Reed Smith LLP is an international global law firm, with more than 1,800
lawyers in 26 offices throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East
and Asia. Its lawyers provide litigation and other dispute resolution services;
deliver regulatory counsel, and execute strategic domestic and cross-border
transactions. Reed Smith is an advisor to industries including financial
services, life sciences, health care, advertising, technology and media,
shipping, energy and natural resources, real estate, manufacturing, and
education. The firm counsels 13 of the world's 15
largest commercial and savings banks; 25 of the world's 35 largest oil and gas
companies; and the world's three largest pharmaceutical distribution and
wholesale companies. Reed Smith's shipping practice has been designated
among the most preeminent in the world, and its advertising law practice is
regarded as among the legal industry's finest.
In 2014, Reed Smith was listed by Law 360 as one of the Global 20 Firms, firms
that had the biggest global presence and handled the most large, significant and
groundbreaking international and cross-border matters.
In 2014, revenues at Reed Smith reached a record breaking $1.15 billion. Profits
per partner grew 6% to $1,200,000.00, while revenue per lawyer increased by 2%
to $703,000.00. History
Reed Smith was founded in Pittsburgh in 1877 by Philander C. Knox and James H.
Reed. The two partners soon created a symbiotic relationship with the American
industrial tycoon, Andrew Carnegie, the creator of U.S. Steel, the world's first
billion-dollar corporation. Soon after, other large businesses such as, Heinz,
Mellon and Frick joined the firm's client roster. In the 1880s, Edwin W.
Smith and other partners joined the firm and in 1922 the firm adopted the name
Reed Smith Shaw & McClay, a name that would stand until being shortened in
2000. During the New Deal era, Reed Smith established a securities practice
and partner Ralph H. Demmler became chair of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Through 1970 to the present, the firm
engaged in a series of strategic mergers & acquisitions, as well as new offices,
to create one of the largest law firms in the world.
In the 1970s, Reed Smith domestically grew with new offices beyond Pittsburgh.
It set up an office in Washington, DC and in 1989, merged with Beltway firm
Pierson, Ball & Dowd, thereby obtaining a well-regarded health care practice.
Reed Smith opened new offices in New York and New Jersey in the 1990s and
acquired a leading Northern Virginia firm, Hazel & Thomas.
During the 2000s Reed Smith experienced rapid international growth, both
organically and through mergers. Acquiring the UK law firm Warner
Cranston turned Reed Smith transatlantic in 2001 and opened offices in Paris and
Munich four years later. Domestically, it opened an office in Delaware and
combined with a California law firm, Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May, which moved
the firm to a rank among the 20 largest law firms. In 2007 Reed Smith merged
with UK law firm, Richards Butler, which added offices in France, Greece, the
Middle East and Hong Kong one year later.
Since 2009 their office has been located in Reed Smith Centre, a LEED-certified
workspace that helped jumpstart the modernization of the City's "Fifth
Avenue ," on the perimeter of Pittsburgh's Cultural District. More
than 275 lawyers comprise the Pittsburgh office, making it the largest law office
in the city and the largest Reed Smith office in the United States. Pittsburgh
also is home to the firm's Global Customer Center, which provides service
to Reed Smith's lawyers and offices around the world.
Main practice areas Reed Smith has four industry-focused
groups: Energy & Natural Resources, Entertainment & Media, Financial
Industry and Life Sciences Health Industry Group. The main practice areas
include: Offices
As of January 2015, Reed Smith has 26 offices across three continents. London
is the largest office with over 350 attorneys, while Pittsburgh is the
founding office and with over 300 attorneys. This makes it the largest
Reed Smith office in the U.S. and the largest law office in Pittsburgh.
As well as numerous offices, Reed Smith has the Global Customer Centre, also
located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It houses Reed Smith's 24365 firm-wide
administrative operations, including the Network Operating Center, IT Help Desk
and the Business Centre. Recognition
Legal Week's 2013 annual Client Satisfaction Report ranks Reed Smith #5
in the U.S. International firms category. We were especially recognized
for the quality of our legal and commercial advice as well as
personal/partner relationships. For the full report, please visit the Legal Week
website. Reed Smith named Best Global Law Firm
for Weather Risk, in the 2014 Environmental Finance Annual Market
Rankings. Reed Smith ranked # 8 on the 2013
inaugural "Social Index" of Am Law 50 Firms in survey ranking use of social
media technologies. Reed Smith advances eight spots on
Acritas’ Sharplegal US Law Firm Brand Index 2014, earning recognition as a
lTop 20 U.S. brand. Ranked 12th largest law firm by the
National Law Journal in 2012. Ranked 16th on Law360’s Global 20
Ranking in 2012. Ranked 19th among American law firms
with the most gross revenue by AmLaw 100 in 2010.
Ranked 1st out of 411 law firms by The BTI Client Relationship Scorecard for
building and maintaining client relationships, June 2009.
Ranked 2nd best law firm for women by Am Law Daily.
Notable alumni Individuals who have worked at Reed
Smith include: Rip Sullivan, Northern Virginia
community activist and a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from
Virginia's 48th district Philander C. Knox, American lawyer, bank
director and politician who served as United States Attorney General, a
Senator from Pennsylvania and Secretary of State
Jack McGregor, former Pennsylvania State Senator from Pittsburgh and the founder
of the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins
James Hay Reed, founding member of the law firm Reed, Smith, Shaw & Beal and a
United States federal judge Cathy Bissoon, American lawyer and judge
who serves on the United States District Court for the Western District of
Pennsylvania David W. Marston, lawyer, author and
United States Attorney for the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Pennsylvania Paul Martha, former American football
safety who played seven seasons in the National Football League and was CEO of
Pittsburgh Penguins Sheryl H. Lipman, United States District
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of
Tennessee and former Counsel to the University of Memphis
Thomas Hardiman, a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the
Third Circuit and former United States District Court judge
Ralph H. Demmler, an American lawyer specializing in corporate banking law
and an appointed United States government official
Ronald D. Castille, served on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1994
to 2014, and was Chief Justice from 2008 to 2014
Popular culture The firm is depicted in Laurence
Leamer's book The Price of Justice. See also
Johnstown Flood List of 100 largest law firms globally
References External links
Official website The American Lawyer
Martindale Organizational Profile at the National
Law Review