(June 5, 2007, Philadelphia) – Reed Smith LLP, one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, is launching a Third Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Practice Team, effective immediately.
“This new group will blend the distinct skills and talents required to persuade appellate courts with a specialized knowledge of bankruptcy and restructuring to produce a uniquely high quality product in bankruptcy appeals,” said Kurt Gwynne, a partner in the Corporate Restructuring & Bankruptcy Group based in the firm’s Wilmington, Delaware office. “We believe our clients will benefit from this and have a great advantage in pursuing appeals with this kind of representation.”
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is home to two of the nation’s most active bankruptcy courts: the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, venue for many large and complex bankruptcy cases, and the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, a hotbed of consumer litigation. Both produce numerous decisions each year that are appealed to the Third Circuit, which historically has been a leading court on bankruptcy issues and whose judges currently include several former bankruptcy practitioners.
“Reed Smith recognizes that appellate practice is a procedural and substantive specialty in its own right, and that bankruptcy appellate practice is even further specialized,” said Peter Clark, firmwide Practice Group Leader for Commercial Bankruptcy & Restructuring. “The rules governing bankruptcy appeals are different in important ways from the rules governing standard civil practice, requiring a combination of both bankruptcy and appellate practice to have the most effective representation.”
“Twenty five years ago our firm was a pioneer in building a distinct appellate practice group of experienced lawyers who specialize in civil appeals and writs,” said James C. Martin a partner in the appellate group who has been instrumental in building Reed Smith’s east coast appellate capabilities and who will co-head with Mr. Gwynne the new Third Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Practice Team. “As a result we already have considerable expertise in managing and winning bankruptcy appeals within this federal circuit.”
Reed Smith's Commercial Restructuring & Bankruptcy Group concentrates on complex financial restructurings, workouts, bankruptcy cases, and other matters involving financially distressed transactions. Its Financial Services Litigation Group is acknowledged as a “go to” for many of the nation’s leading commercial banks, having successfully defended financial services clients in challenges to nearly every aspect of their businesses, including mortgages, credit cards, mutual funds, insurance products, insurance marketing and financing, automobile financing, nonprime lending and other forms of financing. These substantive groups will support Reed Smith’s efforts to provide the highest quality representation to the firm’s Third Circuit bankruptcy appeal clients.
The Bankruptcy Appellate Group will provide counsel on cases “headed for appeal” from the start because of the contentious nature of the disputes, as well as on cases ripe for appeal because they involve complex legal or evidentiary issues. The Group is expected to be in demand because statutes governing bankruptcy encourage appeals from non-final orders that require the immediate attention of an appellate court. In addition, “finality” is a more fluid concept in the bankruptcy courts than in civil courts and, in some instances, a first level of appeal can be bypassed and a case brought directly to the Court of Appeals.
Reed Smith’s appellate attorneys have long been active in organizations and committees involved in both the appellate courts and bankruptcy courts. Jim Martin recently helped launch the newly formed Third Circuit Bar Association. He is also co- editor of the Third Circuit Appellate Practice Manual from PBI for which Mr. Gwynne and Eric Schaffer, a Bankruptcy & Restructuring partner in the firm’s Pittsburgh office, co-authored the chapter on bankruptcy appeals. Other Reed Smith attorneys in the new Appellate Bankruptcy Team include partners Claudia Springer, Bankruptcy & Restructuring; Mark Melodia, Financial Services Litigation; and David Bird, Appellate.
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