David Fawcett Joins Reed Smith’s Commercial Litigation Group In Firm’s Pittsburgh Office

(December 1, 2010, Pittsburgh, PA) - International law firm Reed Smith LLP today announced the addition of litigator David B. Fawcett as a partner in the Eastern Commercial Litigation Group.  Mr. Fawcett will be resident in the firm's Pittsburgh office.

Mr. Fawcett was formerly a shareholder at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, which he joined in 1985, after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

"David is a nationally recognized litigator and a 'bet-the-company' trial lawyer with a list of large jury verdicts in complex cases," said Gregory B. Jordan, Reed Smith's Global Managing Partner. "He has more trial experience at this point in his career than most big firm litigators get in a lifetime. We are happy to have him join our team."

With a practice focus on large commercial cases, Mr. Fawcett won and collected a $267 million award, including $100 Million in punitive damages, for Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp., one of the largest verdicts in the country.  He has won numerous decisions in high profile cases, pursued fraud and punitive damage claims arising out of business transactions and successfully obtained injunctions in courts around the country in cases ranging from the protection of trade secrets to breach of contract.  In addition, he has won multi-million dollar punitive damages claims on behalf of his clients in a number of cases.

"Several Reed Smith attorneys have worked closely with David for over a decade on a long-running fight on behalf of Hugh Caperton and Harman Mining Company against Massey Energy Company," said George L. Stewart, Managing Partner of the firm's Pittsburgh office.  "We look forward to continuing that fight now in the Virginia courts, with David as part of the Reed Smith team."

In addition to the record-setting verdicts, Mr. Fawcett saw the Caperton case through to the United States Supreme Court, resulting in a landmark decision giving litigants the constitutional right to seek recusal of judges who receive campaign contributions in certain circumstances.  

Mr. Fawcett is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of The Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County.  He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2001, as well as in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers its Corporate Counsel edition.  He received his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1985 and his B.A. from Carnegie Mellon University.

Reed Smith is a global law firm with nearly 1,600 lawyers in 22 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.  Founded in 1877, the firm represents international businesses, from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises.  Its lawyers provide litigation and other dispute resolution services in multi-jurisdictional and other high-stakes matters; deliver regulatory counsel; and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions.  Reed Smith advises several industries, including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising, technology and media, shipping, energy trade and commodities, real estate, manufacturing, and education.