ATLANTA (August 18, 2022) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that seven of the Firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers as 2023 “Lawyer of the Year.” The Best Lawyers in America® is the leading peer-review-based directory of legal practitioners.
Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade particularly significant. These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer review assessments. Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity.
The following SGR attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas and cities:
Dana G. Bradford II was named the Best Lawyers® 2023 Litigation – Insurance “Lawyer of the Year” in Jacksonville. Mr. Bradford is a partner in and a member of the Firm’s Litigation Practice. His practice is focused in civil litigation. He has represented institutional clients in commercial litigation matters, represented insurance carriers in litigation relating to coverage disputes and first-party and third-party bad faith claims, and represented self-insured and insured clients in the defense of personal injury and wrongful death claims, with emphasis on products liability. Mr. Bradford is recognized in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Insurance, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants. He was previously named the Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Jacksonville for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants in 2020 and Litigation – Insurance in 2019.
Steven E. Brust was named the Best Lawyers® 2023 Litigation – Securities “Lawyer of the Year” in Jacksonville. Mr. Brust is the managing partner of SGR’s Jacksonville office and serves on the Firm’s Executive Committee. A member of the Litigation Practice, he handles commercial and fiduciary litigation of all types, including partnership and shareholder disputes, liability defense for corporate officers and directors, title insurance defense, executive benefits and employment contract disputes, and estate and trust litigation. Mr. Brust is recognized in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Insurance, and Litigation – Securities. He was previously named the Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Jacksonville for Litigation – Securities in 2020.
Adam J. Buss was named the Best Lawyers® 2023 Corporate Governance Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Jacksonville. Mr. Buss is a partner in the Jacksonville office of SGR, and as a member of the Corporate Practice, he concentrates on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance issues, emerging businesses, information technology, and corporate finance. He is recognized in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Mr. Buss was previously named the Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Jacksonville for Corporate Law in 2020.
Randall A. Constantine was named the Best Lawyers® 2023 Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Atlanta. He is a partner in SGR’s Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Practice. Mr. Constantine has extensive experience in employee benefits litigation involving single and multiemployer pension and welfare plans, nonqualified plans, and a wide array of fiduciary, administrative and benefits issues, and in the executive compensation area, he represents both companies and senior management. Mr. Constantine is recognized in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – ERISA, and Litigation – Labor and Employment. He was previously named Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Atlanta for Labor Law – Management in 2022 and Litigation – ERISA in 2021.
Peter M. Crofton was named the Best Lawyers® 2023 Construction Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Atlanta. Mr. Crofton is a partner in SGR’s Construction Practice and also head of the Atlanta Construction section. He assists clients with all aspects of the design, construction, and renovation of new and existing facilities. His practice encompasses pre-construction planning and transactional services, dispute avoidance and risk mitigation during construction, and post-construction dispute resolution. Mr. Crofton is recognized in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in Construction Law, Energy Law, and Litigation – Construction.
Brett Lockwood was named the Best Lawyers® 2023 Information Technology Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Atlanta. He is a partner in the Firm’s Corporate Practice, heads the Mergers and Acquisitions section, and chairs the Technology Practice. Mr. Lockwood devotes a substantial portion of his practice to serving as principal outside counsel with his clients, advising on corporate, cybersecurity, and technology issues as well as significant business transactions. His practice areas include mergers and acquisitions, cybersecurity and data privacy, technology transactions, licensing, strategic alliances, and corporate finance matters. Mr. Lockwood is recognized in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in Information Technology Law, Privacy and Data Security Law, and Technology Law.
Jeffrey S. Tenen was named the Best Lawyers® 2023 Derivatives and Futures Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Miami. He is a partner in and a member of the Global Transport Practice, where his primary areas of practice are aircraft finance and leasing, cross-border structured lending and asset-based financing transactions, aviation, and international business and commercial transactions. He is recognized in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in Corporate Law, Derivatives and Futures Law, Securitization and Structured Finance Law, and Transportation Law. Previously, Mr. Tenen was named the Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Miami in Transportation Law in 2020, Securitization and Structured Finance in 2022 and 2015, and Derivatives and Futures Law in 2021 and 2018.
To view SGR’s list of the SGR attorneys named to 2023 The Best Lawyers in America list, click here.
About Best Lawyers®
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional and national publications across the globe. Visit www.bestlawyers.com for more information.
About Smith Gambrell Russell
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 270 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 45 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, real estate, construction, employment law, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Founded in 1893, SGR has offices in Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Jacksonville, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Southampton, and Washington, D.C.