(Philadelphia, PA, July 16, 2003) - International top-20 law firm Reed Smith has attracted another experienced attorney from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius to its expanding Employee Benefits Group in the city of brotherly love.  John D. Martini, a 1995 graduate of Villanova University Law School, where he was editor of the Law Review, joins Reed Smith's  Philadelphia office as a partner, effective immediately.

The move reunites Mr. Martini with his former Morgan Lewis colleague David  Pardys, who came to Reed Smith in February. Martini joins the firms Employment  Law and Benefits Department  which has 100 attorneys firmwide, 15 of whom are in the Philadelphia office.  The group provides an integrated capability of  labor, employment and benefits services advising employers on all the issues they face with their employees and unions, including immigration issues for international employees and full service employee benefits. Reed Smith's Labor and Employment group was ranked number 1 in PA by Chambers' and Partners, America's Leading Business Lawyers 2003-04 edition.

"We are delighted that an attorney with Mr. Martini's background, experience and interests has come aboard to further the expansion of our capabilities in the employee benefits sector," said Robert A. Nicholas, managing partner of the firm's Philadelphia office. "John has a well-established clientele and is exceptionally well-prepared to make an immediate contribution to our growth initiative in this important arena."

Mr. Martini has extensive experience in complex qualified plan and benefit-related securities issues and has regularly counseled companies of all sizes on a extensive range of benefits matters, including equity compensation, health and welfare, and transactional matters.

Reed Smith, a leading global law firm with nearly 1,000 lawyers located in 16 U.S. and two U.K. cities, represents Fortune 100 as well as mid-market and emerging companies. Clients include technology companies and entrepreneurs, financial services firms, life sciences companies and health care providers and insurers, communications companies, manufacturers, universities, non-profit organizations, real estate developers, and municipalities throughout the United States and in 40 countries. For more information, please visit reedsmith.com.