As large U.S. firms jockey to stake out a global presence, Smith Gambrell & Russell is expanding its reach with new international offices in the United Kingdom and Germany. The Atlanta-based Am Law 200 firm is also adding seven lawyers to its New York office with the impending acquisition of New York boutique Balber Pickard Maldonado & Van Der Tuin.

“Having a platform beyond being a big Atlanta law firm is important for us for the growth and future of our firm,” said Smith Gambrell’s managing partner, Stephen Forte. “We’ve already charted that course. Now we’re acting in furtherance of it.”