Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan Continues Nationwide Growth With Opening of New Office in Atlanta

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Jun 22, 2010, 11:52 ET

MILWAUKEE, June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP, one of the nation's largest minority-owned law firms, announced today that it has opened an office in Atlanta – its 15th – as the firm continues to extend its national presence.

Attorneys Tracey Walker, Stephen Lowe and Roxann Sherri Smithers join Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan in the firm's new office in Atlanta. All three attorneys were previously with the Atlanta office of Adorno & Yoss.

Tracey Walker joins the firm as a partner. Her practice focuses on litigation of commercial, construction tort, and general commercial liability matters ranging from simple disputes to multi-million dollar claims. She has tried cases in state and federal courts across the country and in Puerto Rico. She drafts and negotiates complex commercial and construction contracts, routinely works on the procurement side of government contracting, and has extensive experience in all aspects of general casualty claim defense.

Ms. Walker earned a B.A. at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and a J.D. at the University of California-Berkley, Boalt Hall School of Law.

"My colleagues and I are so pleased to join such a talented group of lawyers," said Walker. "This firm works together as one team to provide our clients with expert representation on a full range of commercial litigation, labor employment and other legal matters. And when it comes to minority and women ownership and leadership, Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan is the real deal – it's who we are."

The firm is a co-sponsor of the Just the Beginning Foundation's national conference in Atlanta this summer. The Foundation works with underprivileged high school students to help them chart a course for a legal career.

Stephen Lowe also joins the firm as a partner. His practice focuses on commercial litigation of complex disputes in state and federal courts nationwide. He has represented owners, general contractors, designers and sureties in the construction industry on projects such as sports arenas, hotels, power plants, schools and office buildings in disputes involving delay and impact claims, as well as design and construction defects. He has also drafted construction contracts for airport facilities, schools, pharmaceutical manufacturing plants and other projects.

Mr. Lowe earned a B.A. from Davidson College and a J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law, where he served on the editorial board for the University of Florida Law Review.

Roxann Sherri Smithers joins the firm as an associate. The breadth of her expertise includes construction, collections, and general commercial litigation, as well as class actions and complex litigation. She has represented clients in matters that include premise liability, medical malpractice and negligence, product liability and mass tort litigation, including in the automotive and pharmaceutical industries. She has represented clients in multiple state and federal jurisdictions, is experienced at managing local counsel, and has performed public and private contract reviews for clients nationwide.

"The addition of these accomplished and experienced lawyers not only expands our nationwide footprint," said Jerry Gonzalez, Managing Partner of the firm. "More importantly, it helps us to continue to grow our ability to provide our clients with the very best legal representation they need and deserve."

About Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan

Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP (www.gshllp.com) is a nationwide law firm with more than 100 attorneys in offices located in Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Nashville, New York, Phoenix, Washington D.C., and Wayne, New Jersey. The firm represents midsized to Fortune 100 companies, governmental entities, and individuals in the areas of litigation, employment, environmental, corporate and transactional, public finance, energy and regulatory, immigration, and estate and asset protection planning. As one of the nation's largest certified minority-owned law firms, Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan practices law with a commitment to diversity and to the communities it serves.