Reed Smith is opening an office in Atlanta after hiring 13 partners from local firm Morris Manning & Martin (MMM) and a further two shareholders from Greenberg Traurig. 

In all, 37 lawyers are joining Reed Smith, including two counsel and 20 associates. 

The new office will focus on corporate, private equity, finance and technology providing Reed Smith with what it described as “a strong foundation for the firm’s expansion into the Southeast region”.

The top 40 US firm aims to leverage connections with venture capital and private equity clients in Georgia’s growing tech sector.

The new partners include seven former practice group chairs and co-chairs from their respective firms, Reed Smith said.

Among them are Nick Foreste, former co-chair of MMM’s venture capital practice, and Scott Allen, who co-chaired its private equity practice. Both partners have acted for clients including Bain Capital, K1 Capital, Lewis & Clark Ventures, Certent and Argentum Capital Partners. 

Foreste will lead Reed Smith’s venture capital practice from the Atlanta office while fellow former MMM private equity partner Amie Singer will act as Atlanta office managing partner. 

The former MMM partners also include Nick Rueter, who chaired the international transactions team, and Chris Maxwell, ex-chair of growth equity. 

Four other private equity partners are also moving across, namely Larkin Ellizay, Elliot Franklin, Patrick McKenzie and Justin Ward, as are senior technology partner Matt San Roman, tax partner Anthony Boggs and employee benefits partners Scott Wagner and Ryan Gorman.

The two former Greenberg Traurig shareholders joining Reed Smith are Cindy Davis, who was banking and financial services practice chair, and fellow finance specialist Daniel Richards. 

Davis said her clients would benefit from Reed Smith’s global capabilities, a point also stressed by Matthew Mohn, co-chair of its global corporate group, who said the Atlanta team’s reputation in US mid-market transactions equipped them well for such future growth. 

To support them, Reed Smith partner Will Atherton, a financial services regulatory lawyer, will relocate to Atlanta from Washington DC.

Casey Ryan, Reed Smith’s global managing partner, said: “We have a proven track record of building strong teams in new markets by attracting top talent with deep roots in the community. Atlanta is a key strategic addition for our firm and clients.” 

With a five-year track record of handling transactions with a combined market value of more than $10bn and an average deal size of more than $50m, the new MMM arrivals will aim to add heft to Reed Smith’s existing deal sheet. 

Singer said the former MMM lawyers had found synergies with Reed Smith’s sponsor finance, regulatory compliance and emerging technology practices, adding: “While we value our time at MMM, Reed Smith’s platform aligns perfectly with our strategic vision for our practices.” 

Julie Hardin, Reed Smith’s US managing partner, said the Atlanta offering was based on lessons learned from a decade of expansion in key US locations, including Austin, Dallas, Houston and Miami. 

“When we open any new office, we build around partners with national practices who have strong ties to the local market,” said Hardin.

“We see Atlanta as a major player in the private equity, finance, emerging growth and technology spaces, and we expect our new office to expand quickly around our strategic priorities. This is just the beginning.”

Simon Malko, MMM’s managing partner, said: “We wish our former partners well. As I shared when they announced they were leaving, we have diverse practice areas and industries, and we remain financially strong and committed to continuing to grow the firm.”

A Greenberg Traurig spokesperson said: “We wish Cindy and Dan well.”