Reed Smith LLP today announced the addition of Bryan K. Brown and Marlen Whitley as partners in its Houston office.

Both were formerly partners in the Houston office of Thompson & Knight LLP, where they were members of that firm’s Corporate and Securities, Energy Finance and other finance-oriented practices.

“Bryan is a well-known, highly respected attorney whose knowledge of and experience with global capital markets is extensive, particularly in the key industries driving Houston’s economic growth — energy services, oil and gas exploration, biotech, health care, telecom, and manufacturing,” said Paul J. Jaskot, Chair of Reed Smith’s U.S. Corporate & Securities Group. “Together, he and Marlen are a strong team with top-tier experience in complex domestic and international business transactions that will enhance the firm’s corporate and securities practice in Houston and firmwide.”

Brown represents clients in U.S. and global capital markets transactions, including high-yield debt offerings, initial public offerings, secondary and convertible offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity transactions. He also advises clients on securities compliance, corporate governance, and reporting/disclosure obligations under the Securities Exchange Act.

“Reed Smith understands the business side of today’s competitive legal environment,” said Brown. “With its focus on client service, quality, value and efficiency, the firm is perfectly positioned to assist corporate legal departments in executing their business strategies, while managing their work and their legal spend. We were really attracted to the firm because of its grasp of today’s business reality and the resources it has put behind crafting flexible arrangements that meet the needs of today’s corporate counsel. We are excited about combining forces with one of the world’s most admired law firms.”

A 1993 graduate of Tulane University Law School, Brown earned an M.B.A. in finance from Tulane’s A.B. Freeman School of Business the same year. His prior experience includes service as a lawyer and examiner in the Division of Corporate Finance at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as service as Corporate and Finance Counsel at McDermott International, Inc. He spent 13 years in private practice at Porter Hedges in Houston. Brown has previously been named a Texas Super Lawyer and Texas Rising Star by Thomson Reuters.

Whitley’s practice also focuses principally on corporate and securities transactions. He represents and advises clients in corporate finance, acquisitions, mergers, and large global infrastructure projects, and prepares public offerings and private placements of securities and negotiates private equity financings.

“Our clients will benefit from Reed Smith’s strong international platform,” said Whitley. “We look forward to bringing the global capabilities of Reed Smith to our clients, and are ready to service the corporate needs of Reed Smith’s clients, while using our regional network to help build out the firm’s corporate practice in Houston.”

Whitley joined Thompson & Knight in 2006 as an associate and was promoted to partner in 2010. Prior to that, he was with Chamberlain Hrdlicka in Austin. A 2001 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, Whitley was named a Texas Rising Star in Securities & Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business/Corporate in 2004, and from 2008 through 2013.

“This team has a strong record of success and a stellar reputation throughout Texas,” said David Thompson, Reed Smith’s Houston Managing Partner. “The two have forged a strong partnership and have developed many significant business relationships in Houston and beyond that will be of great value to our firm and this office as we continue to recruit high-quality laterals and grow our Houston presence.”

Reed Smith’s 240-plus-member Corporate & Securities Practice represents clients in a range of areas, including capital markets, private equity, mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance, emerging growth/venture capital, international distribution, outsourcing, project finance, and technology transactions.

In October 2013, the practice added Denton’s partner David Mason – who focuses on M&A, capital markets, private equity, corporate governance and strategic advice for startups in technology, real estate, retail, entertainment and fashion – to its ranks in New York City.

Yvan-Claude Pierre, head of the firm’s Capital Markets Team in New York, works extensively on life sciences health care capital markets transactions. “I’m looking forward to working with this team and being introduced to their existing clients in health care who can really benefit from Reed Smith’s offerings in this space,” said Pierre.

In May, Reed Smith was honored as one of America’s Best Corporate Law Firms of 2013 by Corporate Board Member. The recognition was based on the publication’s 2013 Law in the Boardroom survey in which directors and general counsel of publicly traded companies selected 10 firms of national scope and reputation they would most likely retain to handle their corporate legal matters. Reed Smith was among those named most frequently.

www.reedsmith.com

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