(October 1, 2004, New York City) Reed Smith LLP, a leading international law firm, today announced the addition of Paul J. Bschorr as a partner in its New York office, effective immediately. A well-known New York City litigator, Mr. Bschorr was previously a partner of Dewey Ballantine. He will join the New York Market Trial Practice Group of Reed Smith.

"Paul’s exceptional background in litigation and his strong interest in contributing to the expansion of our New York litigation practice will be a tremendous asset to Reed Smith," said Jonathan Young, managing partner of Reed Smith’s New York City office. "He has a very impressive breadth and depth of experience in commercial litigation."

Mr. Bschorr's areas of practice include general commercial litigation and arbitration and involve securities class and derivative actions, as well as RICO, banking, lender liability, fiduciary, business torts, insurance coverage, professional malpractice, and foreign sovereign immunity issues. Earlier in his career, Mr. Bschorr was active in the defense of accounting firms in securities cases. A few years ago, together with another partner, he headed the team that successfully prosecuted a claim under the New York Consumer Protection Act on behalf of a health insurer against the tobacco industry, which resulted in the first jury verdict against the tobacco industry on behalf of a third party payer.

"I am delighted to join a firm with the illustrious history and record of accomplishments of Reed Smith," said Mr. Bschorr. "I have been familiar with their work and successes for decades and look forward to playing a role in growing its litigation practice, attracting more high stakes litigation to the firm and raising Reed Smith’s profile in New York City."

For many years, Mr. Bschorr has represented a major European bank in connection with various disputes and litigations related to access to customer information. He has particular expertise in the intricacies of foreign secrecy and blocking laws and the principles of international comity governing requests for discovery of foreign-sited material.

Mr. Bschorr has acted as an arbitrator or mediator in a number of commercial disputes. In recent years, he has also represented clients in various probate matters involving claims of undue influence and overreaching as well as incompetency of the testator.

A 1965 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a 1962 graduate of Yale University, Mr. Bschorr is admitted to practice in New York and the District of Columbia, as well as the bar of the United States Supreme Court, and numerous courts of appeals and district courts.

He is a former Chair of the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Prior to joining Dewey, he headed the litigation practice at White & Case.

Reed Smith, a leading global law firm with nearly 1,000 lawyers located in 14 U.S. and two U.K. cities, represents Fortune 100 as well as mid-market and emerging companies.  Clients include, financial services firms, life sciences companies and health care providers and insurers, communications companies, manufacturers, universities, non-profit organizations, technology companies and entrepreneurs, real estate companies, and municipalities throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, and in 40 other countries.  For more information, please visit reedsmith.com.