NEW YORK – Global law firm Reed Smith announced today that Brian Murchie has joined the firm as senior client development advisor in its Private Equity Group. Murchie will work closely with the firm’s lawyers to execute on the growth strategy for the firm’s private equity practice.

Prior to joining Reed Smith, Murchie served as a managing director at Raymond James within their Financial Sponsors Group, where he was responsible for developing and deepening relationships with private equity firms on the west coast and in the south. Before that, Murchie contributed his expertise to Stifel, where he also worked in their Financial Sponsors Group, heading up their west coast sponsor coverage efforts. Preceding his time at Stifel, he served as vice president at Platinum Equity, where he was responsible for deal origination and the management of strategic relationships with corporate sellers and investment bankers in both the United States and Australia.

Murchie’s arrival reflects Reed Smith’s continued investment in the growth of its global private equity practice and comes shortly after the firm hired several notable lateral partners to the practice: Francois Feuillat in London, Dr. Nikolaus von Jacobs in Munich, and Chris Raidy and Timothy Rupp in Orange County. Additionally, Christian von Sydow joined as senior counsel in Munich alongside Dr. von Jacobs. These additions to the practice have fortified Reed Smith’s position as one of the broadest middle-market private equity practices in the world.