(September 10, 2013, New York)—International law firm Reed Smith today welcomed high-profile government investigations and litigation partners Joseph P. Armao and Paul Alfieri, who join the firm’s Global Regulatory Enforcement Group in the New York office.

Both Mr. Armao and Mr. Alfieri have extensive backgrounds in white-collar criminal defense, government enforcement matters, internal corporate investigations and complex civil litigation. The duo comes to Reed Smith from Linklaters LLP, where Mr. Armao was Head of U.S. Litigation based in the firm’s New York office.

“Strategic growth in New York with laterals of this caliber is a priority for Reed Smith,” said Edward Estrada, managing partner of Reed Smith’s New York office. “Both Joe and Paul bring top-tier white-collar criminal expertise and a host of global clients. We certainly look forward to having them on board.”

A veteran courtroom advocate, Mr. Armao has acted as lead counsel in white-collar criminal and government regulatory proceedings. He has particularly cultivated a reputation in matters regarding complex accounting and securities fraud, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions, and international price-fixing investigations across a full spectrum of industries.

“Reed Smith has a first-rate team in New York focused on client service,” said Mr. Armao. “Reed Smith’s superb global platform will insure that clients get personal service and great results wherever in the world the need arises.”

Mr. Alfieri, who has worked closely with Mr. Armao for many years, is highly regarded in accounting and securities fraud matters, as well as in FCPA and antitrust enforcement investigations. Over the years, he has also handled major shareholder securities class actions and derivative suits, as well as price-fixing litigation before various federal and state courts.

“Reed Smith is unquestionably one of the most dynamic firms in New York and globally,” said Mr. Alfieri. “The strength of the firm’s white-collar criminal and government regulatory practice, on an international platform, will provide us with what we need to help grow and service our U.S. and global client base.”

A sampling of Mr. Armao’s and Mr. Alfieri’s matters include their representation of The Yokohama Rubber Company, Ltd. in a global investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, European Commission, UK Office of Fair Trading, and other competition agencies around the world, into an alleged price-fixing cartel involving marine products. Mr. Armao and Mr. Alfieri also acted as lead counsel for ITT Corporation in a joint Department of Justice and SEC investigation into allegations of violations of the FCPA.

Prior to joining Linklaters, Mr. Armao was a partner at White & Case from 2002 to 2006. Before that, from 1994 to 2002, he was a partner at Squadron, Elenoff, Plesent & Sheinfeld LLP, where he met, and began his long collaboration with, Mr. Alfieri.

Mr. Armao’s white-collar defense skills were honed from years of experience as a former government prosecutor and investigator in the New York District Attorney’s Office. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Armao served as Chief Counsel to the Mollen Commission, which conducted a widely publicized and highly acclaimed investigation into corruption in the New York City Police Department. Prior to that, he was Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office from 1984 to 1991, where he served as Deputy Chief of the Rackets Bureau.

Mr. Armao received his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1984; his M.A., with honours, from the University of Oxford in 1981; and his B.A., summa cum laude, from Columbia University in 1979.

Mr. Alfieri was an associate, and later a partner, at White & Case from 2002 to 2006; and, before that, with Squadron, Elenoff, Plesent & Sheinfeld LLP from 2001 to 2002, with O’Melveny & Myers from 1994 to 2001, and with Mudge Rose and Webster & Sheffield from 1990 to 1994.

Mr. Alfieri received his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1990, and his B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University in 1987.

Mr. Armao and Mr. Alfieri join a truly global regulatory enforcement practice, which includes more than 200 attorneys in 25 offices on three continents. This integrated group handles all aspects of regulatory compliance and enforcement issues, including antitrust and competition; data security, privacy and management; export, customs and trade; government contracts and grants; government investigations and white-collar criminal defense; securities litigation and enforcement; and public policy and infrastructure.

Reed Smith's Global Regulatory Enforcement practice was recognized this year with leading several accolades—Law360 named Reed Smith an “FCPA Powerhouse,” and the firm received top rankings in The Best Lawyers in America 2013 for “Criminal Defense: White-Collar.” In the past several years, Reed Smith attorneys have also been highly regarded by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, particularly in the areas of government investigations and white-collar crime, antitrust and competition, data privacy and protection, and for its overall global regulatory work.

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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