Casey Ryan ’93, ’96 J.D. named global manager partner at Reed Smith
Reed Smith has named Casey Ryan, a 1996 graduate of Notre Dame Law School, to be the firm’s new global managing partner. Ryan is just the 12th person — and the first woman — to lead the firm in that role.
“I am honored to serve as global managing partner of one of the world’s most innovative and successful law firms,” Ryan said in a news release. “I began my career with Reed Smith as a summer associate nearly 30 years ago, and my time here has given me a deep appreciation and respect for what sets Reed Smith apart: excellent lawyering set against the backdrop of an exceptional culture. This is a firm where people excel, and that manifests itself in the best results for our clients. I am committed to building on that tradition as we evolve to meet the changing demands and opportunities that lie ahead.”
Ryan earned her B.A. in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1993 and her J.D. from the Law School in 1996. She is a member of the Law School Advisory Council.
She joined Reed Smith in 1996 and has held numerous leadership positions, including global practice group leader of the firm’s labor and employment group and vice chair of the firm’s litigation department.
For the past eight years, Ryan has been a member of the firm’s seven-person senior management team and has served as the firm’s global head of legal personnel. In that key role, she has been responsible for leading the recruitment, learning, compensation, and promotion functions for Reed Smith’s more than 1,700 lawyers. During her tenure, the firm expanded into six new markets, strengthening its European footprint with openings in Brussels and Frankfurt and adding to its U.S. operations with launches in Austin, Dallas, Miami, and Orange County, Calif.
“Viewing issues from the client’s perspective is core to my approach,” Ryan said. “That means we will work to deliver the best results for clients, partner with them to understand their business needs, leverage our extensive industry knowledge to act as valued advisors, and help resolve their most difficult challenges.”
As global managing partner, Ryan said she will continue to champion innovative talent development programs, such as Reed Smith Associate Advantage, an intensive three-year professional training program rolled out in 2022 that fast-tracks the preparation of associates in their first, second, and third years of practice to position them for future career success.
“I am excited to lead Reed Smith at this pivotal time,” Ryan said. “We have a seasoned and accomplished team in place to support the firm’s forward momentum, and we are all pulling in the same direction. My goal is to ensure the firm expands its strong client partnerships and continues to deliver the impeccably high level of service and excellent results for which Reed Smith is known. We will continue to invest in the top talent that our clients expect and in technology and innovation to ensure that we remain at the fore of how legal services are delivered.”