Reed Smith LLP
UnverifiedPittsburgh, PA
About
Reed Smith is a Pittsburgh-founded law firm with approximately 1,430 attorneys and offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Founded in 1877, Reed Smith has grown from a respected Pennsylvania practice into a global platform with particular strength in entertainment, media, and financial services. The firm generates profits per partner of approximately $2 million and has developed leading practices in sectors where few firms of its size compete effectively, including advertising, shipping, and life sciences.
Reed Smith holds top-tier rankings in Chambers USA for Entertainment & Media, Insurance, and Financial Services. The firm's entertainment practice represents major record labels, studios, and digital platforms on licensing, distribution, and content disputes. Its insurance recovery group, one of the largest in the country, represents policyholders in complex coverage litigation. Reed Smith's financial services regulatory practice advises banks, fintech companies, and investment managers on compliance and enforcement matters. The firm also maintains a strong life sciences health industry practice and a growing data privacy capability.
Reed Smith uses a free-market assignment system. The firm seeks individuals with strong academic credentials, varied experiences, intellectual curiosity, and a good sense of humor. Associates are encouraged to build their skill sets beyond the classroom, and the firm values community contributions, demonstrated initiative, and leadership experience. The summer program runs for 10 weeks, and the firm invests in mentorship and associate development across its offices. Reed Smith has been recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, and it maintains active affinity groups and pipeline programs for underrepresented law students.
Reed Smith's Pittsburgh roots give it a distinctive identity among firms of its size, it combines a global footprint with a Midwestern accessibility that associates frequently cite as a cultural differentiator. The firm's early investment in entertainment law positioned it as the go-to advisor for media companies navigating the digital transformation, and its shipping and logistics practice gives it a niche international capability that few peer firms can match.
Recruiting & Summer Program
Summer Class Size
55 associates
Summer Offer Rate
96%
Billable Hours
2,000 hours
Practice Areas & Rankings
Source: Chambers USA 2026 Rankings
| Practice Area | Band | Jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Banking & Finance | Band 1 | New Jersey |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 1 | Florida, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds |
| Energy / Infrastructure | Band 1 | Pennsylvania |
| Government Regulatory / Public Policy | Band 1 | Nationwide |
| Healthcare | Band 1 | Pennsylvania |
| Insurance / Reinsurance | Band 1 | Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas |
| Restructuring / Bankruptcy | Band 1 | Nationwide, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds |
| Advertising: Transactional & Regulatory | Band 2 | Nationwide |
| Antitrust | Band 2 | Pennsylvania |
| Appellate Litigation | Band 2 | California |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 2 | Nationwide, California |
| Construction | Band 2 | Texas |
| Corporate / M&A | Band 2 | Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds, Texas |
| Entertainment / Media / Sports | Band 2 | Illinois |
| Healthcare | Band 2 | Nationwide, District of Columbia, Illinois |
| Insurance / Reinsurance | Band 2 | Nationwide, California, New York |
| Labor & Employment | Band 2 | Georgia, Pennsylvania |
| Privacy / Data Security | Band 2 | Nationwide |
| Real Estate | Band 2 | Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds, Virginia: Northern |
| Banking & Finance | Band 3 | Illinois, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds |
| Capital Markets / Securities | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 3 | Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds |
| Healthcare | Band 3 | California, Texas |
| International Arbitration | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| Labor & Employment | Band 3 | Virginia |
| Restructuring / Bankruptcy | Band 3 | Texas |
| Technology Transactions | Band 3 | Texas |
| Transportation: Aviation: Litigation | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Finance | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| White Collar Defense | Band 3 | Georgia, New York |
| Cannabis Law | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 4 | Illinois, Texas: Houston & Surrounds |
| Corporate / M&A | Band 4 | Nationwide, Illinois, New Jersey |
| Entertainment / Media / Sports | Band 4 | California |
| Environmental | Band 4 | Pennsylvania |
| Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Labor & Employment | Band 4 | Nationwide, California, Texas |
| Private Equity | Band 4 | California |
| Real Estate | Band 4 | New Jersey |
| Restructuring / Bankruptcy | Band 4 | Delaware |
| Tax | Band 4 | Texas |
| White Collar Defense | Band 4 | Nationwide, Pennsylvania |
| Corporate / M&A | Band 5 | New York |
| Healthcare | Band 5 | New York |
| Intellectual Property (General / Trademark) | Band 5 | Texas |
| Tax | Band 5 | New York |
Firm Profile
Vault Rank (2026)
#59
AmLaw Rank (FY2025)
#40
Founded
1877
Chair / Managing Partner
Casey Ryan
Partners
248
Attorneys
~1,430
Partnership Track
9 years
Billable Hours Target
2,000 hours
Summer Class Size (2025)
~60
Revenue (FY2025)
$1.6B
Revenue per Lawyer (FY2025)
$1.1M
1st-Year Total Comp (2026)
$245,000+
PPP (FY2025)
$2M
Offices (19 locations)
Data sources: Financial data from AmLaw 200, FY2025. Practice area rankings from Chambers USA 2026. Summer program data from Chambers Associate 2026. Office locations from firm websites. Last verified: March 27, 2026. View our data methodology