John C. Ethridge, Jr. is a Partner in the Corporate Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.
Mr. Ethridge has more than 35 years of experience advising clients with respect to a wide variety of business transactions. These include acquisitions and divestitures involving both publicly- and privately-held businesses, joint ventures, venture capital, private equity, lease financing, commercial lending, public offerings, and private placements of debt and equity securities and technology licensing.
In addition to his transaction-based practice, Mr. Ethridge is engaged in a general corporate law practice in which he advises manufacturers, distributors, retailers, service providers, technology companies, healthcare providers, and other clients with respect to the organization and formation of business entities, corporate governance, financing arrangements, and the negotiation and preparation of agreements and contracts relating to those businesses including employment agreements, shareholder agreements, licensing agreements, and supply and distribution agreements.
Current clients include businesses engaged in durable goods manufacturing, retail and wholesale distribution, medical device manufacturing and distribution, timber management, logistics software development and distribution, healthcare practice management software development and distribution, healthcare practice management, medical services delivery (technical and clinical), healthcare billing and collection, dental and medical practice management, medical service networks, heavy equipment distribution, and financing and messaging communication services.
Mr. Ethridge currently serves as a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee and is actively involved in leadership roles with a number of educational, religious, and civic organizations including service on the Board of Directors of Wesley Woods Senior Living, the Zoo Atlanta Leadership Council, the Board of Directors of Start with One International (clean water), the Candler School of Theology Committee of 100, and the Southwest District Committee on Ordination of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Murphy-Harpst Children’s Center, the Emory Law School Advisory Board, and the University of Georgia Board of Visitors.
Mr. Ethridge received a B.S. degree in business administration with a major in accounting from the University of North Carolina. He received a J.D. degree, with distinction, from Emory University where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. While at Emory, he served on the Board of Editors of the Emory Law Journal. Mr. Ethridge is a member of the Atlanta and American Bar Association.
Peachtree Road United Methodist Church
Foundation of Wesley Woods, Board Member
Emory Law School Council
Committee of 100, Candler School of Theology, Emory University
Zoo Atlanta Leadership Council