Smith, Gambrell & Russell LLP (SGR) announced effective Dec. 1, the firm has opened its 10th office located in Miami, Florida. The office will be led by well-known Global Transport attorney Jeffrey S. Tenen, partner. Israel I. Sanchez, partner, and Ellen H. Fontanella, counsel, have also joined SGR’s Miami Global Transport Practice. All three come from Greenberg Traurig in Miami where Messrs. Tenen and Sanchez were partners heading the Global Aircraft & Equipment Finance and Leasing Practice.
“This elite team of highly regarded lawyers fits perfectly with our global platform in aviation and the broader international transportation sectors,” said Stephen M. Forte, SGR’s chairman and managing partner. “Miami is our 10th office location and second in the state of Florida. We seek to capitalize on the city’s international accessibility and diverse business climate.”
Led by Mr. Tenen, Mr. Sanchez, and Ms. Fontanella, the new Miami location will focus on global transport services, one of SGR’s largest and longest standing practices. Since its inception, the firm’s Global Transport Group has broadened its industry representation beyond airlines to include railroads, operating lessors, financiers, aviation equipment owners, managers and investors, aviation joint ventures and joint venture partners, maintenance repair and overhaul facilities, and aircraft teardown/part-out companies. The practice recently expanded with the addition of a well-seasoned team of aviation lawyers based in two new offices in the United Kingdom, along with additional experienced aviation and transportation attorneys in Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York. With the addition of Mr. Tenen, Mr. Sanchez and Ms. Fontanella, SGR’s Global Transport Practice now has approximately 30 attorneys globally.
As partner in SGR’s Global Transport Practice, Jeffrey Tenen’s 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 was previously with Greenberg Traurig where he chaired the firm’s Global Aircraft & Equipment Finance and Leasing Practice. Mr. Tenen has practiced law for more than 30 years and is well recognized in the industry. His honors include Chambers USA, Who’s Who Legal, The Best Lawyers in America©, and The Legal 500, among many others.
Israel Sanchez, partner in SGR’s Global Transport Practice, focuses his practice in the areas of aviation and aircraft finance, leasing, structured finance, and mergers and acquisitions. Most recently, he was with Greenberg Traurig in the Global Aircraft & Equipment Finance and Leasing Practice. Mr. Sanchez has been recognized with numerous accolades including Who’s Who Legal and The Legal 500.
Ellen Fontanella is counsel in SGR’s Global Transport Practice where her focus is representing airlines in connection with the acquisition, leasing and financing of air transport and corporate aircraft and other equipment. She was previously with Greenberg Traurig. Ms. Fontanella is barred in New York and Brazil.
SGR has continued its strategic growth within the U.S. and internationally with the opening of new offices and firm mergers. In December 2017, SGR announced the opening of its ninth office in Los Angeles with its combination with business law firm Rodi Pollock. In early 2017, SGR announced the opening of three new international offices in London, Southampton and Munich and the expansion of the New York office, which included the acquisition of a boutique law firm. Celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2018, the firm now has more than 225 attorneys in 10 offices globally.
