NEW YORK – Global law firm Reed Smith today announced that Seth R. Merl has joined the Global Corporate Group as a partner in the New York office. Merl will bolster the firm’s middle-market private equity and strategic M&A practices across a broad range of industry sectors, including financial, consulting and asset management services, consumer products, business services, real estate, transportation, energy, technology, insurance, pharmaceuticals and health care. He joins from Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Jonathan Marcus today joined Reed Smith’s Energy & Natural Resources Industry Group (ENR) as a partner in the Washington office. His multifaceted practice includes advising clients on commodity, derivatives and digital asset regulation, litigating private suits involving the derivatives and energy markets in federal district and appellate courts, and handling government enforcement matters before the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SINGAPORE – Global law firm Reed Smith today announces the hire of Timothy Cooke as partner in its Energy and Natural Resources Group and Singapore office.

MIAMI – Reed Smith today announced that Danielle Garno has joined the firm as a partner in its global Entertainment and Media Industry Group in Miami, significantly boosting the firm’s profile and capabilities in the fashion sector. Garno joins Reed Smith from Cozen O’Connor, where she served as co-chair of the firm’s retail industry group and led the fashion, beauty, and luxury goods practice.

DALLAS/AUSTIN – Reed Smith today announced that Lawrence Waks has joined the firm’s global Media & Entertainment Industry Group as a partner in the firm’s expanding Dallas and Austin offices. Waks is well-known for his representation of leading entertainment clients, as well as his cutting-edge work on IP- and M&A-related matters in the food and beverage, distilled spirits, consumer products, and media industries. Among his best-known deals, Waks represented George Clooney, Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman in the $1 billion sale of their Casamigos tequila brand to global spirits company Diageo. Ad Age named Waks ‘Attorney to the Stars.’