International law firm Reed Smith, is delighted to announce that Stephen Barker will join the firm on Monday 11th September 2006 as a Partner in the European Litigation group, based in the Firm’s  Birmingham office.

Stephen, a well established and highly regarded UK litigator, joins from the Birmingham office of Eversheds LLP, where he headed up the commercial litigation practice for the last four years of his seventeen year tenure at the firm. His practice focuses on commercial and contract dispute resolution and product liability. He has represented parties in a wide range of disputes, from design and manufacturing contract disputes to sale and purchase agreement litigation. Stephen has a particular expertise in advising clients in the automotive sector. Since the General Product Safety Regulations came into effect in October last year, he has advised both component and vehicle manufacturers on pan-European product recalls.  Stephen has also represented a number of high profile racing drivers in  Formula 1 and WRC Motorsport. The work he undertakes has a significant international flavour and he regularly advises clients based in the United States.

Stephen has been consistently recognised in the annual UK directories as a leader in his field, and is frequently invited to speak at conferences. Stephen is a CEDR accredited mediator and was one of the first solicitors to be awarded higher rights of audience in all civil appellate courts. He has on many occasions appeared successfully as advocate for his clients on emergency injunction applications in the High Court and on hearings in the Court of Appeal.

Chris Hill, Midlands Managing Partner, Reed Smith commented:
“Stephen’s appointment supports the Firm’s strategic focus in building UK litigation and product liability expertise, to mirror our leading US practice. His client base has natural synergy with the US client base and the strengthened litigation offering that Reed Smith Richards Butler will bring to the market when the merger goes live on 1st January 2007.”

Stephen Barker added:
“I am looking forward to working with the team at Reed Smith. The merger with Richards Butler will very much enhance the capabilities on offer to clients, and that, coupled with the existing international platform at Reed Smith, is a particularly attractive proposition for the future growth of my practice.”