(March 19, 2012) – Reed Smith LLP, a leading global law firm, announced several management changes, effective immediately. These include new Office Managing Partners in the firm’s Silicon Valley, Los Angeles and London offices; a new Practice Group Leader in its Tax, Benefits and Wealth Planning group, new Vice Chairs in the firm’s Life Sciences Health Industry group, and new Vice Chairs in the Business & Finance Department.
“We are delighted to welcome new leaders in key positions across our firm,” said Gregory B. Jordan, Reed Smith’s Global Managing Partner. “Reed Smith will continue to grow and prosper as a result of the strategic vision and well-honed skills of this new group of leaders. We are grateful to the individuals transitioning out of these roles for the guidance and leadership they provided during a challenging economic period.”
Catharina Y. Min, who practices corporate and securities law, was named Office Managing Partner in Reed Smith’s Silicon Valley office, succeeding Jack R. Nelson. A 1990 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, Ms. Min joined Reed Smith in 2007. Her practice focuses on representing both U.S. and international clients in mergers and acquisitions, private financings, joint ventures, strategic alliances, corporate partnering, securities offerings and other corporate transactions with a significant focus on work for Korean companies.
Reed Smith’s Silicon Valley and San Francisco offices collaborate to serve more than a third of the 50 largest companies in the region, as well as numerous early-stage and venture capital-backed businesses and their investors in addition to the roster of Reed Smith's worldwide clients.
Mr. Nelson will continue to serve as Deputy Head of Reed Smith’s Litigation Department. In May, he will replace Eugene Tillman, former Global Head of Legal Personnel, as the firm’s resident U.S. partner in the firm's largest office, London.
In Los Angeles, John M. Iino has taken over Office Managing Partner responsibilities for the 90-lawyer office from Abe Colman. The change will allow Mr. Colman to focus full-time on his financial services litigation practice.
Mr. Iino’s practice involves representing U.S., Asian, Canadian and multinational companies in a wide variety of corporate, financial and commercial transactions. He is a 1987 graduate of the University of Southern California Law School.
In London, Richard Swinburn was named the firm’s new Office Managing Partner, succeeding Roger Parker in that key role. Mr. Parker will continue in his role of EME Managing Partner and assume additional responsibility for the firm's offices in Asia, spending significant time in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai.
Management changes at the practice group level firmwide include a new Chair of the firm's Business & Finance Department, a global leadership role, with David Boutcher taking over from John Iino. In this role, Mr. Boutcher will also serve as a member of the firm's seven person senior management team. In addition, Mr. Boutcher has named several new global Vice Chairs to work with him. They are Lori L. Lasher in Philadelphia, John D. Martini in Philadelphia, and Brad L. Schmarak in Chicago. The firm also announced that New York partner James R. Tandler has succeeded Mr. Martini as Practice Group Leader for the firm’s Tax, Benefits and Wealth Planning group.
In other changes, Michael K. Brown stepped down as Co-Chair of Reed Smith’s Life Sciences Health Industry Group (LSHI) to focus on leading active litigation in several national product liability class actions. In addition, Carol C. Loepere has taken over from Mr. Brown to lead LSHI and has named Scot T. Hasselman in Washington, D.C., Melissa A. Geist in Philadelphia and Christopher W. Healy in New York as that group’s new Vice Chairs.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with nearly 1,700 lawyers in 23 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 and natural resources, real estate, manufacturing, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com.
U.S.: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Princeton, Northern Virginia, Wilmington, Silicon Valley, Century City, Richmond
Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Greece
Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Dubai
Asia: Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai