Smith, Gambrell & Russell’s EB-5 Immigrant Investment Group includes attorneys from multiple practice areas who have experience in immigration, securities, finance, tax, real estate, and corporate law. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program provides Lawful Permanent Residence (“green cards”) to foreign nationals who invest from $500,000 to $1,000,000 in U.S. ventures and create or save 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers. In particular, through the use of Regional Centers and investments in Targeted Employment Areas, the EB-5 program provides significant opportunities for foreign nationals and domestic businesses, with the overall effect of stimulating the U.S. economy. This team works closely with foreign investors, developers, lenders,… Read more
Practices
An SGR area of practice.
Energy Law
The Energy Law attorneys of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP provide transactional, regulatory and dispute resolution services for businesses in this industry. SGR attorneys have extensive experience before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), including Federal Power Act regulatory requirements, Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act requirements, Energy Consumer Protection Act, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration requirements, and many others. SGR attorneys have represented utilities, independent power producers (IPPs), qualifying facilities (QFs), liquid and natural gas pipeline companies, and natural gas marketers. SGR attorneys have experience with energy facility siting, transmission, interconnections, preemption, and associated regulatory matters. We also represent… Read more
Entertainment
We provide the full spectrum of intellectual property, transactional, litigation, and corporate services to our clients in these industries. We assist these clients in connection with industry-specific agreements and transactions, such as book publishing and film production agreements, music licensing and clearances, visual art gallery and commissioning agreements, life story rights acquisitions, sponsorships, and endorsements. Our services cover diverse needs, from helping clients secure government film production tax credits to acquiring a sports franchise to purchasing an airplane. Indeed, as a full-service law firm we are able to assist our entertainment and sports clients in connection with intellectual property protection, global branding… Read more
Environmental / Natural Resources Law
Environmental laws and regulations impact virtually every business in America, large and small, public and private. As a result, counseling our clients in the cost-effective and sensible handling of environmental matters is of the utmost importance to Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP attorneys. SGR attorneys have represented clients on environmental issues for over four decades. In 1970, one of our partners was the founding chairman of the Environmental Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia. Since that time, the Firm’s environmental attorneys have been leaders in responding to the expansion of environmental laws. Our Chambers-ranked Environmental Law / Natural… Read more
Equipment Leasing
Our equipment leasing lawyers have regularly advised leasing companies, lenders and equipment end-users in all facets of structuring, negotiating and documenting lease-financing transactions involving a wide range of equipment types. These include tractor-trailer fleets, information systems and software, telephone switches, manufacturing lines, ocean vessels, automobile fleets, buses, railcars, material-handling equipment, hospital equipment, aviation ground support equipment, aviation simulators, in-flight entertainment equipment, and aircraft. Lease transaction structures handled by SGR lawyers include leveraged, single-investor and synthetic leases, capital and operating leases, double-dip cross-border leases and sale-leasebacks, as well as allied structures including true-sale securitizations, agency agreements, enhanced equipment trust certificates, lease… Read more
Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and ERISA Litigation
SGR’s Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and ERISA Litigation Practice has the depth, experience and vision to assist clients with all their needs relating to benefits, compensation and other rewards for their entire workforces. The practice group routinely provides legal assistance to a wide range of clients, including Fortune 50, 100 and 500 and other public companies; private companies; multi-national companies; hospitals, churches, universities and other tax-exempt entities; compensation and fiduciary committees, and boards of trustees of multiemployer plans. Our clients reflect a diverse mix of industries. The attorneys in the Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation, and ERISA Litigation Practice assist their… Read more
Financing and Commercial Transactions
In the area of commercial lending and finance, we represent numerous state and federally chartered banks and financial institutions located in the Southeast and other parts of the United States. Our representation of banks and other financial institutions includes structuring, negotiating, documenting and closing sales of accounts receivable (factoring), loans secured by accounts receivable, chattel paper, inventory, equipment and other real and personal property. Since the 1970s, we have represented Walter F. Heller & Company, Inc. (now Heller Financial, Inc.) and C&S Factors, Inc. (which later became Citizen and Southern Financial Corporation, NationsBanc Commercial Corporation and most recently, Banc of… Read more
Food and Beverage
Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP offers a full range of legal services to food processors, beverage companies, manufacturers, suppliers, growers, producers, wholesalers and distributors. From food safety to finance, real estate to risk management, intellectual property to international operations, we have extensive experience addressing the complex challenges facing the food and beverage industry. Americans consume approximately $1 trillion in food annually. Growing, packaging, distributing and selling what we eat creates millions of jobs and sustains thousands of support industries. Our Food and Beverage practice is dedicated to helping our clients build a better future for the food industry. Our practice… Read more
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Most large companies and corporations with publicly traded securities are already aware of the need to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. However, there are many emerging and middle-market companies who are either not aware of the FCPA, or if they have heard of it, may not fully appreciate the need for compliance. Unfortunately, many businesses have the following misconceptions regarding the FCPA: All that is necessary to comply is making sure a cash bribe is not given to some high level foreign official by the business; A company is not responsible if bad acts are done by an… Read more
Franchise and Distribution Law
With a significant slant towards franchisors and distributors, the Franchise and Distribution Law Group serves as the sole legal counsel for many firms. Continually growing and enhancing a practice that commenced in 1989, the firm’s Franchise and Distribution Law Group is recognized as a national leader in franchise and distribution law. Our attorneys counsel franchisors and franchisees at all stages of their development. From advising on fraud and contractual disputes to post-termination dispute, we are equipped to handle all areas in franchise law. In addition to offering counsel to franchisors in a variety of corporate matters, we also handle franchising… Read more