Reed Smith LLP - The Who's Who Legal 100 2013

What is the Who's Who Legal 100?

Reed Smith’s dedication to the life sciences sector is “unrivalled”. Over the past 35 years, the firm has built an impressive reputation for successfully representing global life sciences and health care companies in regulatory, transactional and “bet the company” litigation. The firm earns 10 listings in the corresponding chapter: four for product liability, three for transactional, two for IP and one for regulatory. In London, John Wilkinson achieves listings across the IP, regulatory and transactional areas of life sciences and is “coveted by clients”. His practice encompasses alliances, joint ventures, co-promotional and co-marketing arrangements, distribution and supply agreements in connection with the related IP, antitrust and regulatory issues. Marina Cousté receives high praise for her IP knowledge and appears in the IP section of the life sciences chapter as well as in the patents chapter. Based in Paris, Cousté is an “exceptionally talented litigator”. In Philadelphia, James Beck – a recent hire of the firm – is noted for his “careful handling” of complex product liability litigation particularly for clients in the life sciences field. Nicola Maguire in London and Anthony Poulopoulos in Greece, are both recommended for their transactional expertise in the context of life sciences. In 2012, the firm made two further lateral hires in this practice area to its Philadelphia office, bolstering its offering considerably.

The product liability group is “internationally renowned” and its lawyers have experience in pharmaceutical and medical device, aviation, mechanical, industrial, chemical and consumer product cases, as well as cases of consumer fraud and related commercial claims. Seven of the firm’s outstanding practitioners feature in the corresponding chapter, three of whom also appear in the product liability section of the life sciences chapter. The “distinguished” Michael Brown is the former chair of the firm’s multidisciplinary life sciences health industry group. He is an “extremely talented litigator” and his clients include Medtronic, Merck, Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline. Steven Kohn specialises in civil litigation and he has represented numerous pharmaceutical and medical devices clients including Eli Lilly and Company, Syntex Corporation and American Home Products. Sources praise him as “forward thinking and highly creative”. Michael Scott earns recognition in the product liability defence and commercial litigation chapters and is an “eminent” practitioner. He is “superb” in complex pharmaceutical and medical device product liability litigation.

Five practitioners from five offices appear in the insurance and reinsurance chapter. Ann Kramer “excels” in the field of insurance recovery. She counsels clients on insurance policy terms and renewals, claim presentation and advises corporations concerning insurance issues that arise in connection with M&A, she is particularly well known for her expertise in directors and officers’ liability insurance. Chicago-based John Shugrue has a broad experience covering all major US insurers as well as litigation, mediation and arbitration with Lloyd’s and other London and Bermuda market insurers. John Ellison plays a pivotal role in matters for many of the world’s largest financial institutions regarding mortgage crisis-related insurance issues. His practice also encompasses claims under directors and officers policies, fidelity bonds, first party property policies and other liability insurance products.

With its exceptional depth of expertise across a variety of industry sectors and its commitment to delivering a top-quality service, Reed Smith stands out as one of the elite.