Smith, Gambrell & Russell Welcomes Attorney Shani Smith Fisher to Global Transport Practice

ATLANTA (March 5, 2018) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Shani Smith Fisher has become Counsel to the firm’s Global Transport Practice and is based out of the firm’s newly opened Los Angeles office. Ms. Fisher’s hire boosts SGR’s growing Global Transport Practice which recently added Josh Gentner as Partner based in Chicago, as well as Associate Chris Raymond who joined the firm’s Atlanta office.

Ms. Fisher has more than a decade of experience in sophisticated commercial transactions, representing clients ranging from individuals to large multi-national corporations across various industries. With a strong background in commercial aviation finance and leasing, Shani has represented operating lessors, airlines, investors and financiers in connection with operating and finance leases, structured financings, sale-leasebacks, purchase and sale agreements, and related transactions. Over the course of her legal career, including her solo practice and as in-house counsel for a leading operating lessor, Ms. Fisher has been based in Washington, D.C., New York, Dubai, Salt Lake City, and Los Angeles.

“SGR is excited to welcome Shani to the firm,” said Pete Barlow, head of SGR’s Global Transport Practice. “She is a highly skilled lawyer and very well regarded in the aviation finance legal community. Her substantial finance experience enhances our ability to provide the highest quality legal services to our clients in that significant and expanding segment of our practice.”

With these recent additions, SGR’s Global Transport Practice now has more than 20 attorneys globally. In January 2017, the firm opened international offices in London and Southampton, U.K. led by aviation industry veterans, Ben Graham-Evans, Mark Turnbull, and Gareth Hawes. The growing U.K. practice has since added Sam Chapman and will be adding another experienced aviation attorney in the coming month.

Ms. Fisher graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center. She is a board member of the West Coast Chapter of the American Friends of Beit Issie Shapiro, a school for children with disabilities based in Ra'anana, Israel.