“We’ve been focused on building and growing our Financial Industry Group – and Bill and Catherine are perfect additions to our team,” said Ed Estrada, chair of Reed Smith's Financial Industry Group. “Our financial industry clients face myriad challenges in today’s complex economy, and we are laser-focused on ensuring that we have the right people to partner with them for success.”
“Clients are our number one priority and we are committed to making sure they have the kind of top-tier legal advice they need,” said Sandy Thomas, Reed Smith’s Global Managing Partner. “Over the past year, 40 attorneys have joined the group globally, and we believe we have one of the best, most diverse and most knowledgeable financial industry groups in the country. Our experience across the financial sector with sophisticated finance and transactional, regulatory, and dispute capabilities is second to none.”
The new banking and finance team represents financial institutions, various other institutional lenders, and company clients in a wide range of finance transactional matters, including equipment leasing, venture lending and leasing, cross-border leasing and vendor finance, complex debt and equity financings in M&A, and leveraged buyout transactions, as well as receivables finance and securitization. Members of the team also handle debt-finance work for large public companies, and financing related to private equity oriented-M&A deals and leveraged buyouts.
Commenting on the group’s arrival, David Thompson, head of Reed Smith’s San Francisco office, said, “Expanding our capabilities in San Francisco is a key priority for the firm, and Bill and Catherine are terrific additions. Their energy and experience will be of great benefit to our many financial services clients both here in the Bay Area and nationally.”
About William (Bill) Veatch
Veatch obtained his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, an LL.B. from the University of Manitoba, and a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg. He began his legal career as an associate with Manwell & Wes in San Francisco, was in-house at Bank of the West, and became a partner at Cooley Godward in 1998, before moving to Morrison & Foerster five years later.
About Catherine Young Hagerty
Young Hagerty received her J.D. from Duke University School of Law and her B.A. from the College of William and Mary. She began her legal career with King & Spalding in New York and joined Morrison & Foerster in 2006. She is a member of the Commercial Transactions Committee of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California, and the Working Group on Volcker Rule Legal Opinions established under the American Bar Association's Business Law Section.
About Reed Smith’s Financial Industry Group
With more than 225 lawyers, Reed Smith’s Financial Industry Group is one of the firm’s largest groups and is experienced in every aspect of the financial sector. We have advised banks and financial institutions on finance, lending, investment management, restructuring and insolvency, regulatory, and litigation transactions across the globe. Armed with this experience and our global connections, we help businesses anticipate and address the requirements of any transaction. Our combined dedication to delivering first-rate services across the financial industry spectrum, and deepening our relationships with clients, fosters a uniquely personal approach that sets us apart from the rest.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with more than 1,700 lawyers in 27 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses, from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises. Its lawyers provide litigation and other dispute-resolution services in multi-jurisdictional and other high-stakes matters; 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, entertainment and media, shipping and transport, energy and natural resources, real estate, manufacturing, technology, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com.
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