(Oakland, CA, January 13, 2003) Reed Smith LLP, a top-20 international law firm, has selected two experienced California attorneys as market managing partners in the firm's new Oakland and San Francisco offices, effective with its January 1 integration of Crosby Heafey on the West Coast.

Reed Smith Crosby Heafey partners Sonja S. Weissman and Kenneth J. Philpot have assumed managing partner responsibilities in Oakland and San Francisco, respectively.

"We are gratified that gifted attorneys like Sonja and Ken are willing to assume leadership roles in these California markets during this critical transition period and beyond," said Gregory B. Jordan, Reed Smith's firmwide managing partner.  "We believe they will do an exceptional job of continuing to serve former Crosby Heafey clients and attracting new clients who will benefit from the breadth and depth of legal services this firm now provides from coast to coast and internationally. We will also look to them to help us grow and strengthen these two important Reed Smith offices."

Ms. Weissman joined Crosby Heafey in 1991 following her graduation from Hastings College of Law at the University of California. She served as chair of that firm's Complex Litigation Group in Oakland, as well as chair of its Summer Associate Program and as a member of its Diversity Committee. She has recently been elected to the Board of Directors of the Alameda County Bar Association.

"I feel privileged and proud to be selected to lead the colleagues I've worked side-by-side with over the past 12 years,”  said Ms. Weissman. "My immediate goal is to aggressively expand our client base among East Bay companies which can benefit from representation by a firm with the geographic reach, depth of specialties, and quality of Reed Smith.  I also expect to focus attention on continuing to attract and retain highly qualified and diverse personnel in our Oakland office.  I place a particularly high priority on recruiting exceptional attorneys from all walks of life as the foundation for serving this very diverse local community."

In her personal practice in the past two years, Ms. Weissman has served as the lead defense counsel for Sulzer Orthopedic, Inc. in its California-based hip implant litigation matters.

Mr. Philpot is a graduate of Stanford Law School with more than 25 years of experience as a commercial litigator and trial lawyer. He joined the San Francisco office in 2000 after spending his career with the firm of Jackson Tufts Cole & Black LLP.   His practice focuses on securities matters and legal malpractice defense, including representation of officers and directors of troubled companies, as well as disputes over corporate control and related employment issues.

Mr. Philpot, who served as managing partner at Jackson Tufts from 1986 to 1995, brings that experience to the position at Reed Smith's San Francisco office.

"I was drawn to the opportunity of taking on the managing partner responsibilities for a second time in my career by the challenge of transitioning this office to be part of a major international law firm, without losing the many collegial and supportive features that has made this office a special place to work,"  said Mr. Philpot in explaining his enthusiasm for the new post.  "I am also interested in raising the profile of the San Francisco office within the local community and throughout the West Coast.  Our attorneys have the skills and experience to play an increasingly major role in Reed Smith's future success in northern California and beyond, and we hope to grow the office by attracting lateral partners who share our commitment for providing the highest quality legal services and our vision to continue building a global law firm.”

John Siamas, former managing partner of Crosby Heafey in San Francisco, and John Lynn Smith, former managing partner of Crosby Heafey in Oakland, have assumed new strategic leadership roles with Reed Smith.  Mr. Siamas now co-chairs the firm's California Recruiting Committee with Morgan Tovey;  Mr. Smith is the new East Bay Sales Team leader.

Reed Smith, a leading global law firm with nearly 1,000 lawyers located in 16 U.S. and two U.K. cities, represents Fortune 100 as well as mid-market and emerging companies. Clients include technology companies and entrepreneurs, financial services firms, life sciences companies and health care providers and insurers, communications companies, manufacturers, universities, non-profit organizations, real estate developers, and municipalities throughout the United States and in 40 countries. For more information, please visit reedsmith.com.