(March 19, 2012, Palo Alto)—International law firm Reed Smith LLP announced today that Corporate & Securities partner Catharina Y. Min will become the managing partner of the firm's Silicon Valley office. Ms. Min previously served as Managing Partner of the office from March-September 2011, but turned the reigns over to global Litigation deputy chair Jack R. Nelson last fall to focus on a series of high-value U.S.-Korea cross-border transactions. She also serves as the head of the firm's Korean Practice.

Among several management changes Reed Smith announced today, Mr. Nelson will transfer to the firm’s London office, its largest among 23 worldwide, where he will be the firm's resident U.S partner, a role that was created with the firm's initial merger in London in 2001. Also announced today, partner John M. Iino will take over leadership of the firm’s Los Angeles office.

“We welcome Catharina’s timely return to the helm in Palo Alto,” said Gregory B. Jordan, Global Managing Partner. “Catharina's strong Asia-related practice and successes in multinational M&A work are great examples of our ability to connect Valley clients to opportunities throughout the world.”

A 1990 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, Ms. Min represents U.S. and international clients in mergers and acquisitions, private financings, joint ventures, strategic alliances, corporate partnering, securities offerings and other corporate transactions, as well as emerging companies in general corporate matters and financings. She has extensive experience representing Asian clients doing business in the United States, China, Korea and Japan. She frequently lectures to many organizations, including the Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs and the Korean IT Network Forum, on cross-border transactions and venture capital financing.

“I look forward to further developing our office with the participation of key partners in our San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai offices, as well as welcoming aboard new talent,” said Ms. Min. “By leveraging the firm's international platform, we can provide far-reaching services for our clients' global expansion – from local start-ups looking to enter foreign markets, to international companies looking to get into the Silicon scene.”

“As a true Valley insider with decades of experience in Asian markets, Catharina is particularly well-suited for this role,” said Jack Nelson. “I look forward to my time in London to work on the ongoing integration of our global platform, and will help build bridges between Silicon Valley and our talented lawyers in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.”

Ms. Min, who was the firm's first female and first Asian American managing partner in Palo Alto, also enjoys cultivating opportunities for advancing the careers of women and other Asian Americans in the Valley.

Min was the first women Overseas President of the International Association of Korean Lawyers. She is Director and past president of the Korean-American Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco, and past president of the Korean-American Bar Association of Northern California. She also serves on the Board of the Korean IT Network, and is a member of the Korean-American Society of Entrepreneurs.

Reed Smith opened its Silicon Valley office in October 2008 to better serve the needs of the firm’s local and global technology, venture capital, clean tech, finance, and life and health sciences clients. Attorneys in the office specialize in venture capital, securities, mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate, financial, and cross-border transactions; intellectual property development and protection; commercial, securities, antitrust and regulatory litigation; as well as executive compensation and wealth management.

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

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Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Dubai

Asia: Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai