(September 10, 2007, Chicago) – Only five months after entering a combination with Sachnoff & Weaver, Reed Smith LLP, one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, has hired five new lateral partners in Chicago, including Russell R. Eggert, who will join its Environmental Group, effective immediately.
Mr. Eggert was formerly a partner at Mayer Brown in Chicago. He joins his former Mayer Brown colleague, John Vishneski III, an insurance recovery lawyer, who also began his tenure at Reed Smith today.
Mr. Eggert’s practice involves complex regulatory and environmental tort litigation; responding to environmental crises and emergency situations; counseling and strategic management of environmental issues; advising on environmental aspects of business transactions; and providing litigation-avoidance counsel related to environmental matters.
Louis A. Naugle, Leader of Reed Smith’s Environmental Group, said, “We are absolutely delighted that someone of Russ’s enormous stature and experience in environmental law has decided to join us. We are committed to building a strong environmental presence in the Midwest and Russ has a tremendous reputation in the Illinois environmental legal community. He not only commands the respect of his peers, but he is also someone people want to work with.”
According to Chambers' individual state rankings, Mr. Eggert consistently ranks among the top 10 environmental attorneys in Illinois. He has tried more than 50 environmental cases and argued more 40 appeals in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies. In addition to his familiarity with the major environmental program areas, he has in-depth experience in the specialized environmental field of low-level radioactive waste.
“Russ’s prominence in the state and in the legal community will provide additional visibility of our Chicago office,” said Michael A. LoVallo, Reed Smith’s Chicago Managing Partner. “In our quest to recruit top talent, we’re excited about bringing on an attorney whom Chambers described as ‘one of the best in the state.’ We welcome Russ to the Chicago office.”
Mr. Eggert earned his law degree in 1973 from the University of Illinois and his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in 1970. Prior to joining Mayer Brown in 1987, he served first as Deputy Chief, then as Chief of the Environmental Division of the Illinois Attorney General, as well as Legal Counsel to the Illinois Attorney General.
“I am pleased to join a firm that has a very clear vision and a comprehensive strategy for expansion for its environmental practice,” said Mr. Eggert. “Reed Smith offers a tremendous platform and a collegial and extremely talented group of attorneys to work with. I look forward to helping expand our capabilities in Chicago.”
In addition to being listed in every edition of Chambers USA - America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Mr. Eggert has been selected as an “Illinois Leading Lawyer in Environmental Law” by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company's Leading Lawyers Network. Mr. Eggert has been listed as an Illinois Super Lawyer every year since the list was first established. He is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America, the Legal Media Group’s Guide To The World's Leading Environment Lawyers, Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in American Law.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, with more than 1,500 lawyers in 21 offices throughout the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises. Its attorneys provide litigation services in multi-jurisdictional matters and other high stake disputes, deliver regulatory counsel, and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions. Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising and media, shipping, international trade and commodities, real estate, manufacturing, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com
U.S.: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Oakland, Princeton, Northern Virginia, Wilmington, Century City, Richmond
Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Birmingham, Greece
Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Dubai