(Pittsburgh, PA, February 23, 2000)  Fifteen attorneys and two legal assistants recently joined the Pittsburgh office of Reed Smith Shaw & McClay LLP, all from Babst Calland Clements and Zomnir, P.C., a Pittsburgh law firm.

"This group is an outstanding addition for us, strengthening our practice in three key areas: construction litigation, trusts and estates, and corporate and securities," said Daniel I. Booker, firmwide Managing Partner.

The group includes eleven Partners, all former shareholders in Babst Calland; four Associates; and two legal assistants.

The Litigation Department of Reed Smith welcomed seven Partners, each of whom joined the Construction Group. They include:

Tarek F. Abdalla, who focuses his practice on construction and commercial litigation. He has lectured frequently in the construction field and has authored articles on construction law topics. Mr. Abdalla is also active in trade associations serving the construction industry. He received his J.D. from the West Virginia School of Law in 1990 and was Lead Articles Editor of the West Virginia Law Review.

Albert Bates, Jr. IV, a trial lawyer whose practice emphasizes the litigation and arbitration of construction claims, environmental cost recovery actions and complex contractual disputes. He earned his M.B.A. and J.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1987, where he served as the Associate Articles Editor of the Vanderbilt Journal of Transactional Law. He regularly provides arbitration and mediation services, and is a member of the Pittsburgh Construction Advisory Committee of the American Arbitration Association.

Kenneth R. Bruce, whose practice focuses on environmental, construction and commercial litigation. In 1983 he earned his J.D. from Valparaiso University School of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Valparaiso University Law Review.

Edward B. Gentilcore, whose practice emphasizes construction contracting and litigation. He is a member of the ABA Forum Committee on the Construction Industry and serves on the Construction Litigation Committee of the ABA Section of Litigation. Mr. Gentilcore also assisted in the formation of the Construction Law Section of the Allegheny County Bar Association and is a past chair of that Section. He earned his J.D. in 1987 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he was Business Editor of the University of Pittsburgh Law Review. Mr. Gentilcore is a frequent contributing author to a variety of construction-related publications.

Robert A. King, who regularly represents major corporations and construction companies in complicated construction disputes, large environmental cost recovery and remedial construction cases, complex commercial matters, and alternative dispute resolution procedures. He was a founder and Inaugural Chairman of the Construction Law Section of the Allegheny County Bar Association, and is a member of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County. Mr. King obtained his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1972.

J. Frank McKenna, who practices in the areas of complex corporate, commercial construction and environmental litigation. Some of Mr. McKenna’s specific litigation experience includes coal mine subsidence trials; litigation on various lock and dam projects on the Ohio River; disputes involving long-term coal contracts; RICO, securities and antitrust matters; and litigation involving steel mill machinery and related steel industry engineering and commercial disputes. Mr. McKenna is a member of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, and a former President of the Allegheny County Bar Association. He earned his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1973.

Bruce E. Stanley, who has extensive experience in commercial and corporate litigation, and is an adjunct lecturer of law on construction law topics at the West Virginia University College of Law. He also has considerable trial and arbitration experience in construction litigation matters. In 1989 he earned his J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the West Virginia Law Review.

The Business and Finance Department of Reed Smith weclomed four Partners:

R. Douglas DeNardo joined the Trusts and Estates Group. Mr. DeNardo has considerable experience representing individuals, professionals, and owners of closely held businesses and professional corporations and associations, as well as charitable organizations. He earned his J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 1988 and was a senior staff member of the Duquesne Law Review.

Ronald W. Frank joined the Corporate and Securities Group. Mr. Frank has extensive experience in the areas of corporate finance and international transactions. He advises domestic and international clients in the structuring and financing of joint ventures; mergers and acquisitions; privatization transactions; development of distribution networks; and licensing agreements. Mr. Frank is Chairman of the International and Comparative Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. He earned his J.D. in 1972 from Duke University School of Law, where he served on the editorial board of the Duke Law Journal.

Michael A. Snyder joined the Corporate and Securities and the Financial Services Groups. Mr. Snyder concentrates his practice in complex debt and equity financing transactions for financial institutions, business organizations and investors; acquisitions and divestitures; general corporate counseling; insolvency an credit recovery matters; representation of a major professional sports team; and e-commerce and Internet matters. Mr. Snyder earned his J.D. from Cornell Law School in 1977.

James W. Ummer joined the Trusts and Estates Group. Mr. Ummer has practiced as a tax, estate and business attorney since 1975. His focus includes tax planning for businesses and families of substantial net worth, and the structuring of private investment transactions. Mr. Ummer received his J.D. from Duke University Law School in 1972. He is a frequent lecturer on the topics of estate, tax and business planning.

The following joined Reed Smith as Associates of the Firm in the Business and Finance Department:

Carla E. Charlton joined the Corporate and Securities Group. Ms. Charlton earned her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1987.

Paul H. Minton joins the Trusts and Estates Group. Mr. Minton earned his J.D. in 1997 from the Duquesne University School of Law.

The Litigation Department of Reed Smith welcomed the following Asssociates to its Construction Group:

Lisa M. Poerio and John M. Tedder, who earned their J.D. degrees in 1998 and 1996, respectively, from the Duquesne University School of Law.

Additionally, Mary Beth Alexander and Thomas W. Vesch join the Construction Group as construction law legal assistants. Ms. Alexander has an Associates Degree from Allegany College (Maryland), a paralegal certificate from the Pennsylvania State University, and is a registered paralegal. She has worked in the legal profession for more than thirteen years. Mr. Vesch has more than ten years' experience in the legal profession, emphasizing construction litigation and alternative dispute resolution.