Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward.

Its long-standing relationships, international outlook and collaborative structure make it a go-to partner for speedy resolution of complex disputes, transactions and regulatory matters.

The Reed Smith Paris office has 65 lawyers working in a variety of practice areas: competition law, corporate law, domestic and international arbitration, energy, environmental law, finance, industrial risks, insurance, labour and employment, litigation and dispute resolution, pharmaceutical and healthcare, private equity, prevention and management of professional, health and industrial risks, real estate, shipping, transportation and logistics, international trade and customs, social security law, taxation, urban planning and construction. We have approximately 20 trainees a year and 30 staff.

Reed Smith was established in 1877 in Pittsburgh and started its international expansion in 2001, opening an office in London. Paris and Munich offices followed in 2005. Our mission is to drive progress through partnership. Our Paris lawyers have a deep knowledge of French and international jurisdictions and French economic operators. Our network allows every lawyer worldwide to pool their skills and improve their expertise.

Most of our lawyers in the Paris office are bilingual French practitioners with extended knowledge of the French market. They are often competent in other jurisdictions and collaborate with other U.S., European and Asian lawyers on a daily basis.

We consider career development a key aspect of your professional activity at Reed Smith. We created the Reed Smith University, the first-ever educational arm of an international law firm, in partnership with the Wharton School. This award-winning online learning programme offers hundreds of classes to lawyers, trainees and staff on law, leadership, professional support, technology and business development. The Paris office also has a series of training seminars on new developments in the law and in the French market. We also use a global competency-based development programme, covering all aspects of professional development including core values, competencies, performance management, training, mentoring, and rewards and recognition.

We believe it is in the firm’s best interest to maintain an attractive work environment to retain top legal talent. It is also our long-standing culture to respect people with diverse backgrounds, talents, interests and needs, both professional and personal. We therefore implement a forward-thinking work-life balance policy, including part-time or other alternative work schedules, training and sensitizing, leave of absence in the case of exceptional life events, adapted technology and support services.

The sense of responsibility within Reed Smith Paris can be seen in the collective and ongoing commitment of the firm’s lawyers and employees to non-profit organisations. On its professional assignments, as well as on community and social programmes, Reed Smith remains faithful to its values. Long-term commitment to relationships, with our clients and the beneficiaries of our volunteer programmes, is our priority task. Since 2008, every month, several volunteers from the firm go to the non-profit organisation Enfance et Partage to provide it with both legal and administrative assistance to assist it in the fight against any form of child maltreatment.

We recognize that diversity at all levels of an organization is a true sign of a world-class business and we have made the recruitment, retention and promotion of women and minorities a top priority. Our Diversity Committee is dedicated to creating a work environment that values our differences. It is charged with the task of developing new and innovative ways to attract diverse talent, to address issues unique to minority lawyers and to provide an internal support system for our minority lawyers. Reed Smith has been recognised as one of the best law firms for women to work in by Working Mother Magazine. In the Paris office, 64 per cent of our staff are women, including 45 per cent of all lawyers and 35 per cent of all partners. The Women’s Initiative Network of Reed Smith is a virtual practice group dedicated to more effectively attracting, engaging, developing and rewarding our women lawyers.