(Philadelphia, PA, May 1, 2001)  Reed Smith, a top 50 international law firm, has further enhanced its litigation capabilities with the addition of two preeminent specialists to its Philadelphia Litigation Group. 

Alan K. Cotler and Joan A. Yue have joined Reed Smith as partners, effective Tuesday, May 1.

Cotler was previously a shareholder and senior litigation partner in the Philadelphia offices of Klett Rooney Lieber & Schoring, and headed up the Philadelphia Litigation Group of Klett's highly regarded Litigation Department.

Cotler’s and Yue’s association with Reed Smith renews a professional relationship with Reed Smith partner Michael T. Scott, former head of the firm's Litigation Group.

"I have the deepest respect and admiration for Alan's and Joan's practice skills and approach to litigation, and I'm extremely pleased we will be working together again," Scott said.  "They have joined us at an important period in the firm's history, a time when we are experiencing tremendous global demand for our litigation services."

Robert A. Nicholas, Managing Partner of the Philadelphia and Wilmington offices of Reed Smith, shares Scott's enthusiasm.  "Mr. Cotler is a trial lawyer with more than 20 years of experience across a lot of practice areas." Nicholas said.  "He has an impressive list of trial and other victories.  Our Litigation Group will benefit from the depth of his knowledge and ability to find the jugular to winning a case, no matter what the subject area.”

Cotler brings extensive litigation experience to Reed Smith.  Prior to joining Klett in 1994, he was with Pepper Hamilton for 16 years, eight of them as partner.  He has served as an adjunct faculty member at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University School of Law.  In addition, Cotler has been an Instructor at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and has received superb reviews for his presentation on the use of expert witnesses at trial to Pennsylvania's Annual Environmental Law Forum.

A chapter author for Inns of the Court Third Circuit Court of Appeals Handbook for Trial Practitioners, Cotler is a member of the Pennsylvania, Virginia and District of Columbia Bars. 

"Reed Smith's reputation in the business litigation field is exceptional," says Cotler.  "The opportunity to work alongside Mike again in a firm poised to achieve even greater heights over the next several years is one that I found compelling.  I look forward to being a part of this firm's future successes.  Joan and I made many close friends at Klett Rooney and enjoyed our six years there, but sometimes you have to leave even good places and good people to continue to grow professionally and personally."

Yue and Cotler are long-time partners and litigation team members.  Prior to joining Klett with Cotler in 1994, Yue was with Pepper Hamilton for 14 years, the last eight of which she spent as a partner.

Yue has served as a Judge Pro Tem in the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Day Backward Program and is a member, and chair, of a disciplinary board hearing committee.  She chaired The Adoption And Foster Care Task Force of the Support Center For Child Advocates; has been a faculty member of the NITA Northeast and Mid-Atlantic deposition skills program; and co-authored a chapter in Wiley's Construction Bidding Law.  She is a member of the Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Bars.