(March 29, 2011, Washington, D.C. and Falls Church, VA) - Reed Smith LLP announces the addition of Claud v.S. "Lex" Eley as a partner in its Corporate & Securities Group in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia.  Mr. Eley was formerly a partner in the Washington office of Morgan Lewis.

"Lex has more than two decades of international transactional and corporate experience that will absolutely enhance our Metro DC corporate and transactional presence and capabilities," said Paul J. Jaskot, Chair of Reed Smith's U.S. Corporate & Securities Group.  "We look forward to his involvement in our continued expansion of this group both in the region and globally."

Mr. Eley's practice focuses on domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and business transactions.  His experience includes advising clients with international operations in the conception, planning, negotiation and execution of a wide range of investment strategies.  In connection with private equity and venture capital transactions, Mr. Eley also assists clients with financing alternatives, including secured and unsecured credit facilities and debt or equity offerings.  He has developed and implemented various exit strategies enabling clients to monetize their investments, including mergers, divestitures and public offerings, and he has implemented various corporate restructurings, reorganizations, and recapitalizations. 

"A substantial part of my work involves trans-Atlantic investment in both directions between Europe and the United States.  Reed Smith's substantial international platform, especially its strength in Europe, is a perfect fit for my practice and will enable me to greatly expand the scope of services I can provide clients," said Mr. Eley.  "In addition, the firm's focus on international growth is very attractive to me as the pace of international transactions continues to grow along with the global economic recovery."

Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Mr. Eley was a partner in the Brussels, Washington, D.C. and New York offices of Hogan & Hartson (Hogan Lovells) over a period of 14 years.  He served as the Brussels office managing partner for seven years, substantially growing that firm's presence and capability.

Mr. Eley received his J.D. from Emory University School of Law in 1982.  He began his legal career in the Richmond office of McGuire Woods, LLP, and was the founding partner of that firm's Brussels office.  He is a member of the Virginia, District of Columbia and New York bars.

"Lex further expands the international expertise in our DC/Northern Virginia offices," said Northern Virginia Office Managing Partner Karen Fagelson.  "His depth and breadth of expertise, leadership skills, and connections within the global business community will be particularly valuable to our many clients involved in planning, negotiating and executing complex business investment strategies that enhance their worldwide reach."

Mr. Eley is the second partner added to Reed Smith's global corporate and securities practice in the past two months. In February, Scott Cameron, a U.S.-qualified capital markets specialist, joined the firm's Europe and Middle East Corporate Group in the firm's London office. Mr. Eley's hiring is also the latest in a series of key lateral hires in Northern Virginia, which include IP partner Brad Newberg and a five-lawyer wealth planning group led by Jim McNair.

About Reed Smith

Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with more than 1,600 lawyers in 22 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 lawyers provide litigation and other dispute resolution services in multi-jurisdictional and other high-stakes matters; 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, technology and media, shipping, energy, 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, Silicon Valley, Century City, Richmond

Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Greece

Middle East:  Abu Dhabi, Dubai