Reed Smith's new offices in the Harwood No. 10 tower in downtown Dallas. Courtesy photo

National Firm Opens Dallas Office

Reed Smith has taken occupancy of its permanent office space in Dallas in Harwood No. 10. The firm now occupies floors 14 and 15 in the premiere Harwood No. 10 tower, as well as half of floor 12, for a total of 50,000 square feet. The layout includes accommodations for 83 permanent and visiting lawyers in exterior-windowed offices, and offices for 45 legal support staff. Amenities in Reed Smith's new Dallas office space include nine state-of-the-art conference rooms, a lounge conference room space, a multipurpose room to host 85 seated guests, additional common space for hosting larger gatherings, and a café for internal events, which includes a micro-market with several types of seating that offers a restaurant-like atmosphere.

The firm's new office space was designed to facilitate collaboration and includes many types of spaces for working outside one's own office, as well as connecting with lawyers working at home and across the firm's international footprint of 30 offices on three continents. The private exterior and interior offices incorporate a floor-to-ceiling glass-wall system throughout, maximizing the natural light that flows through the floor plan. Knoll office furniture with sit-to-stand desk options are incorporated into all individual offices.

Harwood No. 10 is part of the 19-block District of Harwood that features premier office space, luxury residential units and retail space in a park-like campus with gardens and art-filled lobbies. The Class AA, 22-floor office tower has retail and restaurant space, a fitness center, squash court and golf simulator.

The move had been temporarily delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and prior related shelter-at-home orders. As restrictions are eased, Reed Smith will occupy the space in a limited capacity, with select lawyers and staff joining essential workers already on premise. All will adhere to the safety protocols put into effect by the state and the law firm.

"Our new home is truly a 21st-century facility built to suit our evolving needs and those of our clients over the coming years," said Bobby Majumder, Dallas office co-managing partner, in a statement by the firm. "We are so pleased to be part of the Harwood community and look forward to helping the greater Dallas-Fort Worth business community thrive in a post-pandemic future."

Reed Smith opened its office in Dallas, the third in Texas, in May 2019, with 16 lawyers and has since doubled in attorney head count. The firm continues to add high-quality legal talent to build out a full-service offering in Dallas with a focus on five industry sectors: energy and natural resources, life sciences/health care, transportation, entertainment and media, and financial services.

After many decades of handling matters in Texas and serving Texas-based companies with their litigation, transactions and other legal needs, Reed Smith established operations in Texas in 2013 with its office in Houston, which now has 72 lawyers. Reed Smith also added an office in Austin in 2018, which now has nine lawyers, and the global law firm now has 114 lawyers in Texas, including 50 partners. 

Houston Attorney Promoted to Partner

Sammy Ford IV has been named a new partner at Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing in Houston. Ford has tried more than two dozen cases before judges, juries and arbitrators around the United States. He has successfully represented businesses and individuals, both plaintiffs and defendants, in a wide range of civil litigation including in cases worth more than $40 million. Ford previously practiced law at Abraham Watkins and at Susman Godfrey. He clerked for Judge Jerry E. Smith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is an honors graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and graduated with high honors from Harvard University. A Houston native, Ford is active in legal and educational charitable organizations and special projects, and serves on the board at his high school alma mater. Through his work with the Houston Bar Association, he helped create a contest for special needs kids, and he has been active in an anti-drug program in which he accompanies a police officer to schools to explain the negative effects that drugs can have on people's lives. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas Computer Law and Technology Council and numerous committees of the Houston Bar Association. He has also developed and presented at dozens of legal seminars over the last eight years. Ford is board-certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He was elected to the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and named among The National Trial Lawyers Association's "Top 40 under 40."

"Sammy is a superb lawyer, bringing intelligence, creativity and deep experience to every case he touches. He is a natural in front of juries," said Ahmad Zavitsanos co-founder John Zavitsanos, in a statement by the firm. "He cares not only about his clients but also about the profession and has been active in local and state bar associations."

"He is the most unflappable and mentally tough lawyer I've ever seen," Ahmad Zavitsanos partner Todd Mensing, who has worked closely with Ford, said in a statement.

New Director Joins Dallas Office

Quitman "Q" Stephens recently joined Crowe & Dunlevy as a director in the firm's Dallas office. As a member of three of the firm's practice groups, including employee benefits and ERISA, health care and criminal defense, compliance and investigations, Stephens advises clients on a wide variety of matters involving employee benefit plans, health care compliance and health care fraud and abuse. He holds an LL.M. from New York University School of Law. He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and received undergraduate degrees from Southern Methodist University, both in Dallas.

Corporate and Securities Attorney Joins Dallas Firm as Partner

Bell Nunnally & Martin has added attorney J. Jeffrey Cash as a partner and member of its corporate and securities and mergers and acquisitions practice areas in the firm's Dallas office. He joins the firm from Spencer Fane in Dallas, where he was a partner. Cash collaborates with client teams negotiating securities offerings (public and private), structures and negotiates mergers and acquisitions and advises in-house counsel and management regarding general corporate matters. He advises clients in various industries—including manufacturing, retail, hospitality and technology—in private equity investments, venture capital offerings and fund formations. He also assists private equity groups in acquisitions, post-acquisition counseling and fundraising for companies with diverse portfolios. Experienced with many types of specialized legal work on behalf of boards of directors, he routinely represents clients in matters before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Cash is a graduate of Pepperdine University's Caruso School of Law (J.D., 1997) and Louisiana State University (B.A., 1992).

"Jeff is a true 'dealmaker,' helping negotiate terms and foster successful cross-party collaborations. We're excited to welcome him to the firm and tap his prowess as the M&A landscape begins to heat-up post-shutdown," said managing partner Christopher Trowbridge, in a statement by the firm.