Reed Smith LLP is an international law firm with more than 1600 attorneys located in 24 cities worldwide. Reed Smith represents many of the world?s leading companies in complex litigation and other high-stakes disputes, cross-border and other strategic transactions, and crucial regulatory matters.

With lawyers from coast-to-coast in the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom, continental Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, the firm is known for its experience across a broad array of industry sectors. The firm counsels 28 of the top 30 U.S. banks and 10 of the world's 12 largest pharmaceutical companies.^[1] Their shipping practice has been designated among the most preeminent in the world, and their advertising law practice is regarded as among the legal industry?s finest.^{[2] [3]} In addition to the United States, Reed Smith has offices in the United Kingdom, continental Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

History

Founded in 1877, as the Pittsburgh firm Knox and Reed, by partners Philander Knox and James Hay Reed, Reed Smith has built leading practices in financial services, life sciences, health care, litigation and many other areas. Following a decade of notable U.S. and global expansion, the firm continues to pursue strategic and profitable growth to increase its capabilities in key practice areas and geographic markets, to deliver top quality service and to develop deep client relationships.

In 2007, Reed Smith merged with the London-based firm Richards Butler, adding more than 250 lawyers in London, Paris, Piraeus, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The union brought added depth to several key practices and created new practice groups in Shipping, and Energy, Trade & Commodities. In October 2007, Reed Smith finalized a merger with Richards Bulter's independent Hong Kong office. The partnership went live in January 2008, providing Reed Smith a strong presence in the Asian Market as one of Hong Kong's five largest international firms.

Also in 2007, the firm gained a significant presence in one of the world's largest legal markets by combining with the 130 lawyers of Chicago's Sachnoff & Weaver, a firm known for its varied business services practices and high-profile litigation department. The merger gave Reed Smith added depth in the Midwest, where many of its clients have headquarters or significant operations.

Reed Smith in 2005 opened its first European offices in Munich and Paris, enhancing trans-Atlantic capabilities begun with its merger in 2001 with U.K.-based Warner Cranston. In 2004, the firm joined with the leading advertising and marketing practice of Hall Dickler, based in New York, and established its advertising law practice as the nation's largest across all advertising and marketing law disciplines.

Reed Smith combined with California-based Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May in 2003, adding four significant offices and more than 200 attorneys in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. The union strengthened firm practices in appellate law, complex litigation, business, finance and other areas.

In 2002, Reed Smith increased its presence in New York by combining with the established group of corporate, litigation, real estate, and trusts and estate lawyers of Parker Duryee Rosoff & Haft. In 2008, the firm enlarged its New York presence even further with a group of more than 50 attorneys from the insurance heavyweight Anderson Kill & Olick. The firm also launched in Beijing with the capture of the outpost of legacy firm Dewey Ballantine that was unwilling to join the merged Dewey & LeBoeuf.

Recognition

Reed Smith has received many awards for service to others. Among them:

• Oakland associate Jayne Fleming was named in 2007 by The National Law Journal as one of its "50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America" on the strength of her unparalleled pro bono record representing asylum seekers who were also the victims of gender-based violence.
• The Washington Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs honored Reed Smith with its 2007 Vincent E. Reed Award for its efforts supporting the committee's Public Education Project.
• Philadelphia's Legal Clinic for the Disabled gave its annual "White Hat Award to Reed Smith in 2007 for its work for clinic clients.
• The Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in 2007 presented Lowell E. Sachnoff of our Chicago office with its Edwin A. Rothschild Award for Lifetime Achievement in Civil Rights for his work on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised.
• The Pennsylvania Bar Association in 2007 selected Pittsburgh associate Laura A. Maines for a prestigious Pro Bono Award for her ongoing advocacy of needy children.
• The San Francisco Bar Association in 2007 presented Oakland paralegal Kristin M. Soetebier with its Outstanding Volunteer in Service Award for her work with the Homeless Advocacy Project.
• Reed Smith was recognized for what the Pro Bono Institute at Georgetown University called its "extraordinary disaster relief efforts" in placing 10 lawyers on the ground in Louisiana to assist the displaced after Hurricane Katrina.
• The firm has been repeatedly recognized for its adoption legal service project to complete adoptions for hundreds of children in foster care.

Notable Mandates

• Advised long-standing client Mellon Financial Corporation in its $16.5 billion merger with the Bank of New York.
• Through its Hong Kong branch, Richards Butler, the firm advised SABMiller as a selling shareholder in Anheuser-Busch's HK$5.6 billion tender offer for the Harbin Brewery Group.
• Counseled Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. in various acquisitions and stake purchases throughout Europe.

Offices

• 
  Abu Dhabi
• 
  Beijing
• 
  Birmingham
• 
  Century City
• 
  Chicago
• 
  Dubai
• 
  Falls Church
• 
  Geneva
• 
  Hong Kong
• 
  Leesburg
• 
  London
• 
  Los Angeles

• 
  Munich
• 
  New York City
• 
  Oakland
• 
  Paris
• 
  Philadelphia
• 
  Piraeus
• 
  Pittsburgh
• 
  Princeton
• 
  Richmond
• 
  San Francisco
• 
  Washington, D.C.
• 
  Wilmington

See also

• Johnstown Flood
• List of 100 largest law firms globally

References

External links

• Official website
• LawPeriscope Profile