Biography: Aviation

Mr Turner is a partner in the Atlanta office of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, a firm widely known for its aviation law expertise since the 1930s. Mr Turner heads Smith Gambrell's aviation law practice and has over 30 years experience representing airlines and aircraft lessors, financiers, parts manufacturers and overhaul facilities.

Mr Turner has served as principal outside counsel for a number of major airlines in the United States and Latin America and has represented airlines and aircraft lessors in a wide variety of domestic and cross-border aircraft financings. He is highly regarded for being both practical and innovative. In that regard he was lead counsel for a major US airline in the groundbreaking acquisition and financing of the first large scale Airbus aircraft order outside Europe. He has also represented several airlines in their financial restructurings, including the largest, most rapidly effected, 'pre-packaged' chapter 11 plan by a major US airline as well as in other innovative restructurings including the successful reorganisation under US bankruptcy laws in New York of a major Latin American carrier.

Mr Turner has served on the ABA aircraft financing subcommittee, lectured on aircraft finance at aviation law and industry meetings, authored articles on aircraft leasing and financing and formerly served as a director of an aircraft lessor.

Mr Turner attended the University of Georgia School of Law where he was editor-in-chief of the Georgia Law Review and first honour graduate of his class.

Other attorneys from Smith Gambrell listed in this guide are Messrs Peter B Barlow, Donald B Mitchell, Thomas J Stalzer and W Paul Zampol.