“Clients hire Samantha for their most difficult cases because she is a strategic thinker and a pragmatic lawyer,” said Tyree Jones, global chair of Reed Smith’s labor and employment practice and co-lead of the firm’s ESG practice. “She brings energy to our team, is an effective leader and mentor, and has a very strong profile in labor and employment law in the U.S. and internationally, and is an ESG standout, which is a perfect fit for our clients across the firm’s platform.”
Grant is an effective advocate for employers and management in administrative, arbitration and trial proceedings. She leverages her analytical and strategic skills to deliver superior results in litigation of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, breach of contract, fraud, defamation, trade secret and unfair competition cases. She advises clients on litigation avoidance strategies and local, state and federal compliance matters. She also conducts workplace investigations and management and workforce training.
Grant brings significant insight and experience gained during a two-year secondment as employment in-house counsel for a Fortune 50 company. The secondment was invaluable in her becoming a particularly pragmatic outside counsel. She learns the business of her clients and finds creative solutions to legal problems while considering the business objectives and impact.
In 2022, Grant was named by Who’s Who Legal as one of just 14 U.S. attorneys on its list of “Global Elite Thought Leaders” in Labour & Employment. In addition to repeated appearances on that list, Grant has been named an Employment Law Trailblazer by National Law Journal, a Labor and Employment Star by California Benchmark Litigation, and on the Daily Journal’s lists of the Top 100 Lawyers in California, Top Women Attorneys in California, and Top Labor and Employment Attorneys in California, as well as on the list of Top Women Attorneys in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Grant is a tireless advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion. She serves as vice-chair of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, N-Gen Advisory Board and has served as a commissioner of the American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession, on the American Bar Association Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council, on the Board of Governors of the National Bar Association, and as president of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc. She was recently the chair of the American Bar Association Section of Labor & Employment Law – the first woman of color to be elected to that prestigious leadership position – and leveraged that role to advance diversity, equity and inclusion.
Grant earned her J.D. at UCLA School of Law and her Honors B.A. at the University of Toronto.
“I have known and admired Samantha for over a decade,” said Amber Finch, managing partner of Reed Smith’s Los Angeles office, “As one of the most dedicated and talented lawyers in the labor and employment field, she is a very strong addition to our Los Angeles office and I look forward to introducing her to our clients.”
Grant has worked with Nonnette Perry for almost a decade. Nonnette Perry’s practice focuses on defending companies in discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, unfair labor practice, wrongful termination, breach of contract and defamation cases, in all stages of litigation. She earned her J.D, cum laude, at Southwestern Law School, and her B.A. at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Nonnette Perry leverages her employment litigation experience to provide practical advice to employers on best practices for hiring and terminating employees, paying employees, providing leaves of absence, conducting workplace investigations, issuing discipline, and other employment issues. She also works with legal and human resources departments to develop and implement customized employment policies and practices. In addition to general advice and counsel, Whitney conducts payroll, timekeeping and compensation audits for employers to proactively ensure compliance with state and federal wage and hour laws.
"Whitney and I are thrilled to join Reed Smith, given our history together and the values we share with the firm,” said Grant. “Reed Smith is committed to providing top-notch legal work and delivering outstanding client service on a global platform. We were also attracted by the firm’s demonstrated and authentic commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in meaningful, qualitative ways.”
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. With an inclusive culture and innovative mindset, we deliver smarter, more creative legal services that drive better outcomes for our clients. Our deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for complex disputes, transactions and regulatory matters.
For more information, visit reedsmith.com.
