July 28, 2014 – Reed Smith LLP today announced that its Partnership has approved the Senior Management Team and Firm Secretary recommendations of its Global Managing Partner Sandy Thomas. In addition to Sandy Thomas, the seven member team is comprised of three new members and will retain three former members. The new members are Edward J. Estrada as Global Head of Strategy, Casey S. Ryan as Global Head of Legal Personnel and Ray A. Cardozo as Chair of the Litigation Department. Returning members are David J. Boutcher, Chair of the Business & Finance Department, Roger J. Parker, as EMEA Managing Partner and Gary A. Sokulski as Chief Operating Officer.

When all newly elected SMT members assume their roles in 2015, Reed Smith will have the most ethnically and geographically diverse leadership team in its 138-year history.

“Reed Smith has been exceptionally well served by its current Senior Management Team, particularly through the transition in leadership last year and my recent election to a full 3-year term,” said Thomas. “In selecting new members, I have focused on choosing individuals with a ‘firm first’ approach to leadership, experience in management, knowledge of the firm and its people, openness to innovation and change in how we operate, and the respect each is afforded as a lawyer. Those affirmed by the Partnership embody these characteristics and can be depended upon to guide our future growth.”

Edward J. Estrada, current Managing Partner of the firm’s New York office, will replace Michael Pollack as Reed Smith’s Global Head of Strategy on August 1. Ed has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2010 and also served as co-Practice Group Leader of the firm’s U.S. Commercial Litigation practice. His practice focuses on hedge funds and commercial restructuring and bankruptcy.

Pollack, who served on the SMT for 14 years and is its longest serving member, will become Reed Smith’s Chief Legal Officer, replacing Carl Krasik, who retired June 30. Pollack, based in Philadelphia, was instrumental in the expansion and evolution of Reed Smith from a regional law firm to a global powerhouse.

Colleen Davies, current Global Head of Legal Personnel, will remain on the Senior Management Team until March 1, 2015 when Casey Ryan, based in the firm’s Pittsburgh office will assume that role. Casey is currently the Vice Chair of the Litigation Department and has previously served as the Practice Group Leader for the firm’s Labor and Employment Group, as the Pittsburgh Office Chair of the Reed Smith’s Women’s Initiative (WINRS) and is a long-standing member of the Firm's Professional Responsibility Committee.

Davies has served on the SMT for eight years, first as Global Head of Litigation, later in her present position. She played a key role in the firm’s move to an industry group practice model and in its talent development and retention activities. In March, Davies, who works from the firm’s San Francisco office, will return her focus to further developing her world-class life sciences litigation practice.

Jack Nelson, current firmwide Chair of the Litigation Department, will remain on the SMT until December 31, when Ray Cardozo, currently Managing Partner of the San Francisco office, will replace him. Both Nelson and Cardozo work from the firm’s San Francisco office. Nelson’s stint as Litigation Chair saw the successful recruitment of numerous lateral partners and the integration of smart pricing and new service delivery efficiencies to the department. Nelson will continue to provide leadership taking on the role of Vice Chair of the Litigation Department.

Litigation Department Chair-elect Ray Cardozo has served as Practice Group Leader of the firm’s Appellate Group for six years, and has been office managing partner of the San Francisco office since 2012. He has handled some 150 appeals, 75 of which he argued to a United States state or federal appellate court, including the Supreme Court of the United States and most of the U.S. Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal.

The members of the current SMT continuing in their roles are David Boutcher, Chair of the Business and Finance Department; Roger Parker, Managing Partner of the firm’s operations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Both Boutcher and Parker work from London. Gary Sokulski, Reed Smith’s Chief Operating Officer will continue a role he assumed in 2004, based in the firm’s Pittsburgh office.

Boutcher will continue his focus on driving the firm’s business development efforts, with an emphasis on further improving profitability and efficiency. Parker will lead the firm’s growth in the Asia-Pacific region, including pursuit of a stronger presence in that area. Sokulski, who has served as COO since 1999, will remain responsible for sustaining the firm’s high performance operating environment.

The Partnership also approved Carolyn Duronio as Secretary of the Executive Committee, a role she has held since 2007.

“Reed Smith is fortunate to have a cadre of exceptionally capable and dedicated partners willing to lead the firm, whenever their talents, expertise and knowledge are needed,” said Thomas. “We have long benefitted from the SMT current members’ commitment to this firm’s future. We are particularly grateful for the contributions of those leaving the Team to pursue new practice opportunities and challenges. The new Team has huge shoes to fill.”

About Reed Smith

Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with more than 1,800 lawyers in 25 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, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Houston, Princeton, Northern Virginia, Wilmington, Silicon Valley, Century City, Richmond

Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Greece

Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Dubai

Asia: Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Kazakhstan