Reed Smith’s Complex Litigation Strategy (CLS) Group provides comprehensive solutions for clients facing major exposure and “bet the company” litigation. This multi-disciplinary litigation group has a wealth of experience handling large engagements that involve a myriad of legal issues and many moving parts. From trials and arbitrations to mediations and settlements, members of our group advise leading multi-national corporations on developing and executing litigation and strategic resolution options in some of the largest, most complex class actions, commercial litigations and mass torts in federal and state courts.
We begin every engagement by setting a strategy rooted in a clear understanding of our client’s goals and objectives. Then we get to work, immediately mapping out threatening and challenging risks facing our clients and making sense of what can often be overwhelming. To that end, the defense of every complex litigation begins with a well-defined exit strategy that utilizes all of the client’s best options. Our approach takes into consideration not just the litigation threat, but the financial, brand and internal impact our recommendations will have on our clients’ ability to compete in the global marketplace.
We Provide Sophisticated Litigation Management Services
Our lawyers are adept at managing complex litigation and excel at identifying, developing and executing innovative case management protocols and providing pragmatic legal, trial and resolution options -- regardless of the phase of litigation in which our clients are involved. To that end, each litigation that we manage receives a tailored plan for efficient complex case management, financial control and ultimate resolution, whether serving as national strategic counsel, national coordinating counsel or national trial counsel. Our services also include serving as science counsel and regional counsel.
We Have Experienced Trial, Appellate and Insurance Recovery Support
While a number of firms handle high stakes, complex litigation, very few actually have taken these cases to trial consistently. Our clients regularly rely on us to manage, prepare and drive cases toward trial, and then try those cases when necessary. Reed Smith tries and wins these cases, and the plaintiffs’ bar is well aware of the firm’s trial skills and capabilities. In addition to its trial experience, Reed Smith has one of the premier appellate practices in the country, and has been instrumental in creating favorable law for our clients in many jurisdictions. Finally, Reed Smith has one of the largest and most effective Insurance Recovery practice groups in the country, and it works closely as part of the CLS Group to fully assess our client’s insurance coverage and to develop strategies that optimize their ability to recover defense fees and indemnity costs.
We Strive to Develop Innovative Resolution and Settlement Strategies
Given the inherent risks and staggering cost of litigation, we understand that our clients need alternatives. The best alternative to winning a case at trial is winning or reducing the risk through well executed motion practice. While a trial win can certainly change the impact of the litigation, knocking a case out on Daubert, class certification or a global motion for summary judgment can bring the litigation to an end without the risk that a jury brings to the equation. Additionally, there are times when the most effective exit is through settlement. In every litigation, the CLS Group partners with its clients to set the direction of their defense around the potential endgame.
We Aim to Reduce the Cost of Big Ticket Litigation
We understand that the staggering financial impact of defending complex litigation can, at times, be just as threatening as the litigation itself. The CLS Group works closely with our client’s in-house legal team and their corporate finance partners to establish realistic budget goals that enable our team to set and meet or exceed expectations – without surprises. Our lawyers have committed themselves to cost efficiencies while partnering with our clients in a number of litigation and pre-litigation matters. We reduce the associated costs of complex litigation management for our clients by: (i) creating successful alternative fee arrangements; (ii) making cost-cutting and budgeting part of the overall strategy; (iii) efficient use of state-of-the-art E-Discovery and case management technology; and (iv) effectively managing work flow across worldwide offices.
A listing of our experience can be found on the “Experience” tab above, and we invite you to review it. We can also provide a list of references upon request.
