New York office opens. Philander C. Knox and James H. Reed establish the firm in Pittsburgh.

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1 Law Firm Paris

2 Our areas of expertise in Paris Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions / Equity Capital Markets Domestic and International Arbitration Energy Environmental Law Finance Industrial Risks Insolvency, Corporate Restructuring Insurance and Reinsurance Intellectual Property Labor and Employment / Personnel restructuring Litigation / Dispute Resolution Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Private Equity Professional, Health and Industrial Risk Prevention and Management Real Estate Shipping, Transportation and Logistics / International Trade and Customs Social Security Law Tax Law Urban Planning and Construction White Collar Crime Philander C. Knox and James H. Reed establish the firm in Pittsburgh Reed Smith launches a series of moves that propels its growth beyond the Pittsburgh region. Washington office opens New York office opens London office opens. 2001

3 Ashared entrepreneurial ambition It was their entrepreneurial ambition that led ten lawyers from one of the biggest French law firms to open Reed Smith s Paris office in This ambition encouraged the rapid expansion of the office, with a significant increase in the space of five years in particular following the merger with the renowned British law firm, Richards Butler, and the strategic recruitment of new teams. With a solid reputation in the Paris market, our firm brings together a very wide range of expertise, allowing us to support multinational corporations in both the manufacturing and services sectors, French and international SMEs, investment funds, and financial institutions in their projects. This entrepreneurial ambition is fuelled by the close and trustworthy relationships between our teams and our clients. Reed Smith s lawyers in Paris, recognised specialists in their respective practice areas, draw on a powerful global network to which they actively contribute. Our firm s first continental office opens in Munich. Paris office opens the same year Reed Smith merges with Richards Butler (founded in 1920): strategic consolidation of our teams in London and Paris, presence in Abu Dhabi and Piraeus Following the merger, representation in Hong Kong and Beijing, where the teams from Richards Butler have been established since Shanghai office opens. 50 lawyers in our Paris office: creation of an Intellectual Property practice and expansion of our corporate practice ///1

4 Strong local roots Respecting local customs is pivotal to our firm s culture. This joint approach gives a full meaning to our firm s slogan: the business of relationships. As they are involved in the French legal, economic and financial environment, and since they are recognised experts in their practice areas, the lawyers of our Paris Office possess undoubted knowledge of the French legal system and of France s economic players. USA 1,070 lawyers 1,600 lawyers. One of the 5 best law firms in terms of customer service. Nominated for the 7 th consecutive year in the annual report issued by the BTI Consulting Group, based on 300 interviews with corporate counsels. in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, 23offices and Asia. ///2

5 Europe/ Middle East London, Paris, Munich, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Piraeus Asia Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai 140 lawyers 390 lawyers The fact that we are an international law firm allows us, in various cross-border cases, to benefit from valuable and reliable support across several countries. This advantage is crucial for the prompt settlement of certain transactions or to access information that is key to handling negotiations and litigation matters. Anker Sorensen, Partner, Financial Industry Group an international platform The key features in Reed Smith s success are the respect and combination of local and international cultures. The firm's matrix, structured around different practice areas, enables our lawyers from offices around the world to share their expertise and enrich their knowledge. This network benefits lawyers who share similar expectations in terms of expertise and quality, as it strengthens links between them. It allows know-how to be mobilised on the spot in cross-border matters, enabling the same level of quality to be provided in all parts of the globe. Reed Smith lawyers are competent in multiple jurisdictions, and have professional training and experience that spans the globe; both of which play a part in further consolidating our client-dedicated culture. As a result, our lawyers are in a position to support our clients development, wherever they may be. ///3

6 Greg Jordan Global Managing Partner at Reed Smith Elected in 2001 at the age of 41, Greg Jordan became the youngest Global Managing Partner in the history of Reed Smith. As someone who played a significant role in expanding the group, Greg Jordan is also very much involved in our social responsibility and pro bono program. Teamwork, integrity, and the are fundamental values What is Reed Smith's main asset? Greg Jordan: My primary goal was to expand the firm beyond the Pittsburgh region, and to gain a foothold in international markets. To this end, we established ourselves in New York, Washington, and California, then in Europe and Asia. Our presence in London, reinforced by our merger with Richards Butler, gives Reed Smith unequalled legitimacy in the European market. This established position allowed us to open offices in Munich and Paris with the level of success which is evident today. Benoît Charot: By subscribing to the common philosophy of "the business of relationships," we are able to protect the identity valued by our clients. What makes Reed Smith strong and effective around the world is a willingness on our part to respect the values of each of our offices at a local level, and by combining these with the assets of a global law firm. Who are your clients in Paris and across the globe? G.J.: We are proud that Reed Smith is counsel to four of the world's five biggest commercial banks and to eleven of the twelve most important pharmaceutical companies. B.C.: In Paris, we advise and defend large manufacturing groups, as well as international and French SMEs and French investors and institutions. The lawyers at Reed Smith stand out because of their excellent knowledge of the businesses, requirements, and interests of our clients who, for the most part, are key players in manufacturing, transportation, trade, off shoring, banking/finance, pharmaceuticals, real estate, energy, IT technologies, and the media. What were your expectations when the office in Paris was opened? How would you describe the situation five years after its creation? G.J.:The vision I shared with Benoît Charot was to create a leading law firm in Paris with the widest range of practice areas and not just another niche law firm or the umpteenth outpost of a large American law firm. We place a lot of em- ///4

7 Benoît Charot Managing Partner at Reed Smith Paris Benoît Charot is the co-founder of the Reed Smith office in Paris. He conducts many high-stake commercial dealings and also advises his clients on health, professional and manufacturing risks, product responsibility, and white-collar crime. quest for excellence phasis on ensuring that each of our offices can maintain its very own cultural identity. This is how the development of Reed Smith is managed in California, the Middle East, and even in Asia, where we play a leading role. The renown of the team in our Paris office has clearly helped us to quickly establish our reputation in France. How did the first meeting between management at Reed Smith and the team of the future Paris office play out? G.J.: We were actively looking for the ideal profile. The history of Reed Smith is, in reality, a history of people. When I first met Benoît Charot, I quickly realized that our professional careers to date could be allied to map out a path to success. B.C.: Thank you for your renewed vote of confidence, Greg. First and foremost, I believe that deep down we were a team of typically Parisian lawyers who wanted to be involved in the big legal firm game. Management at Reed Smith actually provided us with the means to embark upon this adventure. What are the common values shared by the offices of Reed Smith? How are these expressed in Paris? G.J.: Teamwork, integrity, and the quest for excellence are fundamental values shared by all of the lawyers at Reed Smith. We are committed to the fight against discrimination. In the U.S., we won the Minority Corporate Counsel Association s Sager Award, testimony to the exemplary work we undertake in this area. B.C.: In fact, the Reed Smith Paris office continually seeks to promote diversity, especially in terms of recruitment. More than a third of the partners at the Paris office are women. As responsible members of our community, we also provide pro bono services for the association Enfance et Partage. ///5

8 Working with our clients OUR CLIEnTS SATISFACTIOn DERIvES FROM A DEEP UnDERSTAnDIng OF THEIR business, AnD THE quality OF OUR RELATIOnS WITH THEM. SOME OF OUR CLIEnTS, ESPECIALLy In THE banking AnD InDUSTRIAL SECTORS, HAvE been FAITHFUL TO REED SMITH SInCE ITS very FOUnDATIOn In PITTSbURgH back In THESE LOng-STAnDIng RELATIOnS COnSTAnTLy REMInD US THE IMPORTAnCE OF ESTAbLISHIng MODEL CLIEnT RELATIOnSHIPS. Model client relationships Founding partners of our Paris office in 2005, those who joined Reed Smith through its merger with Richards Butler, and those who later joined us through the recruitment of new teams, have all carried on advising and defending clients with whom they had established privileged and longstanding relationships. A client-dedicated culture is an integral part of Reed Smith s DNA, and of the lawyers composing the core of our firm. ///6

9 First requirement Understanding our clients business activities and mastering the matters at stake. To obtain a better understanding of the social and economic environment within which their clients operate, Reed Smith lawyers have put in place specifically targeted monitoring structures. For example, Reed Smith, as counsel for a number of pharmaceutical companies and as a specialist in product liability, has developed an innovative blog for the express use of its clients and lawyers a real source of detailed and up-to-date information on the regulatory and legislative developments in this sector. Second requirement We have a tremendous asset in that we have specialized lawyers, not only in London, New York and Paris, but also in Piraeus, Dubai, Hong Kong and Shanghai, all dedicated to shipping, transport and trade law. Ana Atallah, Luc Grellet Partners, Shipping Group Establishing a close approach with our clients. While an ongoing professional relationship is based first and foremost on trust and mutual respect, it is also based on proximity. Whatever their business activity, the majority of the firm's clients (the pharmaceutical industry, finance, international trade, TMT etc.) are involved in a policy of geographic expansion which the firm supports, by consolidating its position locally and by establishing itself in emerging business arenas. The strength, professionalism, and permanent contact between Reed Smith lawyers around the world allow them to offer their clients advice, wherever they may be. Third requirement Providing the expertise our clients need. To support our clients growth, the firm must deploy, at all times, a multi-disciplinary approach based on the highest level of expertise, tailored to the clients needs. Thus, Reed Smith s development is focused on consolidating our existing practices as well as acquiring new areas of expertise. ///7

10 Triggering solutions THE EnTREPREnEURIAL CULTURE STIMULATED WITHIn REED SMITH DEMAnDS RESPOnSIvEnESS, FLExIbILITy, AnD PROFESSIOnALISM FROM OUR TEAMS, but ALSO EnSURES A SEnSE OF CREATIvITy AT THE HEART OF THEIR PRACTICE. nowadays, THIS IS ESSEnTIAL TO ASSIST OUR CLIEnTS, WHO ARE THEMSELvES FACED WITH THE CHALLEngE OF being COnTInUOUSLy InnOvATIvE. Forward thinking in what we do The ability to trigger innovative solutions is one of the numerous skills each of Reed Smith s lawyers has, but it is also the fruit of combining talents. This ability to pool resources can be seen within the Paris office, but is also in evidence across borders by bringing the best experts on each particular subject together, regardless of where they are located. In an even wider context, the lawyers at the firm do not hesitate to complement their expertise with that of other specialists which, taken in tandem, only serve to enhance the strategic decisions made. Teams are therefore assembled with a view to working on very complex cases. With the work organized into divisional areas of excellence, this also gives us true legitimacy with our clients and is in keeping with our entrepreneurial vision of the profession. It allows us to claim specific expertise and know-how in subject areas of the future and in flourishing sectors, such as energy and sustainable and responsible development, within which the firm is actively involved. Fostering talent The taste for innovation needs to be shared and nourished. To achieve this, Reed Smith has implemented all the tools needed to promote an effective and innovative policy of staff development and lifelong learning in-house, namely through the Reed Smith University, in partnership with the Wharton School of Law, University of Pennsylvania. Our goal is to pledge an active commitment to the personal development of partners and employees and to uphold a high standard of excellence. ///8

11 Innovation is found in the systematic personalization and continuous improvement of the solutions offered to our clients. Add to this the fact that in transactions, anything can be overcome, you just need to find the correct combination. Marc Fredj, Lucas d'orgeval, Emmanuel Vergnaud Partners, Corporate Group ///9

12 Managing risks REED SMITH S ExPERTISE In LARgE SCALE RISk MAnAgEMEnT IS InTERnATIOnALLy RECOgnIzED. OUR PARIS OFFICE IS AT THE FOREFROnT In THIS SECTOR, HELPIng OUR CLIEnTS MAnAgE A WIDE variety OF RISkS FROM MAnUFACTURIng, HEALTH, AnD PROFESSIOnAL RISkS, TO SOCIAL, COM- MERCIAL, AnD EnvIROnMEnTAL RISkS, not TO MEnTIOn MAny OTHER FORMS OF LIAbILITy ISSUES. THIS ExPERTISE IS based On FOUR ESSEnTIAL PILLARS: ExCELLEnT knowledge OF OUR CLIEnTS business ACTIvITIES, quality PRE-LITIgATIOn MAnAgEMEnT OF ALL TyPES OF RISk, CLOSE FAMI- LIARITy WITH CASE LAW, AnD OUR ExPERTISE In LITIgATIOn MATTERS. By maintaining a close working relationship with our clients, we are able to support them as they reflect on the legal issues surrounding their activities, as well as anticipate the risks involved and come up with innovative solutions to implement the best and most secure pre-litigation or dispute Partners, resolution strategies. Marie Albertini, Clara Zerbib Litigation Group ///10

13 In an extremely competitive context marked by a continuing trend toward the protection of new innovations, a key factor for a large number of businesses, our mission is twofold: providing our clients with significant value-added advice on the strategic management of their intellectual property portfolios, and guiding them in the assertion of their rights both in France and abroad when needed. Marina Cousté, François Jonquères Partners, Intellectual Property Group nticipation deriving Afrom our awareness Our close client relationships help us to anticipate and measure their risks, as well as to create risk prevention and defence strategies tailored to their needs. To achieve this, the firm relies on highly specialized teams, capable of establishing the most tailored solutions aimed at resolving the issues faced by their clients. A strategic overview to provide the best service to our clients Reed Smith brings together experts who are well-established and recognized in their fields and who demonstrate outstanding knowledge of both the French and international legal systems. This litigation expertise is the basis for the quality of the advice given to our clients, including advice on pre-litigation risk management to determine the most suitable strategy. Whether it be proceedings before a national or arbitration jurisdiction or mediation or conciliation, the Paris teams at Reed Smith can vouch for multidisciplinary expertise. Added to our national expertise is a global and international vision. This allows the firm to intervene, side-by-side with our clients, on legal and jurisdictional disputes and assist them in proceedings aimed at obtaining or dismissing the recognition and execution of rulings held by French courts or foreign arbitration tribunals. ///11

14 Reed Smith Paris publishes a quarterly newsletter on discrimination and diversity issues, an efficient monitoring tool for HR Managers who are alerted of any potential risks or consequences of their decisions. Caroline Masson, Nicolas Sauvage Partners, Employment Law Group Taking a stand towards diversity AWARE OF ITS RESPOnSIbILITIES AS A SOCIAL AnD ECOnOMIC ACTOR, REED SMITH HAS been A PIOnEER In IMPLEMEnTIng SOCIAL ACTIOn CAMPAIgnS WITHIn THE FIRM, but ALSO In SUPPORT OF ITS CLIEnTS PARTICULARLy ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH DIvERSITy. Militating against discrimination Reed Smith is a specialist in issues relating to discrimination. Convinced of the significant growth, in labour litigation, of disputes involving discrimination, our Employment team in Paris is fully involved along with its corporate management clients in providing solutions for preventing and managing such disputes. Reed Smith, a firm respectful of each of its employees, has put in place many inhouse initiatives to fight against all forms of discrimination. Among these projects is Reed Smith s Women s Initiative Network, a professional network dedicated to women. Because of its efforts, in the US, Reed Smith was recognized by Working Mother Magazine as one of the best employers for working mothers. ///12

15 Actively responsible The sense of responsibility within Reed Smith Paris can particularly be seen in the collective and ongoing commitment of the firm's lawyers and employees to the not-for-profit organisation, "Enfance et Partage." Since 2008, our firm has made a commitment to provide this NPO with both legal and administrative assistance. In this respect, every month, several volunteers from the firm go to this NPO during their working hours to support them by undertaking a wide variety of tasks. Enfance et Partage Not-for-profit organisation For more than 30 years, "Enfance et Partage", a recognized charitable NPO, has been campaigning for the recognition, promotion, and defence of children's rights, both in France and internationally. This NPO campaigns to protect and defend children against all forms of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. "Enfance et Partage" is represented across a large part of the country through its 27 departmental committees and has a staff of 400 volunteers and employees. A website on diversity issues: For further information, visit

16 Création : Crédits photos : Thinkstock - Sculpture : William Noblet Reed Smith LLP 42, avenue Raymond Poincaré Paris Cedex 16 - France Tel : +33 (0) Fax : +33 (0) reedsmith.com paris@reedsmith.com