establishing and operating subsidiaries in the U.S. He assists companies with incentives and site selection; real estate acquisitions and construction agreements; corporate formation and governance; regulatory compliance; contracts of all types; and day-to-day operational matters to help ensure a seamless U.S. launch or transition for his clients. Bilingual and bicultural in Japanese, Mr. Kojima will be an integral part SGR’s Japan Practice Group.

Active in the community, Mr. Kojima is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association, a member of the Japan America Society of Tennessee, a board member of the Japan America Society of Georgia, and a board member of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia.

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.