(Washington, DC, October 12, 1999)  Reed Smith Shaw & McClay LLP and Hazel & Thomas PC today announced that their respective partners have approved the merger of the two law firms, which becomes effective on November 1. Reed Smith becomes one of the largest law firms in Virginia, one of the largest in metro -DC and one of the largest 50 in the United States. In Virginia, the firm will be known as Reed Smith Hazel & Thomas for a period of time.

"The most significant impact of this merger is in Washington DC and Virginia," says Daniel Booker, firmwide managing partner. "It creates in the DC metropolitan area a new 200 lawyer on-site commercial law firm with broadened capabilities to serve the growing high technology sector in Northern Virginia. With three offices in Northern Virginia and one in Richmond, Reed Smith also becomes a major legal services provider statewide in Virginia."

Booker said the combined firm’s clients would be the real winners. "We will be able to offer, with great credibility, a totally integrated, full-service commercial practice which draws upon Reed Smith’s nationally recognized corporate and securities, financial services, government contracts, employment law, real estate and healthcare skills."

Booker added that another client benefit is the combined firm’s new depth of experience in the "rocket docket", the federal court in Virginia known for its exceptionally fast handling of commercial litigation matters. In addition, the merger with Hazel & Thomas expands Reed Smith’s government relations team coverage to include Harrisburg, PA, Princeton and Trenton, NJ, Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

"The culture fit between the two firms is as good as it gets and I fully expect the merger process to be virtually seamless from a client perspective."

Benton Burroughs, managing partner at Hazel & Thomas, P.C., said: "This merger will allow our firm, which comprises 85 attorneys, to offer our Virginia clients an increased sophistication in key technology areas such as intellectual property, where Reed Smith has dozens of lawyers handling patent, trademark and copyright matters. Our four consolidated Virginia offices and Reed Smith’s 100 lawyer office in D.C. will give us tremendous depth."