October 21, 2014 – Reed Smith, a leading international law firm, today announced the formation of a cross-practice Global Ebola Task Force to address client issues emerging from the spread of the viral disease in West Africa and around the world.
The Global Ebola Task Force comprises lawyers from many of the firm’s industry and practice groups, including Labor & Employment, Insurance Recovery, Life Sciences Health Industry, Shipping, Aviation, International Trade & National Security, and Data Privacy, Security & Management, as well as lawyers on Reed Smith’s longstanding Africa Business Team, which represents global companies on transactions throughout the continent. It will be led by Patrick E. Bradley, a partner in the firm’s Princeton, New Jersey office. His practice focuses on aviation and product liability litigation.
“Commerce today is fully globalized, and threats to global commerce, such as the Ebola virus, often spawn complex legal issues that require a seamless, integrated approach,” said Sandy Thomas, Reed Smith’s Global Managing Partner. “Many of our clients have faced, are facing or will face problems created by the spread of the virus, including health care systems, hospitals, shipping companies, and airlines. The virus has the potential to affect international commerce and trade, not just on the African continent, but worldwide. Our Global Ebola Task Force will put Reed Smith in front of the legal challenges our clients face.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control issued its first announcement on the current outbreak of the Ebola virus in Guinea in March, reporting cases in Liberia and Sierra Leone at the same time. As of mid-October, the World Health Organization and the CDC have reported some 7,000 cases of the infection in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria, Spain and the United States, making it the deadliest outbreak of the virus since it was first identified in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in 1976.
Reed Smith’s 35-member Africa Business Team has strong ties to businesses across the African continent – multinational companies as well as inward investors and trading houses. “The Ebola Task Force will combine the strengths of our Team and many of our global practices to provide a unified, proactive approach to the issues and concerns this outbreak is now generating in many commercial sectors,” said Vince Gordon, a Practice Leader of the Africa Business Team.
“There is no substitute for being prepared when threats of this magnitude arise,” said Ebola Task Force Leader Patrick Bradley. “Our first focus is being ready to respond to whatever clients need when they are affected or are concerned about the many legal issues that can arise as Ebola spreads. We have developed a unified approach across the many practice areas where such issues arise to provide prompt, effective and customized solutions.”
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with more than 1,800 lawyers in 25 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, technology and media, shipping, energy and natural resources, real estate, manufacturing, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com.
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