(July 14, 2009, Los Angeles) – Reed Smith LLP, one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, today announced the addition of James L. Sanders as a partner in the Global Regulatory and Enforcement Group of its Litigation Department, effective immediately. Mr. Sanders is resident in the firm’s Century City office, where his practice focuses on securities litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and the representation of corporations and individuals in investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other governmental entities.
Mr. Sanders was formerly a partner and head of the Los Angeles Trial Department at McDermott Will & Emery LLP, where his clients included highly compensated executives and corporations.
“Jim will be a key player as Reed Smith expands its enforcement defense capabilities on the West Coast,” said James P. Gallatin, Jr., Practice Group Leader of the firm’s Global Regulatory Enforcement Group. “He brings remarkable experience and a unique background to our clients in an increasingly aggressive regulatory environment as federal and state officials are working more cooperatively to increase their enforcement of the securities laws.”
Mr. Sanders began his legal career at the SEC in Chicago, where he served as an attorney and branch chief from 1974 to1980. He then served as an Assistant United States Attorney from 1980 to 1989, first in the Northern District of Illinois, then in the Central District of California. As a prosecutor, Mr. Sanders was involved in more than 40 federal criminal trials, including trials for market manipulation, insider trading, RICO offenses, and bribery of public officials. In 1989, he re-joined the SEC, serving as its Regional Administrator in Los Angeles until 1991, when he returned to private practice.
“Jim is a well-known and highly-respected attorney on the West Coast, and a well-recognized member of both the Los Angeles securities and white-collar criminal defense bar,” said Stuart A. Shanus, Managing Partner of Reed Smith’s Century City office. “He is a great addition to this office and the firm.”
Mr. Sanders earned his J.D. from the University of Tulsa Law School in 1973, and his B.S. in Finance from Drake University in 1970.
“I am pleased at the opportunity to join a firm with a solid and growing reputation in global regulatory and enforcement litigation,” said Mr. Sanders. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues to expand Reed Smith’s enforcement defense capabilities on the West Coast.”
In addition to Mr. Sanders, Reed Smith’s Securities Litigation & Enforcement Group in the United States includes trial veterans in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Many of them have previously worked for the SEC, NYSE, FINRA, or DOJ, or have attained CPA certification and have audit-firm experience. Outside of the United States, the Group includes lawyers based in London, Paris, Munich, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Hong Kong and Beijing, who have represented clients in courts and before securities regulatory authorities around the globe.
The Group has substantial experience in all areas of securities and derivative litigation, board or audit committee-conducted internal investigations, and regulatory enforcement proceedings. Its experience includes representation of issuers, officers, directors, registered broker-dealers, market maker and specialist firms, institutional investors, investment advisors, and other industry professionals, in federal and state courts across the country; and in regulatory investigations, and enforcement and administrative proceedings. It has confronted and resolved matters involving a wide range of securities, including sophisticated asset-backed debt instruments, other complex investment and financing vehicles, and exchange-traded options and futures.
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 services in multi-jurisdictional matters and other high-stakes disputes; 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 trade and commodities, real estate, manufacturing, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com
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Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Dubai
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