Reed Smith LLP today announced the addition of Alan York as a partner in the firm’s Appellate Group in Houston. York was most recently a partner at Godwin Bowman & Martinez LLP. The addition of York follows closely on those of Bruce Blefeld (Antitrust & Competition Practice), who joined the firm in May, and Nic Barzoukas and Josh Davis (Intellectual Property, Information & Innovation Practice Group), who joined in March. Reed Smith’s Houston office, which opened in 2013, currently has 60 attorneys and is one of the fastest-growing law firms in Houston.
“Alan’s appellate board certification confirms that his excellent reputation within the appellate community in Texas is well deserved,” said Kim Watterson, chair of Reed Smith’s Appellate Group. “His significant trial and appellate experience are outstanding complements to both our local and national practices. We are delighted that he’s joining us.”
York has significant experience handling appeals in federal courts and Texas state courts, and has handled litigation in trial courts throughout his career. Most recently, he has spent substantial time as one of the lead attorneys representing Halliburton in connection with the civil litigation and investigations concerning the BP Macondo well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico.
York obtained both a B.B.A., summa cum laude, and his J.D. from the University of Houston. After law school, he served as briefing attorney to Justice Sam Robertson on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals. He has served as chair of the Houston Bar Association Appellate Practice Section and as a council member of the State Bar of Texas Appellate Practice Section. York has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (2015, 2016), has been named one of the Top 100 Attorneys in Houston for four consecutive years (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), was recently named in the Top 100 Attorneys in Texas by Texas Monthly Magazine (2016), and is AV-rated “Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest ranking for ethics and legal ability.
“Alan is a tremendous addition to our growing Houston team,” said Ken Broughton, Reed Smith’s Houston office managing partner. “Alan is one of the leading appellate practitioners in the state and is highly regarded by his peers. Our clients and our firm will benefit greatly from his experience as a respected appellate advocate and community leader.”
Reed Smith’s Appellate Group is recognized for winning important cases nationwide. Attorneys in the group brief and argue cases in the United States Supreme Court, the federal courts of appeals, state supreme courts, and state intermediate appellate courts. They also work closely with clients and trial counsel to devise cost-effective litigation strategies, prepare and argue important pre-trial and post-trial motions, and ensure that issues are preserved for appeal. The group was founded more than 35 years ago and is one of the country’s first and best-known appellate practices. U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers ranked the Appellate Group in Tier 1 nationally in the 2016 “Best Law Firms” rankings, and recognized six of the group’s 17 members as Best Lawyers for appellate practice. The group was also ranked by Chambers USA 2015 for appellate litigation in California, and was selected as one of the “Top Appellate Practices in California” by The Recorder. Four of the group’s partners are fellows in the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers (one is a former president) and three of the group’s partners are members of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers (two are former presidents). Six members are former federal appeals court clerks; three clerked for state high court justices.
Source: www.reedsmith.com
