Newly released rankings from The Legal 500 United States 2011 places Reed Smith LLP in the top tiers nationally for its renowned Product Liability; Advertising, Technology and Media; and Tax practices.
Published for more than twenty years, the Legal 500 series provides comprehensive worldwide coverage on legal services providers in more than 100 countries. Rankings are based on research on thousands of law firm commercial and private clients, corporate counsel, CEOs, FDs and professional advisers, as well as by other referrers of work both nationally and internationally.
In the National Tier 1 rankings for Product liability and mass tort defense, Legal 500 says that: "Life sciences work lies at the core of Reed Smith LLP's product liability group, which is staffed by ‘highly qualified attorneys with excellent knowledge' and is admired by clients for its strategic planning and courtroom skills .... Michael Brown in Los Angeles is ‘exceptional and responsive' and chairs the department." The profile also highlights ongoing litigation strategies for such clients as Pfizer and Organon USA, a pharmaceutical subsidiary of Merck & Co.
The National Tier 1 rankings for Product liability and mass tort defense continue: "Reed Smith LLP has been active in the toxic tort arena for a number of years, often handling large and complex litigation in a mix of national, regional and local counsel roles ... [for such clients as] Johnson Controls and Pfizer." The ranking also highlights the firm's considerable expertise in asbestos litigation, as well as silica, benzene, welding rod and other toxic torts, for such clients as 3M.
In the National Tier 1 rankings for Marketing and advertising, Legal 500 says that:
"Reed Smith LLP's multidisciplinary advertising, technology and media group has over 60 lawyers in offices across the US and internationally. The team's bandwidth is reflected in its ability to handle a diverse range of regulatory, transactional and litigation work for advertising agencies and global brands, including Publicis Groupe, Reebok, Viacom, Sony, Nickelodeon, Fox Television and MTV Networks ... expertise in internet, copyright and intellectual property law ... celebrity endorsements, notably for Lancôme and Prestige ... advertising clearance, licensing and multi-platform promotions, focusing on digital, online and social media, particularly online gaming, e-commerce and behavioral advertising ... [as well as] advertising involving product placements in games and virtual worlds for clients including Electronic Arts, Viacom, MTV Games and Clash Media."
The rankings also say that, "Practice head Douglas Wood in New York is described as ‘practically a brand name in the industry' and recommended for his ‘astounding acumen and insight into negotiations and legal theory ‘, alongside ‘online advertising expert' Joseph Rosenbaum." Wood is general counsel to industry bodies the Association of National Advertisers, the Advertising Research Foundation and The Advertising Council, and Rosenbaum is general counsel to the Interactive Advertising Bureau."
In the National Tier 1 for Tax controversy, Legal 500 says that: "Reed Smith LLP's nationwide state tax practice is led by Lee Zoeller from Philadelphia, where 15 team members are based .... With one of the largest SALT groups in the nation, the firm has the capacity to handle several multistate tax disputes simultaneously and offers excellent client support, from detailed initial business reviews and advice, to expert advice through IRS audits and litigation .... Practice clients include Consolidated Freightways, Gannett Corporation, Electronic Data Systems and PTI Communications of Alaska."
Reed Smith is also ranked in Tier 2 nationally for Healthcare and life sciences; Product liability and mass tort defense: aerospace/aviation; and Insurance: advice to policyholders; and, in Tier 3 nationally for Labor and employment litigation Labor-management relations; Technology: data protection and privacy; and M&A: middle-market ($500m-999m).
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