(March 19, 2012, Los Angeles, CA) – Reed Smith, a global law firm whose 23 offices span the world, has announced the appointment of John Iino as Los Angeles Managing Partner.

Mr. Iino is taking on the role of Office Managing Partner after a successful stint as Chair of the firm’s Business & Finance Department, which includes approximately half the lawyers in the firm. In that role, John spent significant time in each of Reed Smith’s offices around the globe. He will continue his position as head of Reed Smith’s Japan Business Team.

“In my recent travels to our offices across the U.S., Europe and Asia, I became increasingly aware of how well positioned Los Angeles is to play a leadership role in this rapidly globalizing economy,” said Mr. Iino. “This is an exciting time for Reed Smith’s Los Angeles office. With strong offices in Asia, there are natural synergies between California and the Pacific Rim. As Asia continues to increase in global influence, our Los Angeles office is well positioned to be at the forefront of this trend, allowing us to provide comprehensive services to our clients and to maintain close ties to growing businesses throughout the Pacific Rim."

Mr. Iino’s has extensive experience 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.

Mr. Iino plans to expand the Los Angeles office’s impact and influence leveraging Reed Smith’s key industry expertise in financial services, entertainment and media, life sciences and pharmaceuticals, energy and manufacturing. He also looks to build on its expanding Asian presence, which includes more than 120 attorneys in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, as well as the experience and expertise of its Japan Business Team, which serves Japanese companies in the global marketplace and U.S. and European clients who regularly do business with Japanese companies. Working together with Stu Shanus, managing partner of the firm's Century City office, they plan to expand the collaboration between the two Southern California offices through new initiatives.

“John’s firm leadership experience makes him uniquely qualified to head the Los Angeles office,” said Mr. Shanus. “I look forward to working with him as the firm continues to expand its Southern California presence.”

Reed Smith’s Los Angeles litigators and business lawyers currently provide legal representation and counsel to the national and international businesses and industries that have fueled the community’s historic and continued growth. With more than 120 lawyers in the two LA offices, the firm serves clients in a range of key industries including financial services, entertainment and media, energy, manufacturing and technology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, real estate, distribution, and retail and service businesses.

Mr. Iino assumed leadership of the Los Angeles office from partner Abraham J. Colman, who will return full-time to his Financial Industry Group practice in which he litigates individual and consumer class actions around the country on behalf of financial services companies, retailers and manufacturers.

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