J.D. Humphries and Dick Stephens have left Stites & Harbison for Smith Gambrell & Russell, joining as of counsel. The two started an Atlanta office in 1999 for Stites & Harbison, when their firm, Varner, Stephens, Humphries & White, combined with the larger, Louisville-based firm.
Humphries said the two joined Smith Gambrell because Stites & Harbison has a policy requiring partners to step down after they turn 70. Both Humphries and Stephens turned 70 last year. “When we merged with Stites & Harbison in 1999, I indicated that I planned to continue to work if I were still swinging a bat,” said Humphries, who was the firm’s local managing partner until 2012.
