(March 1, Chicago) -- Chicago became the site of Reed Smith LLP’s 21st office as its combination with Sachnoff & Weaver, a leading mid-sized Chicago law firm, was finalized today. This milestone marks the transition from the intensive planning phase to full-scale implementation. With the addition of Sachnoff’s 130 Chicago lawyers, Reed Smith now has more than 1,500 lawyers firmwide and is projecting annual revenues of approximately $900 million.
“We are delighted to have a significant presence in the Midwest, where many of our existing clients are headquartered or conduct business,” said Gregory B. Jordan, Reed Smith’s firmwide Managing Partner. “We are confident that our presence in Chicago will be a major benefit for many clients. Moreover, because both firms share compatible long-term goals and culture, we know our Chicago colleagues will play key roles in our growth in several important practices.”
In Chicago, the firm will operate as Reed Smith Sachnoff & Weaver for a period of time.
“The combination provides Sachnoff with expanded geographical reach, but also a much broader set of capabilities to offer our clients,” said Michael LoVallo, the new Reed Smith Sachnoff & Weaver Chicago Managing Partner. “Reed Smith’s client oriented team culture makes this merger a tremendous fit. We look forward to building on our past success in Chicago on a strong international platform. This is a proud day for us all.”
In related action today, several legacy partners of Sachnoff & Weaver were named to firmwide leadership roles in Reed Smith. These include Sarah R. Wolff, head of the firmwide Securities Litigation & Enforcement Group; Stewart Dolin, new co-leader of the Corporate & Securities Practice with John M. Iino in the firm’s Los Angeles market; Jonathan S. Quinn, head of the new Midwest Commercial Litigation Group; Jeffrey L. London, co-head of the Benefits practice and David C. Fuechtman, co-head of the Wealth Planning practice, both of the Tax, Benefits & Wealth Planning Group. In addition, Austin L. Hirsch, Carolyn H. Rosenberg and Mark A. Brand are new members of the Reed Smith Executive Committee.
The integration effort is headed by Mr. Hirsch, Sachnoff’s former Chief Executive Officer, and Eugene Tillman, Director of Legal Personnel and a partner in Reed Smith’s Washington, D.C. office. W. Thomas McGough, Jr., former head of the Reed Smith’s Litigation Department, and now a member of the appellate and commercial litigation practice and a member of Reed Smith’s Executive Committee, has re-located to Chicago from Pittsburgh for at least a year to help facilitate the combination. This practice has become standard during Reed Smith mergers worldwide.
Reed Smith’s merger with Sachnoff & Weaver follows close on the heels of its successful January 1 combination with London-based Richards Butler that added 300 attorneys and depth to several key practices, and created new practice groups in Shipping, and Energy, Trade & Commodities.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, with more than 1,500 lawyers in 21 offices throughout the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises. Its attorneys provide litigation services in multi-jurisdictional matters and other high stake disputes, deliver regulatory counsel, and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions. Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising and media, shipping, international trade and commodities, real estate, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com.
U.S.: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Oakland, Princeton, Falls Church, Wilmington, Century City, Richmond, Leesburg
Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Birmingham, Piraeus
Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Dubai