“Scott is a seasoned, successful leader who has his finger on the pulse of the firm’s strategic assets and culture and the legal market in Washington, D.C.,” said Sandy Thomas, Reed Smith’s Global Managing Partner. “We are grateful for Gary’s contributions in this role, and are confident the transition will be a smooth one with Scott again taking the helm.”
As a prominent trial and white-collar defense lawyer to whom companies and individuals turn for representation in their most significant concerns, Mr. Bolden has handled many high-profile matters in and outside the nation’s capital and on the national stage. He is particularly renowned for assisting clients in navigating crises that present significant legal, business and reputational risks, including congressional and corporate investigations, FCPA, criminal fraud, bribery, money laundering, as well as civil RICO claims, health care fraud, False Claims Act violations, government contract claims and disputes, and other contentious commercial and regulatory litigation matters.
“I look forward to another opportunity to lead Reed Smith’s Washington office,” said Mr. Bolden. “The attorneys and staff here are a strong, capable team, dedicated to serving clients and advancing the rule of law, in Washington’s highly competitive legal market. We continue to look at growth in the D.C. office, especially in our five key industry areas – financial services, life sciences/healthcare, energy and natural resources, entertainment and media and shipping.”
As a frequent legal commentator, former Chair of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce and the D.C. Democratic Party, Mr. Bolden has earned significant recognition from professional and community organizations: In 2017 he was awarded The Champion for Children Award from the National Black Child Development Institute, the Founders Award from the Federation of Democratic Women, and the Legacy Board Award from the Recreation Wish List Committee, and in 2016, the UNCF Masked Ball Leadership.
In 2014, he was awarded the Presidential Star Award by the National Bar Association, and named Morehouse College Alumni Association’s D.C. Chapter “Champion of Law and Public Service. In 2013, Mr. Bolden was recognized by his alma mater, Howard University, which awarded him its 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award in the Field of Law for his outstanding work in defending clients. In 2012, he won the Recreation Wish List Committee’s Chairman’s Award, which included dedication of the Bolden Room at the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center in the nation’s capital. Also, in 2012, he was named a winner of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce’s “Choice Business Leadership Award.”
Mr. Bolden’s singular record of community service also includes serving on the Board of Trustees for his alma mater, Morehouse College, the Board of Visitors of Howard University School of Law, the governing board of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and the Greater Washington Urban League. He is also a member of the Federal City Council, Economic Club of Washington, D.C. and is a 1997 Leadership Washington graduate.
A 1987 graduate of Howard University School of Law, Mr. Bolden joined Reed Smith in 1991, after serving four years as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm, dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. Its long-standing relationships, international outlook and collaborative structure make it a go-to partner for speedy resolution of complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters.
For further information, please visit reedsmith.com.
