Atlanta’s former mayor Kasim Reed has joined Squire Patton Boggs as a partner in the firm’s global Litigation Practice, representing the latest high-profile hire to the firm’s growing Southeast presence.

“Kasim is a landmark addition to our firm,” said Global Managing Partner Fred Nance. “His strong ties across the business community and public sector will open doors to new opportunities across our practice and his extensive career as a public servant dovetails with our market-leading public policy offering.”

Nance continued, “Since launching a few years ago, our Atlanta office has been a real success story for our firm and Kasim’s arrival is an exciting new chapter.”

Mr. Reed ‘s career in public service began when he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1998, where he served two terms. From 2002 to 2009, he served in the Georgia State Senate, where he was Vice Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. He was subsequently elected as Atlanta’s 59th mayor, serving two terms from 2010 – 2018.

Mr. Reed received both his B.A. and J.D. from Howard University. Upon graduation, he became an associate at Paul Hastings, and later a partner at Holland & Knight.

Commenting on his move to the firm, Mr. Reed said, “I’ve known attorneys at Squire Patton Boggs for many years and have always been impressed by the caliber of its people and vast international footprint. When considering my return to private practice, it became clear that the firm offers a unique proposition to the market.”

He continued, “Joining a firm that places such a high value on diversity was also incredibly compelling. The fact that so many of the firm’s leadership, including the global managing partner, and the team is Atlanta are diverse is unique and refreshing.”

“We have been very purposeful in how we have grown our office,” said Atlanta managing partner Ann-Marie Notaro. “We have built something special and are delighted that Kasim has chosen to join our team.”

Squire Patton Boggs opened in Atlanta in 2018 with three partners and has since grown into a full-service office of approximately 30 lawyers. Over the last year, the firm made several notable additions including former United States Ambassador to Luxembourg and renowned jury trial lawyer J. Randolph Evans and a leading team of employment litigation specialists.