ALBANY, N.Y. — Hodgson Russ LLP is pleased to announce that Christopher M. Martell has joined the firm's Albany office as a member of the Real Estate & Finance Practice Group.

As the newest member of the Real Estate & Finance Practice Group, Mr. Martell joins resident Albany partners George W. Cregg, Jr., A. Joseph Scott, III and Nadene E. Zeigler in representing issuers and underwriters in various forms of financings for municipalities, school districts, municipal authorities, for-profit corporations, and nonprofit corporations throughout New York State. Such financings include general obligation, public authority, and industrial development agency financings. Mr. Martell also represents local economic development companies in transactions with borrowers who are utilizing U.S. Small Business Administration funding and assists small businesses with entity selection counseling, business succession planning, and developing solutions to complex corporate tax issues.

Mr. Martell received a B.S. from Excelsior College, a J.D. cum laude from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, and an LL.M. in taxation from the University of San Diego School of Law.

Hodgson Russ recently celebrated its 15th anniversary of serving the Albany business community and relocated to the new office building at 677 Broadway. The firm continues to expand its Albany presence to provide increased depth in important niche practice areas, including bond counsel, municipal law, and other real estate and finance areas; federal, state, and local taxation; bankruptcy and commercial litigation; estate planning and administration; and torts, insurance, and products liability. As one of the 200 largest law firms in the United States, and with more than 230 attorneys practicing in all major areas of law, Hodgson Russ offers clients access to experienced attorneys who can assist with virtually any business opportunity or challenge. In addition to Albany, Hodgson Russ has offices in New York, Buffalo, and Johnstown, New York; Boca Raton, Florida; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
####