(July 12, 2005) Century City, CA – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – Reed Smith, a top-25 international law firm, announces the addition of Andrew E. Paris as a partner in the Southern California Business Trial Group, Litigation Department. He will be resident in the Century City office, effective today.
Mr. Paris was formerly a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, Los Angeles, where his practice since 1992 spanned all aspects of complex commercial litigation.
“Reed Smith and Drew already have clients in common and we are familiar with his work,” said Stuart Shanus, Market Managing Partner of Reed Smith’s Century City office. “We believe this is going to be a very positive opportunity for Drew and for Reed Smith.”
A 1992 graduate of Stanford Law School, Mr. Paris joined Kirkland & Ellis as an associate after completing his law degree, becoming a partner of his former firm in 1998. His practice has focused on complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on arbitration and class action suits.
Mr. Paris has represented large corporations in pre-trial litigation, high-stakes arbitration, and federal court jury trials involving contract, tort, intellectual property and antitrust matters. Recent cases include putative nationwide class actions in federal and state courts, as well as arbitrations, in which consumers and independent dealers alleged contract, unfair competition and fraud claims. Mr. Paris has also managed complex damages defense matters involving telecommunications and energy industry experts and economists. Additional practice areas include white collar criminal defense and copyright infringement under the Satellite Home Viewer Act.
“I am excited about the potential to grow my practice at Reed Smith,” said Mr. Paris. “This move opens up tremendous opportunities for me and I look forward to taking advantage of them and working with my new colleagues.”
According to Lorenzo Gasparetti, head of Reed Smith’s Southern California Trial Practice Group, “Reed Smith already has a high volume of commercial and financial services litigation work in Southern California. As a result, Drew will quickly be working on the firm’s existing client base in addition to his own clients.” Mr. Gasparetti added, “We expect additional partner-level hires as the firm expands its west coast representation of financial services institutions and other clients.”
Mr. Paris is admitted to the California Bar and qualified to practice before several District Courts of California as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
