(January 13, 2014, New York, NY) – Reed Smith LLP today announced that Appellate Practice partner James C. Martin assumed the presidency of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers January 1. Martin serves Reed Smith clients across the U.S. from the firm’s Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and New York offices.
“We congratulate Jim on this tremendous honor,” said Sandy Thomas, Reed Smith’s Global Managing Partner. “It’s a testament to Jim’s experience, knowledge and leadership skills that he has risen to the Presidency of this prestigious peer-reviewed membership organization. His 35 years of appellate experience make him uniquely qualified to lead the Academy as its twenty-second president. We know the organization will benefit from his able guidance and direction in the year ahead.”
The American Academy of Appellate Lawyers was founded in 1990 to recognize outstanding appellate lawyers and promote the improvement of appellate advocacy and the administration of the appellate courts. Academy membership is open only by invitation to attorneys with a reputation of recognized distinction in appellate law and a practice focused substantially on appeals. There are currently 244 members nationally.
“It is a distinct honor to have the opportunity to lead this highly talented group of appellate practitioners who dedicate themselves to promoting the administration of justice in the federal and state court of appeals,” said Mr. Martin. “My plan for my term is simply to continue the Academy’s strategic vision for maintaining the highest standards of appellate practice and emphasizing the critical role of appellate courts as part of our system of government. Specifically, I will work to advance the Academy’s important initiative focused on preserving and promoting the availability of oral argument as a key piece of the appellate process.”
Martin joined Reed Smith in 2003, as part of Reed Smith’s combination with Crosby Heafey Roach and May in California. He had been with Crosby since l978 with a practice focus in appellate law. Jim has been recognized for many years by Best Lawyers for his appellate practice skills including as its 2013 “Lawyer of the Year” for appellate practice in Pittsburgh. Certified as a specialist in Appellate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, Martin is also a member and former president of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers, as well as a founding member of the Third Circuit Bar Association, which he led as the organization’s second president. He also is one of Pennsylvania's and Southern California's "Super Lawyers" in Appellate Law, a Benchmark Appellate Star in Pennsylvania, an American Lawyer Media Southern California Top-Rated Lawyer in Appellate Law, and an member of the American Law Institute. Additionally, he has an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
“Jim is one of this country’s top appellate lawyers and will be an excellent leader and resource for the Academy,” said Paul Fogel, head of Reed Smith’s Appellate Practice Group. “He has played key roles in some of the most significant appellate matters argued in the United States; his contributions to the law and the legal profession have been and continue to be significant He is a stand-out nationally in appellate practice. ”
A 1978 summa cum laude graduate of Santa Clara University School of Law, where he was the Law Review’s Editor-in-Chief, Martin is a member of the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Section on Appellate Courts and formerly served as its chair. He also previously served three years on the California State Bar Committee on Appellate Courts and is a former vice-chair of the Federal Bar Association's Appellate Law and Practice Committee.
Martin is co-author of California's leading text on experts and a contributing author to texts on civil appellate practice. He has participated in multiple programs focused on handling civil appeals, record protection for appeal, expert witnesses, and complex litigation. He is also a co-editor and chapter co-author of PBI's Third Circuit Appellate Practice Guide and the Ninth Circuit editor and chapter author for the ABA's national compendium on Superseding and Staying Judgments.
His outstanding contributions to the profession include service as a practitioner-advisor in appellate advocacy at both Boalt Hall and Hastings law schools. He is also a frequent author and consultant for California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) on subjects involving civil litigation and civil appellate practice. He received the organization’s "Spirit of CEB" Award in 2007.
Reed Smith’s firmwide Appellate Practice was founded 35 years ago and is one of the country’s first and best known appellate groups. U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers ranked the group in Tier 1 nationally in the publications’ 2013 “Best Law Firms” rankings and, in addition to Martin, recognized four other of the group’s 20 members as Best Lawyers for appellate practice.
The group was also ranked by Chambers USA 2012 for appellate litigation in California and selected as one of the “Top Appellate Practices in California” by The Recorder. Martin and the three other Practice Leaders are fellows in the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and members of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers (two are former presidents). One member is a retired California Court of Appeal justice who authored thousands of appellate opinions, and another is a former superior court judge. Six members are former federal appeals court clerks; three clerked for state high court justices. Our members have been named Super Lawyers in California, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Many are state-bar certified appellate specialists.
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.
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