Smith, Gambrell & Russell started 2018 by opening an office in Los Angeles as a gateway to Asia, and it’s ending the year by launching a Miami office as a gateway to Latin America.

The Atlanta-based firm has recruited an international aviation finance team from Greenberg Traurig to launch the office, led by partner Jeffrey Tenen with another partner, Israel Sanchez, and counsel Ellen Fontanella, who is licensed to practice in New York and Brazil.