ATLANTA (October 16, 2023) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Jacksonville Partner Richard Rivera has been elected to serve as a Young Lawyer Representative to the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates, which is the legislative body of the ABA. Mr. Rivera is one of four representatives elected by the ABA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) and will serve a 3-year term which began September 1.
As the legislative body, The House of Delegates formulates policy for the ABA and may adopt rules consistent with its constitution and bylaws, as well as judge the elections and qualifications of its members. The ABA House of Delegates meets twice each year, during the ABA Annual and Mid-Year Meetings.
Mr. Rivera is a partner in SGR’s Jacksonville office and a member of the Litigation and Intellectual Property practices. His litigation practice is focused on commercial litigation, with a special emphasis in defending actions brought under consumer protection statutes, such as the FDCPA, FCRA, TCPA, and their state-level counterparts. Mr. Rivera’s intellectual property practice is concentrated in advising clients in matters involving intellectual property (trademark and copyright), compliance with state and federal laws governing sweepstakes and other promotional activities, software and internet technology, marketing, and licensing issues.
Mr. Rivera has remained active with the ABA YLD for many years. This past year, he served as Managing Director for the YLD, reporting directly to the Chair and managing administration of the YLD nationwide. From 2021 to 2023, Mr. Rivera served as a member of the Council for the ABA Section of Litigation. In August 2023, he was the second recipient of the ABA YLD Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2017 and 2021, he received the ABA YLD Star of the Year Award for his dedication and work, including the creation of new programs for young lawyers and his participation in the development of the YLD’s five-year strategic plan.
About American Bar Association
The ABA was founded in 1878 on a commitment to set the legal and ethical foundation for the American nation. Today, it exists as a membership organization and stands committed to its mission of defending liberty and pursuing justice. For more information, please visit www.americanbar.org.
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 nearly 400 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 50 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, real estate, insurance/reinsurance, construction, employment law, international, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Founded in 1893, SGR has 14 domestic and international offices, including Atlanta; Austin; Charlotte; Chicago; Jacksonville, FL; London; Los Angeles; Miami; Munich; New York; Southampton; Springfield, IL; Tampa, FL; and Washington, D.C.