Don Mazursky, Steve Forte and Randall Constantine, Smith Gambrell & Russell, Atlanta. (Photo: John Disney/ALM)

Continuing its expansion streak, Smith Gambrell & Russell has absorbed 12-lawyer Atlanta employee benefits boutique Mazursky Constantine.

The deal, which was effective Feb. 1, gives Smith Gambrell more than 20 lawyers specializing in employee benefits and executive compensation matters, out of more than 240 lawyers firmwide.

With the addition of the boutique and its existing benefits practice, Smith Gambrell now has one of the most competitive employee benefits and executive compensation practices nationally, said boutique founder Don Mazursky, who is now the co-head of the firm's benefits practice with its existing leader, Andy Fawbush.

Mazursky left Long Aldridge & Norman (now part of Dentons) in 1992 to launch the boutique, which has grown to 12 lawyers plus six staff. All made the move to Smith Gambrell.

In addition to Mazursky, that includes partners Randall Constantine, Glenn Infinger, David Putnal, Emily Friedman, Toby Walls, Teri Forehand King, Kelly Meyers and Angela Roberts. Amy Heppner joined as counsel with associates Jamey Medlin and Alex Smith.

“This accelerates our growth in Atlanta, our home market,” said Smith Gambrell chairman Stephen Forte. “It's certainly an important practice area, if you have a sophisticated corporate practice. Many, if not all, deals require some analysis of the pension plan, the health plan and the like.”

With the boutique's acquisition, Smith Gambrell has established the SGR Fiduciary Institute, a consultancy co-headed by Mazursky and Fawbush, to give companies strategic advice on legal, operational and business issues pertaining to employee benefits, executive compensation and ERISA litigation.

Smith Gambrell had made strides in expanding its geographic footprint before adding the Atlanta benefits boutique.

In December, the firm announced a new Miami office—its 10th location—which it launched with three lawyers from Greenberg Traurig centered around its marquee aviation finance practice. It had started 2018 by launching a Los Angeles office through a combination with a local business law firm after, in 2017, opening offices in London, Southhampton and Munich and expanding in New York office.

Mazursky Constantine handles all aspects of employee benefits law, including compliance, executive compensation, retirement, health and welfare plans and ERISA litigation.

Clients who use Mazursky Constantine for benefits compliance work frequently engage the boutique to handle due diligence and other issues when transactions arise, often in concert with other outside firms. “That's a pretty prominent piece of the practice,” Mazursky said.

Mazursky said he and Forte had talked over the years about combining the firms. “The increased size puts us on more of a national plane,” he said.

Mazursky declined to name clients but said the boutique brought their client base with them. Their rates will stay largely the same, he said, adding that one of the attractions of joining Smith Gambrell was that the rate structures were “very consistent.”

“We share some clients with the firm and know them very well,” Forte said. “I expect a pretty seamless fit into our culture—and with their client base and ours.”

As a boutique, Mazursky Constantine could have stayed competitive, Mazursky said, but “working with Smith Gambrell will help take us to the next level.”

Mazursky said he and his partners had talked to some other large general practice firms, but “from a cultural standpoint and a rate standpoint—and having their own excellent benefits practice—this was clearly by far the best move for us.”