REED SMITH

International law firm, Reed Smith LLP has today announced the opening of a Paris office, led by French partners Mathieu Rambaud and Benoit Charot, who join from the leading Paris firm Rambaud Martel. Marie Albertini and Philippe Lecler, who are also Rambaud Martel partners are joining the new office,, together with an initial team of 6 associates. The new office will handle transactional work and litigation work leveraging the profile of Rambaud’s public and private M&A practice and Charot’s professional and industrial risk, asbestos litigation, product liability and commercial litigation, and white collar crime team.

The Paris office will operate under the name Reed Smith Rambaud Charot, emphasising the desire to combine traditional values of a French business law firm – such as versatility and a personal partner-led service - with the significant benefits of integrated international reach through Reed Smith’s existing United States and European offices.

Greg Jordan, Firmwide Managing Partner commented ”We see the Paris launch as a major step forward in our mission to be one of the world’s leading law firms, offering critical services in key markets. It expands our presence in the vital European market, and enhances our proven ability to serve international and French businesses. We look forward to great things.”

Mathieu Rambaud and Benoit Charot said: ”We believe that as Reed Smith partners we can create a unique offering in Paris and provide clients with a clear choice: a truly French firm with deep local roots, backed up with the strengths and capabilities of a top international law firm. We are relationship lawyers. Our clients demand nothing less. In Reed Smith we have found what we are convinced is the combination of qualities, ethos skills which we and our clients value so highly

This is the second European office Reed Smith has opened this year, following the launch of a Munich office in April. In the UK, Reed Smith now numbers nearly 100 lawyers. Reed Smith plans to further expand its new Paris base in 2006 by recruiting additional French lawyers committed to its cross-cultural approach.

Reed Smith’s long standing connection with France and French clients is well known. The firm has a team of bilingual lawyers based in the UK, in the US and in Germany who are all highly experienced in advising French based international groups.

.”Peter Alfandary, head of the firm’s French Business team said ”Paris is a market we know well. It has it own very specific cultural values as do clients in France. The creation of a new firm with Mathieu and Benoit is a huge ”coup” for Reed Smith,

Expansion in Paris is also driven by the needs of clients in two of Reed Smith’s core practices: life scineces an financial services. Reed Smith’s significant life sciences clients are increasingly active in France. Additionally, this presence in Paris provides excellent opportunities for the firm’s financial services practice.

The launch brings the number of offices worldwide to a total of eighteen.

For further information please contact:

Sara Craddock, PR & Marketing Manager, Reed Smith +44 20 7556 6728

Beth Farrer, Account Manager, Spada +44 20 7269 1430

Notes to Editor

Mathieu Rambaud

Mr. Rambaud is the son of Jean Francois Rambaud, who was one of the co founders of Rambaud Martel. Mathieu’s practice is primarily in the area of mergers, acquisitions and corporate law. He represents major French industrials, retailers and financial institutions.

Benoit Charot

Mr Charot’s practice focuses primarily on litigation. Benoit represents clients in corporate transactions, professional and industrial risk, white collar crime, product liability, asbestos litigation and insurance coverage as well as general commercial litigation and arbitration. He also works with a number of leading life science companies.

About Reed Smith LLP

Leading international law firm Reed Smith, is one of the 25 largest law firms worldwide with more than 1000 lawyers located across 18 cities, throughout the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe. Reed Smith in the UK is led by Tim Foster, UK Managing Partner.

Established in 1877, the firm represents large listed companies as well as mid-market and emerging companies. Clients include financial institutions, technology companies and innovators, pharmaceutical companies, health care providers and insurers, communications companies, manufacturers, universities, real estate developers, and municipalities on both sides of the Atlantic. Reed Smith currently represents:

§ 42 of the top 50 US banks

§ 26 of Fortune E-50 companies

§ The top 10 pharmaceutical companies

§ 50 of the world’s leading drug and device manufacturers

§ 30 of the information technology 100

§ 40% of leading global insurers

§ 60% of the Fortune 500 companies

For more information, visit www.reedsmith.com