(January 15, 2008, Los Angeles, CA) – Reed Smith LLP, one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, today announced the addition of Tony L. Richardson as a partner in its West Coast Commercial Litigation Group in the firm’s downtown Los Angeles office, effective today.

Mr. Richardson joins Reed Smith from Kirkland & Ellis, where he had been a partner since 1994 and a member of the firm since 1990. 

“Tony adds important senior trial attorney talent to the LA office, and significant connections with both Los Angeles-based and national clients that will be invaluable as we continue to expand our operations worldwide,” said Peter Kennedy, Reed Smith’s Los Angeles Managing Partner.  “We’re also eager to have Tony’s perspective on many of the management issues that law firm’s deal with where Tony has had years of experience.”

Mr. Richardson is an accomplished civil trial attorney with substantial experience in insurance coverage and class actions, business disputes and product liability cases.  He litigates mass tort, antitrust, unfair business practices, intellectual property and other complex business matters in federal and state courts in California and other jurisdictions. He received his B.A cum laude in Government from Harvard University in l979.  After earning his J.D. in 1984 from Stanford University School of Law, Mr. Richardson clerked for the Honorable David W. Williams, U.S. District Court Judge in the Central District of California, and worked with Hufstedler, Miller Carlson & Beardsley, and Gronemeier Barker & Huerta in the Los Angeles area prior to joining Kirkland.

“Tony is a seasoned commercial litigator who has worked in a lead capacity on numerous major mass tort and civil actions and led large teams of lawyers in trial,” said Lorenzo Gasparetti, Practice Group Leader of Reed Smith’s West Coast Commercial Litigation Group. “Reed Smith is involved in many of the most significant products liability and commercial cases for some of the world’s largest corporations where Tony’s experience and relationships will immediately be of great value to our team and our clients.”

At his prior firm, Mr. Richardson served as a member of the Los Angeles office’s Operations Committee, was Hiring Partner and Chair of the Recruiting Committee. He was also the Los Angeles office’s Pro Bono Coordinator, as well as a member of its firmwide Diversity Committee, Director of the K&E Foundation, and a member of that firm’s Associate Review Committee.  He also served as a NITA faculty member and participated in Kirkland’s internal trial training program.

“The Reed Smith platform will enable me to expand important client relationships and extend my network of highly qualified colleagues,” said Mr. Richardson.  “This firm’s global reach and rapid growth are creating opportunities to handle increasingly complex and challenging litigation, and I look forward to making strong contributions to Reed Smith and the ongoing development of this dynamic practice.”

Mr. Richardson has been actively involved in public service activities in the Los Angeles community and beyond, including serving as a member and Chair of the California Commission on Access to Justice, a Special Master in a federal district criminal court action, Chair of the ABA's Automobile Law Committee, a member of the Board of Governors of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, a member of the Children Law Center's Board of Directors, a Judge Pro Tem for the Los Angeles County Superior Court, a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Task Force on the State Criminal Justice System and a Deputy General Counsel on the Los Angeles Police Commission's Rampart Independent Review Panel.

The Los Angeles office of Reed Smith recently completed a build out of additional space at its location at 355 Grand Avenue.  The firm now occupies three full floors of this significant office tower.  Other Reed Smith practice groups experiencing recent growth in Los Angeles include insurance recovery, corporate and employment. Reed Smith’s Los Angeles office has expanded from under 50 to more than 80 lawyers in the past 5 years, with an additional 20 lawyers in its Century City office.

About Reed Smith

Reed Smith is one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, with more than 1,500 lawyers in 23 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.  Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises.  Its attorneys provide litigation services in multi-jurisdictional matters and other high stake disputes, deliver regulatory counsel, and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions.  Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising and media, shipping, international trade and commodities, real estate, manufacturing, and education.  For more information, visit reedsmith.com

U.S.: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Oakland, Princeton, Northern Virginia, Wilmington, Century City, Richmond

Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Birmingham, Greece

Middle East:  Abu Dhabi, Dubai

Asia: Hong Kong, Beijing