San Francisco, September 7, 2004 LAWFUEL – Best for law news, legal news, law, attorneys, legal research Reed Smith LLP, a top 25 international law firm, announces the addition of Michael F. McCabe and Robert M. Smith as new partners in its San Francisco office, effective immediately. Mr. Smith joins the firm’s Corporate and Securities Group; Mr. McCabe joins its Commercial Litigation practice, with an emphasis on employment matters.
Mr. Smith formerly was a partner at Dewey Ballantine LLP. Before opening that firm’s Silicon Valley office in 2000, he served as Managing Partner of Dewey’s Los Angeles office and was a member of its Management Committee. He previously practiced in its New York office.
Mr. McCabe was formerly a partner at Preston Gates Ellis LLP, serving as Managing Partner of that firm’s San Francisco office for four years until May 2004.
“We are delighted to have attorneys of this caliber become a part of our firm,” said Jack R. Nelson, Reed Smith’s California Market Managing Partner. “Both Mike and Bob bring a wealth of experience, including successful careers practicing law and serving as managing partners of their former organizations. Attracting attorneys with this level of experience from two well-respected law firms speaks volumes to the success of Reed Smith’s California operation, and is a recognition of Reed Smith as a go-to firm for attorneys looking for high-quality work, in a great environment with diverse and interesting clients.”
A 1980 graduate of Boalt Hall (School of Law) at the University of California in Berkeley, Mr. Smith brings to Reed Smith almost a quarter-century of experience in sophisticated securities, mergers and acquisitions, and capital market transactions. He represents diverse clients, from multinational corporations to startup companies in numerous industry sectors, including life sciences, finance, investment banking, manufacturing, telecommunications, technology and others.
His expertise extends to the representation of issuers and underwriters in numerous public and private offerings of equity and debt securities, as well as in venture capital financings. He also represents buyers, targets and financial advisors in transactions involving the sale of companies, divisions and assets. His arrival further strengthens the firm’s financial services practice on the West Coast. More specifically, Mr. Smith brings a wealth of experience in leading securities offerings in health care and life sciences, already a core practice area for Reed Smith, which will further strengthen the firm’s capabilities in this growing and active arena.
“Reed Smith affords an outstanding opportunity for me and my clients,” Mr. Smith said. “I’ve had several chances to observe Reed Smith attorneys from a vantage point across the table, and I’ve always come away impressed. It’s going to be an honor to be on their side in the years ahead.”
Mr. McCabe has two decades of experience with litigation, arbitration and mediation of complex commercial cases. He has provided representation in connection with trade secret and unfair competition matters, false claims act cases, officer and director liability cases, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, non-solicitation and non-competition matters, wage and hour, as well as other employment-related matters, before administrative agencies and state and federal courts. A 1983 graduate of Hastings College of the Law, Mr. McCabe started his career at Jackson Tufts, where he was a former colleague and partner of several current Reed Smith attorneys.
Much of Mr. McCabe’s litigation experience has been in connection with trade secrets and restrictive covenants. He frequently represents large companies seeking to control their trade secrets as employees leave.
“I welcome the opportunity to broaden my practice platform and extend its reach in Northern California through a more diversified client base,” said Mr. McCabe. “Reed Smith is quite clearly setting the standard for strategic growth and leadership development in this region. It’s a great pleasure for me to be counted among its partners. I also look forward to joining forces again with my former Jackson Tufts colleagues at Reed Smith.”
Both Mr. Smith and Mr. McCabe are admitted to the Bar in California. Mr. Smith is also admitted to the New York Bar.
“Gaining Mike and Bob at the same time is the equivalent of pitching back-to-back no-hitters,” said David A. Thompson, Managing Partner of Reed Smith’s San Francisco office. “They are both exceptional attorneys who will add immeasurably to this firm’s ability to attract and serve an increasingly wide range of clients in Northern California. I welcome them both with enthusiasm and the anticipation of their contributions to Reed Smith’s future success.”
Reed Smith, a leading global law firm with nearly 1,000 lawyers located in 15 U.S. and two U.K. cities, represents Fortune 100 as well as mid-market and emerging companies. Clients include technology companies and entrepreneurs, financial services firms, life sciences companies and health care providers and insurers, communications companies, manufacturers, universities, non-profit organizations, real estate developers, and municipalities throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, and in 40 other countries. For more information, please visit reedsmith.com.
