Len Bernstein-Led Team Honored for Support of Organization's National Work

(June 14, 2011, New York) - A team from Reed Smith LLP led by partner Len Bernstein was named the first recipient of Big Brothers Big Sisters' national Common Good Award today at the organization's annual conference in Dallas. The award recognizes people and companies who provide an investment of services to benefit the common good of Big Brothers Big Sisters' organization and brand as a whole.

"At Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, we are extremely fortunate to benefit from the skills and professionalism of the legal team at Reed Smith, led by firm partner Len Bernstein," said Karen J. Mathis, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. "Len has championed the cause of children facing adversity through his board presidency of the Support Center for Child Advocates in Philadelphia as well, and we are proud to recognize him and his esteemed colleagues for their commitment and generous support of our national office."

Reed Smith's team has provided the donor-supported mentoring organization with more than $600,000 in pro bono legal services over the past year. Throughout 2010, when BBBS was without the services of a General Counsel, the work of Mr. Bernstein and his Reed Smith team helped fill in the gap and was especially timely and important.

"We are proud of Reed Smith's ability to commit our diverse expertise and experience in a broad range of legal practice areas, including employment, contract and trademark law, to assist Big Brothers Big Sisters with growing important areas of its organization and expanding its national impact," said Mr. Bernstein. "This firm and all members of our Big Brothers Big Sisters' legal team recognize the important role this organization plays in the lives of thousands of young people across this nation. It is gratifying that Reed Smith's contribution of legal resources can be leveraged to achieve such a high level of positive results for so many children and families. BBBS took money that would have paid legal fees and instead paid staff to recruit and match mentors to kids."

Mr. Bernstein's work on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Philadelphia and nationwide earned him Reed Smith's firmwide 2011 Sean Halpin Award. The award recognizes outstanding pro bono accomplishments and provides $10,000 to the winner, to be donated to nonprofit organizations. Mr. Bernstein designated Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Support Center for Child Advocates to share the $10,000 donation in his honor. Reed Smith created this award in honor of Sean Halpin, an outstanding young partner in the firm's Philadelphia office who died in 2004.

A 1983 graduate of Temple University School of Law, Mr. Bernstein is a member of Reed Smith's Financial Industry Group. He founded and chairs the firm's Financial Services Regulatory Group and concentrates his practice in the representation of banks, thrifts, mortgage bankers and finance companies in providing consumer credit compliance advice on federal, Pennsylvania and New Jersey laws and regulations. His offices are in Philadelphia and Princeton.

Reed Smith's Pro Bono Commitment

Reed Smith is a charter signatory to the Pro Bono Institute's Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge, devoting more than 3 percent of its billable time to pro bono efforts. As a global law firm, it is also a founding member, in London, of Advocates for International Development and a signatory to the United Kingdom's Joint Protocol for Pro Bono Work. Two thirds of Reed Smith's lawyers do pro bono work each year, valued - if expressed at normal billable rates - at more than $22 million annually.

About Reed Smith

Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with more than 1,600 lawyers in 22 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses, from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises. Its lawyers provide litigation and other dispute resolution services in multi-jurisdictional and other high-stakes matters; deliver regulatory counsel; and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions. Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising, technology and media, shipping, energy trade and commodities, real estate, manufacturing, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com.

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