Press Releases
Bill Poole to Head International Team
at Nelson Mullins in Atlanta
ATLANTA (Sept. 30, 2009) -- An internationally known transnational business attorney has joined Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough in its Atlanta office, bringing his significant experience to the firm and its growing international practice. William M. "Bill" Poole, who formerly headed the business law practice at another law firm, joins Nelson Mullins as a partner and will lead the Atlanta office International Practice Group.
Mr. Poole, who also is a founder and current member of the Board of Directors and President of the World Trade Center of Atlanta, was one of the first lawyers in Atlanta to focus his practice exclusively on transnational business and investment matters and is recognized nationally and internationally for his significant experience in transnational business transactions. Since 1973, he has practiced in Atlanta as a corporate and tax lawyer, specializing in representing foreign companies and individuals in all aspects of establishing or acquiring businesses and properties in the United States and representing U.S. businesses with respect to exporting products and services and transacting business outside the United States.
"I will miss the quality people with whom I have been practicing, but I am very excited about the opportunities being presented to me at Nelson Mullins. I am confident that the move will be a positive one for me and for my clients," Mr. Poole said.
He also brings with him Suhail Seth, who joins of counsel to the Firm. Mr. Seth has considerable experience in transnational and investment matters. Rounding out his team are paralegal Kevin Fogle and legal assistant Nancy Ojeda, who will join Nelson Mullins from his previous firm.
Nelson Mullins' international practice has grown over the past year with the addition of former Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins as well as several experienced attorneys in both Atlanta and Boston. The Firm also maintains an alliance with Kumar-Pathak LLC, an Atlanta and New Jersey law firm comprised of South Asian attorneys. Nelson Mullins represents clients in countries around the world in commercial and trade matters and before courts, agencies, tribunals, and governments.
During his career, Mr. Poole has represented companies and individuals from more than 40 countries doing business in the United States and U.S. companies and individuals doing business in more than 30 countries outside of the United States. He has counseled and advised clients regarding all aspects of general corporate and commercial business, including acquisitions and mergers, and many types of sales, distribution, franchising, licensing and joint venture relationships.
Mr. Poole graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering. He served in the Army as an Airborne Ranger Infantry platoon leader and company commander in Berlin, Germany, and as a District Advisor in the Republic of South Viet Nam. He graduated from the Executive MBA program of Georgia State University in 1988. Mr. Poole was a cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law, where he was editor in chief of the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law and was a successful moot court oralist.
He has taught transnational tax planning as an adjunct professor at the University of Georgia School of Law and Emory University School of Law, and he is currently an adjunct professor at Georgia State University Law School, teaching international business transactions law.
Mr. Poole was selected as a member of the first class of the Society of International Business Fellows and was appointed by the United States Secretary of Commerce as a member of the Atlanta District Export Council, which he chaired for many years. Mr. Poole is an active participant in the American, Atlanta, and Georgia Bar Associations, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Board of Advisors and Global Commerce Council of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and many of the Bilateral Chambers of Commerce.
