Mr. Jordan, 41, who resides in Pittsburgh, indicated that his leadership priorities as Managing Partner will include further strengthening the Firm's core capabilities and client services and continued strategic expansion.

Mr. Jordan said, "I am honored to have the confidence of the partnership at this critical time in our history. We are aggressively pursuing a number of new strategic opportunities to advance the interests of our U.S. and international clients.  Our recent merger activity in the technology corridors of NY and Northern Virginia reflects our ongoing commitment to strategic expansion to meet the increasingly complex needs of our clients."

Under outgoing managing partner Daniel I. Booker's leadership, Reed Smith was transformed from a powerful regional firm to one of national prominence.  Founded in 1877 and now one of the nation's largest law firms, Reed Smith has 12 U.S. offices with more than 600 attorneys.

Mr. Booker personally stewarded growth and acquisitions in critical industry and geographic markets. Internally, he developed a partnership recognized for open democratic governance and for a heavy emphasis on community participation.  He recently led Reed Smith's evolving branding campaign which reflects the Firm's commitment to its client relationships.

With his third term as managing partner ending in January 2001, Mr. Booker advised the partners in April that he would not seek a fourth term and intended to return to full time practice as a partner of the Firm.

"Dan Booker has done a tremendous job," Mr. Jordan said.  "His leadership and the hard work of the many men and women at our Firm have permanently transformed Reed Smith.  Dan will be a leader of our Firm and our practice, regardless who serves as our Managing Partner."

With the Firm since 1984, Mr. Jordan is a partner in the Litigation Group, where his practice involves primarily banking and financial services, securities, trade secrets, and media and First Amendment litigation.  He has tried and argued a number of significant cases in these fields, most recently the landmark iCrave TV case on behalf of the Motion Picture Association of America.  Mr. Jordan was included in The Best Lawyers In America annual editions since 1995.  He currently serves as the Firm's Director of Legal Personnel and is a member of the Management and Executive Committees.  He previously served as the Director of Practice Development. In addition, he heads the Firm's Financial Services Litigation Group.

"Greg Jordan's leadership and advocacy skills are both exceptional and nationally recognized," said Mr. Booker. "Greg has an impressive ability to balance the needs of a variety of constituencies while he pursues a focused, ambitious course. Our partners made an excellent choice."

A native of Wheeling, West Virginia, Mr. Jordan obtained his bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, from Bethany College in 1981.  He graduated in 1984, cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review and the Order of the Coif.

In other developments, the Firm has voted to formally change its name to Reed Smith LLP from Reed Smith Shaw & McClay LLP.  The effective date of the name change is October 16, 2000.  Also, in October, the Firm will introduce its new branding and integrated marketing campaign with a redesign of the Firm's web site at reedsmith.com.