(December 18, 2008, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles) – Reed Smith LLP, one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, has announced the selection of new managing partners in the firm’s Pittsburgh and Los Angeles offices, effective January 1.
Insurance recovery specialist George L. Stewart will take over the Pittsburgh post formerly held by James J. Barnes; commercial litigator Kenneth N. Smersfelt will assume the Los Angeles position previously held by Peter J. Kennedy.
“Ken and George are well respected by their peers and both are exceptionally well qualified to lead Reed Smith in their respective communities,” said Gregory B. Jordan, Global Managing Partner. “We are confident that both the legal and management experience they bring to these roles will position us to continue our record of achieving successful strategic growth while engaging and serving clients and meeting the needs of the broader communities in which we work.”
“This role provides a unique opportunity to work with my colleagues to further enhance Reed Smith’s relationships with our many existing clients, while fostering and developing additional client relationships throughout the region,” said Mr. Stewart. “This office’s deep bench strength of experienced attorneys is complemented by a gifted group of younger partners and associates. I’m very excited by the prospect of working with our Pittsburgh-based attorneys to expand Reed Smith’s relationships with longtime clients, as well as developing new relationships with emerging businesses in the region.”
Mr. Stewart is particularly looking forward to providing leadership as Reed Smith moves from its long-time home in the James H. Reed Building to a new, nearly 200,000 square foot office in Three PNC Plaza in 2009. “We will have a new work environment and a chance to re-invent the way we work with one another and with our clients,” he said. “I expect this change will be very energizing for us.”
Mr. Stewart graduated from the Pennsylvania State University’s Dickinson School of Law and joined Reed Smith in 1989. In the past two decades, Mr. Stewart has devoted a significant portion of his practice to the representation of policyholders in substantial insurance coverage matters in state and federal courts, at both the trial and appellate level, particularly disputes involving coverage of product liability and toxic tort claims, claims for infringement of intellectual property and related business torts, and directors and officers. He also has successfully represented policyholders in first-party property claims, including flood and employee dishonesty claims.
Mr. Stewart is very active in Western Pennsylvania community affairs. He is a Director of the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; Vice Chair of the Shady Side Academy Board of Trustees; and a Director of both Tickets for Kids Charities and the Weiner Family Foundation.
Reed Smith's downtown Los Angeles office opened in 1990. Its litigators and business lawyers provide legal representation and counsel to industries and businesses that fueled the region’s historic and continued growth: the entertainment and biotech industries, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, healthcare industry, high-tech and Internet start-ups, automotive and accounting firms, and beverage and food companies. Mr. Smersfelt’s plans for the future of this office also focus on enhancing relationships.
“Peter Kennedy has had such a positive impact on the development of this office, I view my job to keep up the momentum and the ball rolling by continuing to build our practices and the connections among our lawyers,” he said. “In these turbulent economic times, I will help our lawyers to do all that we can to work closely with our clients so that we can assist them in weathering this storm.”
Mr. Smersfelt received his B.A., from University of California, Berkeley in 1989, his J.D. summa cum laude from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1993 and joined Crosby Heafey Roach & May, which combined with Reed Smith in 2003. His practice focuses on complex litigation, class actions and alternative dispute resolution, including defense of large healthcare, consumer products and financial services companies against claims of unfair competition, false advertising, fraud, breach of contract, bad faith and negligence. He has successfully defended clients in jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations.
As a member of the Board of Governors for the Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Mr. Smersfelt chaired the chapter’s Public Service Committee.
In January, Mr. Barnes will turn his full attention to his corporate and securities and executive compensation practice. Mr. Kennedy will return full time to his practice representing businesses in complex commercial, financial services, and professional liability disputes.
“James and Peter provided exceptional guidance during a period of rapid firm expansion and change,” said Mr. Jordan. “We thank both of them for their dedicated service to the firm and for the leadership they provided.”
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with more than 1,700 lawyers in 24 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
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