Alexander “Sandy” Thomas, the global managing partner for the Reed Smith law firm, will step down effective March 1 to become chief legal officer for an international nonprofit children’s charity organization.
Casey Ryan, currently Reed Smith’s global head of legal personnel, will succeed Mr. Thomas as the firm’s global managing partner. She joined the firm in 1996 and has held several leadership positions there.
Ms. Ryan was named to the firm’s senior management team in 2015 when she became the global head of legal personnel, a role she has held for the past eight years and which leads compensation, promotions and recruiting.
Under Mr. Thomas’ leadership, Reed Smith has grown its revenue from $1.152 billion in 2014 to $1.436 billion in 2021.
During that period, profit per equity partners grew from $1.2 million to $1.7 million, according to the firm. Revenue per lawyer increased from $703,000 to $913,000.
Mr. Thomas, who has served 10 years in Reed Smith’s top leadership post, will transition to the Washington, D.C.-based Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), which is devoted to the protection of unaccompanied children who seek safety while migrating alone.
Reed Smith has provided pro bono support for KIND for the past decade. Mr. Thomas will be the inaugural chief legal officer of the nonprofit founded by Microsoft Corp. and film star Angelina Jolie in 2008.
Tim Grant: tgrant@post-gazette.com or 412-779-5834.
First Published: January 25, 2023, 11:00 a.m.
Updated: January 25, 2023, 11:13 a.m.
