Todd Kim. Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

Todd Kim, the first solicitor general of Washington, D.C., will join Reed Smith's national appellate practice later this month.

Kim previously worked in the Justice Department's appellate section in its Environment and Natural Resources Division. He will formally join Reed Smith on Jan. 31.

“Reed Smith has the ideal platform from which to launch my career in private practice,” Kim said in a statement. “With its sterling reputation in appellate work, its coast-to-coast geographic reach, and the diversity of subject matter handled by its appellate practice, Reed Smith is exactly what I was looking for.”

President Barack Obama nominated Kim to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in early 2014, but his nomination did not receive a full vote in the Senate.

Kim said he wants to help grow Reed Smith's national appellate practice, particularly in D.C.

“Todd's experience as solicitor general and his added experience in front of appellate courts nationwide make him a perfect fit for Reed Smith's appellate practice, which represents clients all over the country,” said Kim Watterson, leader of the firm's appellate practice, in a statement. “Our clients across the country will benefit from Todd's broad and varied subject matter knowledge, his deep familiarity with all the D.C. appellate courts, and his extensive experience in federal regulatory and administrative law.”

Kim's addition to Reed Smith in D.C. comes as the firm's Washington office is undergoing a leadership change. A. Scott Bolden is taking over as managing partner of the firm's D.C. office from Gary Thompson, who left Reed Smith to join Weisbrod Matteis & Copley's insurance recovery group.

Bolden, who is returning to the leadership position he previously held from 2008 to 2014, told The National Law Journal he expects lateral hiring will be a key focus of the firm's 75-lawyer D.C. office in 2018.