(February 1, 2006, Washington, DC) – Reed Smith LLP, a top 25 international law firm, announces the addition of Gary Thompson as the newest partner in its Insurance Recovery Practice Group, resident in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, effective immediately.
Mr. Thompson comes to Reed Smith from Gilbert, Heintz & Randolph LLP, Washington, D.C., where he was a founding partner. A commercial litigator with a focus on policyholder insurance coverage disputes, Mr. Thompson represents large commercial policyholders seeking to secure insurance proceeds from their insurers. He has developed a national practice especially in the areas of hurricane and other property insurance, Director’s & Officers insurance, fidelity bond, and asbestos and other general liability insurance.
According to Doug Cameron, head of Reed Smith’s Insurance Recovery Practice Group, Mr. Thompson is the latest addition to a practice that already serves some of the largest corporate policyholders in the U.S. requiring counseling and representation in disputes with their insurers and for other insurance coverage matters. Daniel Winters, Matt Schlesinger, Jay Levin and Douglas Widen, four seasoned insurance recovery attorneys, joined this practice in the firm’s New York, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia offices respectively, in late 2004 and early 2005. “We have focused on adding highly skilled laterals in many of our markets and Gary definitely fits that description,” Mr. Cameron said. “Gary’s broad insurance coverage experience and extensive expertise and his focus on first-party commercial property insurance and Director’s and Officer’s insurance is very well-aligned with our strategic plan to continue to grow and strengthen this practice across the firm. Gary has high industry visibility which will be invaluable in further raising the profile of Reed Smith.” Gary also has a sterling reputation for his commitment to pro bono work and community service. He has won several awards for his pro bono achievements arising out of work on September 11 insurance issues and fair housing issues involving insurers. “We look forward to Gary adding his energy to Reed Smith’s longstanding public service commitment,” said Ira Lefton, the Reed Smith partner who chairs the firmwide pro bono committee.
Mr. Thompson participated in establishing Gilbert, Heintz & Randolph as a founding partner, following ten years in the Washington, D.C., offices of Howrey Simon LLP, where he was a partner, and at Kaye Scholer LLP, where he served in that firm’s New York and D.C. offices.
“Reed Smith has developed a great reputation and record in representing policyholders in insurance coverage disputes,” said Mr. Thompson. “I am very excited to be joining their Insurance Recovery Practice Group. I expect Reed Smith to provide a very solid foundation upon which to further develop my insurance recovery practice.”
Mr. Thompson is a 1990 graduate of Rutgers–Newark Law School and earned his undergraduate degree in 1987 from Georgetown University.
“We welcome Gary to our office in Washington, D.C.,” said James Gallatin, the firm’s Market Managing Partner in the nation’s capital. “He has deep personal and professional roots here. Many of us have known him for some time and we are delighted that he has joined us at Reed Smith as a colleague.”
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith LLP is a top-25 international law firm with 1,000 lawyers located in 18 cities worldwide (14 in the U.S. and four in Europe). The firm represents clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to mid-market and emerging companies. Clients include financial services firms, life sciences companies, health care providers, technology companies and entrepreneurs, power generators and suppliers, manufacturers, real estate companies, universities, and non-profit organizations throughout the world. For more information, visit www.reedsmith.com.