The Firm

Since Smith Gambrell Russell began practicing law in 1893, we have pursued a vision of building one of the country’s premier full-service business firms. Today we serve corporate counsel and corporations across the globe from offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Jacksonville, Florida; London, UK; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; Munich, Germany; New York, New York; Southampton, UK; Springfield, Illinois; Tampa, Florida; and Washington, D.C.

(*Denotes offices of Smith, Gambrell & Russell International, LLP)

Our attorneys are focused in primary disciplines featuring more than 50 specialized practice areas. Our clients welcome guidance in specific areas of law and value attorneys who can deliver specialized levels of legal service within those areas.

Our goal is to provide swift, expert and cost-effective legal support to our clients. With 130 years of experience practicing law across the globe, we have developed a practice designed to get your business done quickly and efficiently while assigning the right talent to give you the help you need.

We look forward to serving you with expert legal counsel, responsiveness, skill and professionalism.

Global Reach

Smith Gambrell Russell is a member of TerraLex, one of the largest and most selective global law firm networks. TerraLex members are leading business law firms in their countries with strong local practices and connections. They are experienced in working with international clients on cross-border matters. TerraLex firms are high-value providers. TerraLex has more than 155 member firms in 100 countries comprising more than 17,000 lawyers.

TerraLex emphasizes collaboration among its member firms. Its service standards commit all member firms to provide ‘best client service’ on all TerraLex member matters. Teams of TerraLex firms regularly handle multi-jurisdiction cross-border transactions for sophisticated clients. SGR regularly works with TerraLex firms both as the lead firm on international transactions and as the lead Georgia team member.

The History of SGR

When the founders of Smith Gambrell Russell began practicing law in 1893, they did so with a commitment to excellence, which has become the firm’s tradition.

We are proud of the industry and community accomplishments that the many members of SGR have achieved over the years. This value continues to grow stronger as new chapters of history are being written on Smith Gambrell Russell.

1893 – Alexander & Victor Smith form a partnership known as Alexander & Victor Smith
1896 – E. Smythe Gambrell is born
1909 – Alex Smith Jr. joins Smith, Hammond, & Smith
1913 – Victor L. Smith brings famous opera star Enrico Caruso and the Metropolitan Opera to Atlanta
1923 – Alexander Wyly Smith, III is born
1924 – E. Smythe Gambrell founded The Atlanta Legal Aid
1927 – E. Smythe Gambrell begins representing Eastern Airlines
1939 – E. Smythe Gambrell becomes a partner in Gambrell & White
1948 – Harold L. Russell is named partner in Gambrell, Harlan, Barwick & White
1949 – Alexander Wyly Smith, III joins the Firm of Smith, Partridge, Field & Doremus
1955 – E. Smythe Gambrell serves as president of the American Bar Association
1962 – The Smith, Field, Ringel, Martin & Carr Firm represents some Air France passengers in one of the world’s worst air disasters. The Gambrell, Harlen, Russell, Move & Richardson Firm represented Air France in the same tragic event.
1966 – The Smith, Ringel, Martin & Lowe Firm merges with Cohen, Kohler, Barnwell & Chambers
1973 – Gambrell Hall opens at Emory University in Atlanta
1984 – Smith, Cohen, Ringel, Kohler & Martin merges with Gambrell & Russell
1985 – The Firm institutes the Smith, Gambrell & Russell Law Student Scholarship at The University of Georgia
1989 – The Firm institutes the Smith, Gambrell & Russell Law Student Scholarship at Emory University
1986 – E. Smythe Gambrell dies
1991 – The Firm moves into the new Promenade office tower in Atlanta
1999 – The Firm opens an office in Washington, D.C.
2000 – SGR acquires Jacksonville law firm and opens new office in Jacksonville, Florida
2002 – The Firm adds Zoning, Planning and Land Use Practice
2005 – Jacksonville office enters Top 10 Law Firms List
2006 – Frankfurt, Germany office is opened
2008 – New York, New York office is opened
2017 – London, U.K. Office is opened
2017 – Southhampton, U.K. office is opened
2017 – Munich, Germany office is opened
2017 – The Firm acquires Balber Pickard Maldonado & Van Der Tuin, PC and expands Real Estate and Litigation practices in New York office
2018 – The Firm opens Los Angeles, California office and merges with Rodi Pollock Pettker Christian & Pramov
2018 – Miami, Florida office is opened and expands Global Transport Practice
2019 – SGR merges with Mazursky Constantine LLC and expands Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice
2019 – The Firm re-establishes White Collar Defense Practice in Atlanta office
2020 – SGR expands Israeli, Corporate, Real Estate, and Litigation practices in New York office
2021 – The Atlanta office moves to new office building at 1105 W. Peachtree
2022 – Charlotte, North Carolina office is opened
2022 – SGR combines with Rogers & Hardin LLP in Atlanta and expands Litigation and Securities practices
2022 – The Firm opens Chicago, Illinois office, combines with Figliulo & Silverman, P.C., and expands Litigation Practice
2023 – SGR combines with Freeborn & Peters, grows Litigation Practice; expands Chicago, Illinois office; and adds offices in Tampa, Florida and Springfield, Illinois

Affiliations

SGR networks with a variety of important legal organizations. We are proud to both enhance and draw from the resources these provide.
SGR’s Professional Legal & Business/Civic Organizations

Office Locations

We proudly serve corporate counsel and corporations across the globe from offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Jacksonville, Florida; London, UK; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; Munich, Germany; New York, New York; Southampton, UK; Springfield, Illinois; Tampa, Florida; and Washington, D.C. We look forward to serving you with expert legal counsel, responsiveness, skill and professionalism.

For more information on SGR’s International Practice involving offices outside of the U.S., click here.

Atlanta, GA

1105 W. Peachtree St. N.E.

Suite 1000

Atlanta, GA 30309 USA

404-815-3500

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Austin, TX

500 West 2nd Street

Suite 1900

Austin, TX 78701 USA

512-498-7617

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Charlotte, NC

307 W Tremont Ave.

Suite 200

Charlotte, NC 28203 USA
980-748-2100

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Chicago, IL

311 S. Wacker Drive

Suite 3000
Chicago, IL 60606 USA
312-360-6000

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Jacksonville, FL

Bank of America Tower

50 N. Laura Street, Suite 2600

Jacksonville, FL 32202 USA

904-598-6100

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London

Smith, Gambrell & Russell International, LLP
Birchin Court
20 Birchin Lane
London, EC3V 9DU UK
44 (0)20 7084 9240

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Los Angeles, CA

444 South Flower Street

Suite 1700

Los Angeles, CA 90071 USA

213-358-7200

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Miami, FL

2 S. Biscayne Blvd.

Suite 3000

Miami, FL 33131 USA

786-522-2550

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Munich, Germany

Palais an der Oper
Maximilianstrasse 2
D-80539 Munich
49 (0)89 20500 85390

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New York, NY

1301 Avenue of the Americas
21st Floor
New York, NY 10019 USA
212-907-9700

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Southampton

Smith, Gambrell & Russell International, LLP
The Gallery
King’s Somborne
Hampshire, SO20 6PH UK
44 (0)20 7084 9240

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Springfield, IL

217 East Monroe Street

Suite 202
Springfield, IL 62701 USA
217-535-1060

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Tampa, FL

201 N. Franklin Street

Suite 3550

Tampa, FL 33602 USA

813-488-2920

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Washington, D.C.

1055 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW

Suite 400

Washington, DC 20007 USA

202-263-4300

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Bar Admissions

TerraLex, Bridge Group and The Trial Network Member Firms

SGR is a world-renowned law firm. Our individual attorneys and their affiliates are admitted to practice in 37 states within the United States and in more than 40 countries around the world.

Admissions by Location

Affiliation Links

Terralex
The Bridge Group
The Trial Network

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

At Smith Gambrell Russell (SGR), we recognize that attracting the widest array of talent enhances our ability to serve our clients and our communities. We are dedicated to providing a work environment where all people are valued for their perspectives, skills and talents, are treated respectfully, are able to communicate openly, and are encouraged to develop to their full potential as contributors to the success of the firm and the clients and communities we serve.

To formalize our commitment, in March 2006, SGR established a Diversity Council. The people on the Council represent a variety of cultures, ethnic backgrounds, and sexual orientations. The Council meets regularly, both as a group and with firm management, to help guide firm policies and practices. We are committed to sponsoring attorney memberships and engagement with organizations in the communities we serve.

SGR is dedicated to fostering the advancement of our female attorneys through a range of programs, initiatives, sponsorships, and events. Elevating and progressing the personal well-being and professional trajectories of women in our Firm is of the utmost importance, and below are a few of the on-going organizations we partner with:

The National Association of Women in Construction
Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA) Foundation
Home Depot Champions for Change
Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association (JWLA) Judicial Reception
Atlanta Women in Business
The Atlanta Women’s Foundation

Embracing racial and ethnic diversity as an integral part of SGR’s growth story and we are actively implementing measures to foster inclusion across the Firm. Recognizing that our diversity and inclusion initiatives are pivotal to our overall success, we remain committed to these principles by supporting various organizations to build a talent pipeline for our future:

Gate City Bar Association Hall of Fame Gala
Clayco Foundation Juneteenth Fund
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) SE Annual Jurisprudence Luncheon
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association (GAPABA)
South Asian Bar Association of Georgia (SABA-GA) Annual Gala
ELEM Ray of Hope Gala
The Davenport-Benham Chapter of the Black Law Students Association at the University of Georgia School of Law
Emory University School of Law Black Law Students Association

The essence of our law firm’s identity is deeply rooted in the fundamental respect for human relationships, mutual sharing of experiences and respecting the dignity of every individual. SGR cultivates and upholds an atmosphere that encourages every person to express their authentic selves freely and professionally. SGR supports various LGBTQIA+ related community organizations and below are just a couple examples:

Human Rights Campaign
Stonewall Bar Association

Maintaining our status as a leading firm relies on embracing diverse talent, and retaining the highest caliber of legal professionals in the communities we serve is only possible through fostering inclusive representation. SGR believes our talent pipeline is best supported by recruiting at a variety of law schools across the world. We are participants in the Southeastern Minority Job Fair and the Minority Clerkship Program, sponsored by the Atlanta Bar Association. We also sponsor events on behalf of local and regional minority student bar associations of regional law schools. Recruitment is just the first step. When students become part of our team, we provide educational and mentoring programs to foster their advancement and support their on-the-job training. We foster an environment where our personnel can equally flourish and build a successful career within SGR.

For more information, contact Julie Sebastian, Diversity Partner, at 404-815-3717 orjsebastian@sgrlaw.com.

Pro Bono

SGR is very concerned about the community and the people therein. From the very beginning, pro bono activities have been an integral part of our culture. We collaborate with various not-for-profit organizations to impact the lives of so many in need. Not only does society as a whole benefit, but our lives are enriched, as well.

E. Smythe Gambrell, our name partner, founded the Atlanta Legal Aid Society in 1924 and served as its president for almost two decades. His spirit continues to inspire our pro bono activities nine decades later.

As the Firm grew through the 20th century, our practice of law continued to focus on serving those in need. In recent years, we have reviewed and refreshed our commitment throughout the organization. Staff members and summer associates alike enjoy being a part of the community by reaching out to those less fortunate.

SGR Women’s Initiative

An affinity group committed to the advancement of professional women. SGR Women’s Initiative recognizes the importance of retaining women in the workplace, fostering stronger relationships, and providing added value to its business and social communities. For the firm’s female attorneys, SGR Women’s Initiative focuses on mentoring and providing resources to hone the skills necessary for career advancement. For the firm’s female clients, contacts and friends, SGR Women’s Initiative aims to create opportunities to network and programs to educate about important legal and social issues.

American Business Women’s Day

2021 / 2020 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016 / 2015

Women’s History Month

2022 Newsletter / 2021 Newsletter / 2020 Newsletter / 2019 Newsletter