(June 20, 2007) – Reed Smith LLP, one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, has again achieved recognition as a “Top Ranked” firm in ratings published in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, for its attorneys’ performances in more than a dozen practice areas within seven states and the District of Columbia. The 2007 publication also named 36 Reed Smith attorneys as national or regional leaders in their practice areas.
In 2007, Reed Smith achieved a level 3 rank nationally in its Products Liability Practice, repeating last year’s results. It also achieved a level 1 rank for its Banking and Finance and Bankruptcy/Restructuring Practice in Pennsylvania, and for its Real Estate Practice in Virginia.
In addition, the firm earned a level 2 rank regionally in its Health Care Practice in the District of Columbia; its Labor & Employment Practice in Pennsylvania; and its Media & Entertainment: Advertising Practice in New York.
Reed Smith was ranked as level 3 in Antitrust in Pennsylvania; Bankruptcy/ Restructuring in Delaware; Corporate/M&A and Private Equity in Pennsylvania; Intellectual Property in Pennsylvania; and General Commercial Litigation in Pennsylvania. It was ranked as level 4 in Corporate/M&A and Private Equity in Illinois.
Michael K. Brown, a partner in the firm’ Los Angeles office, and Michael T. Scott, a partner in its Philadelphia office, were ranked nationally in Products Liability.
Attorneys achieving a number 1 rank regionally included Peter W. Davis in the Litigation Appellate Practice in California; Lisa D. Kabnick in the Banking & Finance Practice in Pennsylvania; James P. Kleier in the Tax: State & Local Practice in California; Paul M. Singer in the Bankruptcy/Restructuring Practice in Pennsylvania; William G. Thomas in the Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use Practice in Virginia; and Douglas J. Wood in the Media & Entertainment: Advertising Practice in New York.
Chambers & Partners conducted the 2007 ranking process by using a survey methodology that included more than 10,000 interviews with clients and attorneys nationwide. Rankings are based on firms’ and individual lawyers’ “technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness and astuteness, diligence, commitment and other qualities valued by client respondents.”
Other individual Reed Smith attorneys and their practice groups ranked among the nation’s best in the 2007 state-by-state assessment include:
Delaware
- Kurt F. Gwynne – Bankruptcy/Restructuring
District of Columbia
- Elizabeth Carder-Thompson – Health Care
- Eugene Tillman – Health Care
- Gordon B. Schatz – Health Care
- Thomas C. Fox – Health Care
- Donald J. Myers – Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
- Gary S. Thompson – Insurance: Policy Holder
Illinois
- Frank D. Ballantine – Corporate/M&A: Private Equity
- Bradley S. Schmarak – Corporate/M&A: Private Equity
New Jersey
- Steven J. Picco – Environment
Pennsylvania
- Leonard A. Bernstein – Banking & Finance: Mainly Regulatory
- William Bevan III – Labor & Employment
- Daniel I. Booker – Antitrust
- Frederick H. Colen – Intellectual Property
- Eugene K. Connors – Labor & Employment
- Karl A. Fritton – Employment: Mainly Defendant
- Martha Hartle Munsch – Labor & Employment
- Peter S. Clark – Bankruptcy & Restructuring
- W. Thomas McGough, Jr. – General Commercial Litigation and White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
- Thomas H. Suddath Jr. - White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
- William J. McNichol Jr. – Intellectual Property
- Louis Naugle – Environment
- Eric A. Schaffer – Bankruptcy/Restructuring
- Michael T. Scott – Litigation: General Commercial
- David L. DeNinno – Corporate M&A
- David J. McAllister – Labor & Employment
- Gene A. Tabachnick – Intellectual Property
- John D. Martini – Employee Benefits – Ranked Up and Coming
Virginia
- James C. Brennan – Real Estate
- J. Howard Middleton, Jr. – Real Estate
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