Terry B. Bates Photo
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Terry is a litigation partner with substantial first chair trial experience for both plaintiffs and defendants, as well as class action defense experience. He is a member of Reed Smith's Global Commercial Disputes Group where he previously served as Deputy Practice Group Leader. He is an active member of Reed Smith's Culture & Engagement Committee, having previously served as the Los Angeles Office Culture & Engagement Committee Partner, and a member of the Los Angeles Office Recruiting Committee, engaged in selecting and developing its new attorneys.

Credentials

  • University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 1984, J.D., Note Editor, Hastings International and Comparative Law Journal
  • University of California, San Diego, 1981, B.A., Political Science, Economics minor, Chinese Studies minor

  • California

  • All State Courts - California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals - First Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals - Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court - Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court - Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court - Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court - District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court - Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. Tax Court

  • Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Los Angeles Chapter, Board of Governors, 2021 
  • State Bar of California: Special Master 1992 – current; Former Member Fee Arbitration Executive Committee 
  • Los Angeles Superior Court, Judge Pro Tem, 1991 - 2007
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association; Prior State Bar Delegate and various former committee positions, including Barristers' Executive Committee member, Fee Arbitration Committee Chair and State Appellate Judicial Evaluation Committee   
  • Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Board of Directors, 2003 - 2018

Awards & Recognition

  • Selected through peer review for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, 2023-2025