November 13, 2015 – Reed Smith LLP today announced the arrival of litigator Belynda Reck as a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Reck has more than 22 years of experience litigating environmental issues in both state and federal courts. She was formerly a partner at Hunton & Williams.
“Belynda is a highly respected, senior trial attorney with a reputation for winning major cases involving toxic torts, longstanding and emerging environmental issues, contentious product liability matters, and complex business disputes,” said Ray Cardozo, Global Chair of Reed Smith’s Litigation Department. “Her work on the Salton Sea environmental matter is the stuff of legend. She also brings significant experience with gas and energy disputes that complements our leading international energy and natural resources practice.”
Reck represents a variety of clients, both public and private, in high-stakes cases involving water rights, global warming, unfair business practices, the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act (CERCLA), and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). She has successfully tried a CERCLA allocation case to judgment in federal court. Additionally, she has tried product liability cases for life sciences companies to verdict and litigated diverse environmental matters arising from a range of operations and facilities, including petroleum refineries and terminals, landfills, and manufacturing facilities. She has also represented pharmaceutical companies and other companies in product litigation disputes.
Reck earned her J.D. from the University of Southern California Law School, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif and the law review, and her B.S. magna cum laude from Illinois State University.
“Reed Smith’s strategic approach to the practice of law, focused on five leading industry sectors and supported by a global platform, is precisely what I need to expand my reach in the environmental and toxic tort sectors,” said Reck. “The firm’s strong presence in the energy and natural resources sector is a great opportunity for me. I have also been very impressed with the firm’s commitment to women in the legal profession. Few firms ‘walk the talk’ like Reed Smith.”
Reck’s litigation record has earned considerable recognition: she has been one of the Daily Journal’s “Top 100 Lawyers in California” and “Top 75 Women Litigators in California,” and has been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in Environmental Law.
Having served as president of the California Women Lawyers, Reck is a recognized leader in women’s issues in the state. She has been the co-chair of the Litigation Committee of the Women Lawyers of Los Angeles and was named to the “Women of Influence” list by L.A. Biz.
“We are delighted Belynda has joined us,” said John Iino, Reed Smith’s Los Angeles Office Managing Partner. “Belynda has a strong network of professional relationships, including Clyde Lea, former deputy general counsel of ConocoPhillips, who joined our energy practice in Houston in September, and her commercial and litigation experience with life sciences companies is a great fit with the firm’s highly regarded practice focused on that industry. Her addition will be a tremendous asset to our clients around the globe.”
Reed Smith has more than 1,000 litigators globally, making it the fifth-largest litigation practice in the world, according to The Lawyer Global Litigation Top 50 2014. BTI Litigation Outlook 2015 ranked the firm as best-suited to lead litigation in six of eight practice areas, including Class Actions and Torts, Complex Commercial Litigation, Complex Employment Litigation, Routine Employment Litigation, Intellectual Property and Product Liability.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with more than 1,800 lawyers in 26 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, entertainment and media, shipping and transport, energy and natural resources, real estate, manufacturing and technology, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com.
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