Photo: J. Albert Diaz/ALM

Reed Smith expanded its finance offerings in Houston by adding former Bracewell counsel and syndicated lending lawyer J. Eric Holland as a partner.

Holland represents investment banks, hedge funds and other institutional lenders and borrowers in secured and unsecured credit facilities,

Ed Estrada, global chair of Reed Smith's financial industry group, said in a statement that the firm's finance practice, and in particular its energy finance practice, is strategically important to the firm, and Holland is experienced in advising clients on upstream, midstream and oilfield services transactions.

“We are excited for the potential synergies between Eric, our current roster of global finance attorneys, our colleagues in the energy and natural resources practice, and our clients,” Estrada said.

J. Eric Holland

Holland said he was attracted to the dynamics of the Houston Reed Smith office.

“I saw there may be a need for more finance capabilities. It seemed like there were a lot of synergies among practices,” Holland said.

He said he has done a lot of work for Wells Fargo, but declined to identify other clients except to say they include national and international banks.

Ken Broughton, managing partner of the Houston office, said Holland's finance expertise not only fits well with the firm's energy practice, but also with its bankruptcy practice because he has had considerable experience in workouts.

“We are really, really excited to have him in that respect,” Broughton said.

Reed Smith, which opened its Houston office in January 2013, has added 21 lawyers to the office over the last year, including a health care group with partner Sara Brinkmann and workplace safety and environmental partner Ben Patton.

The firm has 73 lawyers in Houston.

Further Reading:

Reed Smith Office in Houston Reaches 70 With 4 Lateral Hires

In Houston, Reed Smith Nabs 12 Partners From Texas Firms

Reed Smith Raids Norton Rose for Life Sciences/Health Care Team, Adds Austin Office