Teri Simmons

Teri A. Simmons is a partner at Arnall Golden Gregory in Atlanta, Georgia, where she has practiced for 29 years. She directs the International and Immigration Practice Group, which focuses on the holistic representation of foreign owned companies in the US in the areas of corporate, employment, litigation, tax, intellectual property and immigration law. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Business Immigration Law at the University Of Georgia School Of Law.

Ms. Simmons chaired the Atlanta Sister Cities Commission for over 10 years, having been appointed by Mayors Reed and Franklin. She previously chaired the Atlanta / Nuremberg Sister Cities Committee. She is recipient of the Federal Republic of Germany Friendship Award and the International Prize of Honor from the City of Nuremberg for her work in the development and implementation of exchange programs in the areas of business, culture and education. Under her leadership, the city of Atlanta has held multiple economic development conferences and engaged in educational exchange programs.

Teri is fluent in both spoken and written German. She currently serves on the Boards of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern U.S., the German American Cultural Foundation and the Dean Rusk Center for International & Comparative Law. She earned Bachelor degrees in Mathematics and German from Furman University, a Master’s degree in German studies from the University of Virginia, completed post graduate studies in Tuebingen, Germany and earned a JD at the University Of Georgia School Of Law.

Statement of Interest

I am passionate about Sister Cities’ exchanges, having been the beneficiary of an exchange program in high school which changed my life. People to people exchange in the business, education and cultural spheres is critical to international relations in this day and time, and is not possible without sophisticated public private partnership driven by organizations like sister Cities International.

Skills and Assets

I bring 15 years of experience in Sister Cities program management; legal skills gained in over 29 years of law practice in the international arena; economic development experience; language and culture teaching experience; and experience in fundraising.