ATLANTA (January 10, 2017) – Effective January 1, Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce the opening of three new international offices in London, Southampton and Munich. The addition of three international offices will enhance SGR’s global aviation finance practice and create greater opportunities in Europe, the Middle East and Asia for its growing international practice.

“Smith, Gambrell & Russell is proud to announce the firm’s growth into these strategic international markets,” said Stephen M. Forte, SGR’s chairman and managing partner. “The addition of a London office adds a “third leg to the stool” of our branded aviation practice which has now grown to more than 15 attorneys in Atlanta, New York and the U.K. Further, the new Munich office will deepen the firm’s footprint in Germany, which has long been our principal market for inbound international clients.”

With London considered the center of aviation finance outside the United States, SGR prioritized efforts to open there. Catalysts for opening the U.K. offices are aviation industry veterans, Ben Graham-Evans, Mark Turnbull and Gareth Hawes, who join SGR from a large U.K. based law firm. SGR’s strong German presence will be strengthened with the addition of the office in Munich. Experienced German attorney, Dr. Markus Bahmann, will head up the new Munich office. Dr. Bahmann will work in tandem with longtime SGR partners Michael Kraus, Simone Kraus and Florian Stamm.

The firm will announce the addition of 10 lawyers who will join its New York office by February 1, 2017. “By adding such experienced New York practitioners, our range and depth of services for major clients will increase,” commented Forte. With the addition of these attorneys, SGR will have 48 full-time lawyers in its New York City office that opened in 2009.