Latest news with #ReedSmith
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation Honors Reed Smith LLP at Annual Gala In Recognition For Legal and Financial Support
The award recognizes Reed Smith's substantive legal and financial contributions to the AJCF's mission of promoting tolerance, building bridges across communities and supporting survivors of genocide and other global tragedies, including Ukrainian refugees and those impacted by the October 7 Hamas attacks. NEW YORK CITY, NY / / June 4, 2025 / The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation (AJCF) will present its Advocacy Award to international law firm Reed Smith LLP at its annual gala on June 11 at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan. The award recognizes Reed Smith's substantive legal and financial contributions to the AJCF's mission of promoting tolerance, building bridges across communities and supporting survivors of genocide and other global tragedies, including Ukrainian refugees and those impacted by the October 7 Hamas attacks. Reed Smith LLP Global Managing Partner Casey Ryan will accept the award on the firm's behalf. This year's gala is a landmark celebration, marking 25 years of the AJCF's fighting hatred and antisemitism and recognizes the impact of the now 20 years of the Foundation's American Service Academies Program (ASAP). That program offers a 16-day educational experience in the United States and Poland for select cadets and midshipmen from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Space Force academies. Focused on teaching the lessons of the Holocaust, ethical leadership in the military and contemporary moral challenges, the program includes profound engagement with Holocaust survivors, elected officials, historians and educators from both nations. Earlier this year, Reed Smith partnered with AJCF to help fund its Exodus Delegation to Poland, a mission commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The firm also played a critical legal role in AJCF's response to the October 7 attacks by providing pro bono assistance to facilitate the deployment of volunteer physicians to Israeli hospitals during the country's most dire hours. These physicians filled a critical vacuum in Israel's healthcare system when local doctors were mobilized to their reserve units and the front lines. "We are immensely grateful to Reed Smith LLP for consistently standing beside us in our mission to promote Holocaust education, tolerance and support for survivors of atrocities around the world," said AJCF Chairman Simon Bergson. "They are wonderful partners in our mission and we appreciate their support." "Under Casey Ryan's leadership, Reed Smith has been more than a boardroom ally-they've truly put boots on the ground," said AJCF Director General Jack Simony. "Their attorneys frequently take part in our programs and missions to Poland, deepening their understanding of our work and strengthening our collective impact. They have made an enormous difference in the work that we do." The gala will also honor Frasier Enterprises and the Miracle-Ear Foundation with the AJCF Humanitarian Award for its partnership in providing free hearing aids and lifelong hearing care to 100 Holocaust survivors. Additionally, Van Jones, CNN commentator, Dream Machine founder, Emmy Award winner and New York Times best-selling author, will be presented with the Fighting Hatred Award in recognition of his advocacy for social justice and unity. Members of the AJCF-Exodus Delegation, including philanthropist Robert F. Smith, activist and singer Malynda Hale, Grammy® Award-winning artist Victory Boyd, Pastor Carl Day, Exodus co-founder Raymond Leon Roker, entrepreneur John Hope Bryant and Chaitra Dalton-Bryant, will each receive the AJCF Medal of Valor for their courageous work and commitment to remembrance and reconciliation. Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. With an inclusive culture and innovative mindset, we deliver smarter, more creative legal services that drive better outcomes for our clients. Our deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for complex disputes, transactions and regulatory matters. Contact: Joshua SteinreichSteinreich Communications(212) 491-1600Jsteinreich@ SOURCE: Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Wall Street Journal
3 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
De Minimis Exemption Likely Back for Chinese Imports, Trade Lawyer Says
The federal trade court decision striking down President Trump's tariffs appears to also reinstate a popular trade provision used to bring low-cost goods from China into the U.S. duty-free, according to trade attorney Michael Lowell. The so-called de minimis provision that exempts packages of $800 or less from duties was eliminated on May 2 for goods made in China and Hong Kong, after Trump in early April ordered the end of the policy. Use of the exemption has skyrocketed in recent years with a surge of goods from bargain sites Shein and Temu. 'It's pretty clear under the court's order that Trump's revocation of de minimis was also vacated as part of the executive order that was vacated,' said Lowell, partner at Reed Smith. 'The exception should be back in place.'
Arab News
08-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia's labor market booming as world wakes up to its potential
RIYADH: From advanced technology to bustling tourism, Saudi Arabia is witnessing a labor market transformation that is reducing its reliance on oil and creating jobs in construction, green energy, and beyond. Government initiatives such as the Saudi Nationalization Scheme and Nitaqat initiative have played a pivotal role in shaping the labor market landscape. These policies have encouraged private sector employers to hire more of the Kingdom's nationals across various industries, leading to a significant reduction in unemployment rates. The commitment to enhancing workforce participation has also contributed to a more inclusive job market, while a strategic focus on developing a knowledge-based economy has led to increased investments in education and vocational training programs. These initiatives are equipping the local workforce with the skills required to thrive in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and financial services, further accelerating employment growth. Construction boom fuels job creation The construction and infrastructure sector has experienced exponential growth in recent years, underpinning the Kingdom's economic expansion, with contract awards in 2024 reaching $146.8 billion, a record high as it overtook 2023's figure of $118.7 billion, according to Kamco Invest's GCC Projects Market Update. The report added that Saudi Arabia accounted for over 53.8 percent of total project awards across the Gulf Cooperation Council in 2024. Sachin Kerur, managing partner of Middle East at Reed Smith, told Arab News that this boom is leading to a rise in the opportunities for project managers, designers, architects and many other construction professionals. 'Anyone studying Vision 2030 or visiting the important cities of the Kingdom will be very aware of the construction of large-scale housing, rail and road networks, new airports, infrastructure for major sporting events and industrial production plants,' Kerur said. Tourism-related construction has also seen a surge, with new hotels and resorts hiring more Saudi nationals. 'Anyone visiting the Kingdom's hotels of late will have noticed the number of Saudi nationals employed,' Kerur added. Major projects such as the Rua Al-Madinah and Qiddiya are further fueling demand for skilled labor in the sector. Tourism as a booster The tourism sector continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Saudi Arabia's labor market, and is only set to grow as the Kingdom pushes ahead with its aim to attract 150 million visitors annually by 2030. As a result, the demand for hospitality, transportation, and cultural service jobs is rapidly increasing. 'With millions of visitors anticipated to visit Saudi each year, tourism has one of the fastest growing and elastic demand for employment,' Kerur said. From religious tourism initiatives in Makkah and Madinah to entertainment-driven projects such as the Red Sea Project, the sector's expansion is creating thousands of jobs for Saudis. Technology and green energy sectors see expansion On a tech front, Saudi Arabia's technology sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by the government's investments and incentives for global tech firms. 'Foreign investments are driving significant job creation in Saudi Arabia's emerging industries, particularly technology and innovation, aligning with Vision 2030's goals of economic diversification and private sector growth,' said Faisal Al-Sarraj, Saudi Arabia's deputy country senior partner at PwC Middle East. He continued: 'PIF's focus on technology and innovation has bolstered local employment, particularly in AI, digital transformation, and data analytics. Its support for startups and partnerships with global tech firms is strengthening local expertise.' Initiatives such as the $100 billion AI and data analytics initiative, known as Project Transcendence, as well as smart city projects including NEOM, are fostering high-skilled employment in advanced fields. Foreign investments are driving significant job creation in Saudi Arabia's emerging industries. Faisal Al-Sarraj, Saudi Arabia's deputy country senior partner at PwC Middle East. Citing media outlets Bloomberg and CIO, Al-Sarraj said: 'This $100 billion plan positions Saudi Arabia as a global AI and data analytics hub, creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and rivaling regional tech leaders.' The green energy sector is also taking off in Saudi Arabia, bringing a fresh wave of job opportunities and supporting the Kingdom's sustainability goals. Solar and wind farms are being developed across the country, creating thousands of new roles and giving locals the chance to dive into the world of clean energy. Kerur also cited the life sciences and food industries as other sectors that have seen employment growth. Saudi welcoming the world The government's Saudization initiatives, particularly the Nitaqat program which was established in June 2011, have played a crucial role in increasing the number of nationals in the private sector. 'Many commentators regard Saudization as having been most successful in the retail and tourism and hospitality sectors,' Kerur said. He continued: 'Perhaps less success has been achieved in areas such as life sciences, medicine and design and construction where more skilled resources are needed. That is certainly an area of development for the next few years.' Moreover, the drive for greater workforce inclusion is also reflected in the increasing focus on supporting female participation in the labor market. As more opportunities arise in flexible and remote work arrangements, women are stepping into roles across diverse sectors, contributing to the Kingdom's broader economic transformation goals. Figures released by the General Authority for Statistics showed that by the end of the third quarter of 2024 the labor force participation rate of Saudi females reached 36.2 percent — well above the original Vision 2030 target of 30 percent, with that goal now upped to 40 percent by the end of the decade. Kerur added: 'Saudi Arabia's labor market reforms and initiatives are successfully reducing unemployment levels and so much credit must go to Vision 2030 as economic diversification develops at pace. However, this is not merely labour economics.' He went on to say: 'As with other GCC countries like the UAE, there are social and cultural norms that have to be assessed to ensure they are maintained whilst at the same time ensuring unemployment is minimised and the national workforce is equipped for the challenges of the next three decades.' Regional Headquarters Initiative and FDI One of the biggest wins for Saudi Arabia in 2024 was the success of its regional headquarters initiative, which has drawn in over 540 multinational companies to set up shop in the Kingdom. This surge in corporate presence is not just about numbers — it is about turning Saudi Arabia into a thriving business hub, buzzing with new ideas and opportunities. Companies such as Amazon, Google, PwC, and Deloitte have relocated their regional headquarters, leading to job creation in professional services, consulting, and administrative roles. 'This achievement is having an employment impetus as more and more companies are employing Saudi nationals in line with the Kingdom's status as a developing business hub,' Kerur said. The Kingdom's push to attract foreign investment has not only created job opportunities but also fostered knowledge transfer and skill development among the local workforce. With multinational firms bringing global best practices and expertise, Saudi nationals are gaining invaluable exposure to international business operations, positioning them competitively in the job market. Another key initiative was the Golden Visa, which allows foreign nationals to live, work, and own property in the Kingdom without a sponsor, In order to qualify, applicants must meet specific criteria such as significant investments in real estate or business ventures. Al-Sarraj said the visa 'incentivized' highly skilled professionals and entrepreneurs to relocate to Saudi Arabia, and has expanded employment in sectors such as healthcare, education, and technology, and fostered a knowledge-based economy. He added: 'Reforms like the Labor Reform Initiative improved mobility and flexibility for expatriates, making Saudi Arabia a more attractive job market. This policy also encouraged Saudization, driving the hiring of skilled nationals.' Challenges and the road ahead Despite the progress, challenges remain in bridging skill gaps and positioning manual labor or skilled trades as a viable career path for Saudis. 'Education and training will be vital all round for the labor market. Indeed more labor capacity is required to implement Vision 2030 projects and this provides Saudi nationals a significant opportunity to develop blue collar skills,' Kerur said. He continued: 'Of course the private sector, both national and international, will have a key role to play to train, develop and employ nationals. The issue will be the stick or the carrot.' Kerur further explained that the private sector in Saudi Arabia will require support and assistance, particularly in areas where their capacity to operate or expand is currently limited, and where significant financial investment is needed. 'Saudi Arabia has shown a willingness to enable public private partnership in their labor market and more will be expected in this regard,' he said. According to Al-Sarraj, one of the key issues is that many workers may not have received the necessary training and or hold the qualifications required by employers. 'Despite significant progress, challenges remain, including skill gaps among the workforce, the need for enhanced educational and vocational training programs, and ensuring sustainable employment opportunities for the growing local population,' he said. Al-Sarraj added: 'Employers often cite skill gaps and higher wage expectations as reasons for not hiring Saudis, highlighting the need for enhanced educational and vocational training programs.' As Saudi Arabia's labor market continues to evolve, the combined impact of strategic government initiatives, foreign investment, and workforce development efforts will be key to sustaining momentum. With significant achievements in 2023 paving the way, the Kingdom is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious Vision 2030 objectives and create a dynamic, diversified workforce that meets future economic demands.
Vox
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Vox
The Supreme Court hands down a rare victory for a death row inmate
The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Richard Glossip, a man sentenced to die under extraordinarily dubious circumstances, must receive a new trial. The case is Glossip v. Oklahoma . The Court, which has a 6-3 Republican majority, is often unsympathetic to death row inmates who challenge their conviction or who seek to avoid execution. It's unlikely that the Glossip case foreshadows a break with this trend, as Glossip brought an unusually strong case to the Supreme Court. Indeed, his case is strong enough that Oklahoma's Republican attorney general, who ordinarily would be tasked with defending Glossip's conviction, instead argued that Glossip's trial was so flawed that it violated the Constitution. In total, five justices — Chief Justice John Roberts, plus Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh, and Ketanji Brown Jackson — voted to grant Glossip a new trial. Justice Amy Coney Barrett agreed that Glossip's constitutional rights were violated, but she would have sent the case to an Oklahoma appeals court instead. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented (Justice Neil Gorsuch was recused). Many powerful players within Oklahoma raised serious doubts about Glossip's conviction, and the state produced two investigations laying out the many flaws in the case against Glossip. One investigation, conducted by the law firm Reed Smith on behalf of a group of several dozen state lawmakers, determined that a wide range of errors, destroyed evidence, and police failures 'fundamentally call into question the fairness of the proceedings and the ultimate reliability of the guilty verdict against Glossip for murder.' A second investigation, commissioned by state Attorney General Gentner Drummond, determined that 'Glossip was deprived of a fair trial in which the State can have confidence in the process and result.' Though the police investigation and prosecution of Glossip had many errors (I summarize some of them here), Justice Sotomayor's majority opinion in Glossip focuses on just one of them. Nearly two decades after Glossip's conviction, the state revealed that a key witness falsely testified at trial that he'd never seen a psychiatrist. The prosecution never corrected that false testimony despite being aware of the witness's previous psychiatric treatment. That violates the Supreme Court's decision in Napue v. Illinois (1959), which generally forbids prosecutors from introducing false testimony, and which typically requires prosecutors to correct such testimony when it occurs. In 1997, Justin Sneed, a maintenance worker at a motel owned by Barry Van Treese, killed Van Treese with a baseball bat. At the time, Glossip was the manager of this motel. Glossip isn't entirely innocent. According to his lawyers, Glossip 'spoke to police voluntarily on the day of the murder and again after he was detained the next day, admitting that he took actions after Van Treese was killed that helped Sneed after the fact.' Initially, the state charged Glossip as an accessory after the fact, for helping to cover up the murder and clean up the murder scene. But that charge was later upgraded to murder. There are many reasons to doubt the upgraded charge. At Glossip's trial, the state's theory was that Glossip masterminded the murder and hired Sneed to carry it out. However, there is significant evidence that the police railroaded Sneed into endorsing this theory. The Reed Smith report, for example, found that Sneed implicated Glossip in the murder itself 'only after [lead] Detective [Robert] Bemo interjected his views that Sneed did not act alone, that Sneed could help himself, that Glossip was arrested, and that Glossip was blaming Sneed for the murder.' Sneed testified against Glossip at his 2004 trial, and this testimony was the only direct evidence connecting Glossip to the murder. The state, which supported Glossip's call for a new trial, describes Sneed as an 'indispensable witness.' But Sneed was also a much more flawed witness than prosecutors allowed the jury to believe. During that trial, Sneed falsely testified that he had 'never seen no psychiatrist or anything.' Though he'd been prescribed lithium, a drug used to treat some mental illnesses, while he was in jail for Van Treese's murder, Sneed suggested that this was a mistake and that he'd only asked for Sudafed to treat a cold. In 2023, however, the state turned over a document to Glossip's lawyers which undermined Sneed's testimony and suggested that prosecutors knew that Sneed was lying during Glossip's murder trial. That document, a page of handwritten notes by lead prosecutor Connie Smothermon, included notations indicating that Smothermon knew that Sneed was 'on Lithium' as well as a reference to a 'Dr. Trumpet.' 'Dr. Trumpet' turns out to be Dr. Larry Trombka, who was the jail psychiatrist while Sneed was incarcerated in that facility. Trombka prescribed lithium to treat Sneed's bipolar disorder. And he later said that Sneed's mental illness could have caused him to experience a 'manic episode' that may have led him 'to be more paranoid or potentially violent,' and that Sneed's condition was 'exacerbated by illicit drug use, such as methamphetamine.' Had Glossip's lawyers known about Sneed's diagnosis and treatment during his 2004 trial, they could have used it to undercut Sneed's testimony in several ways. For starters, the mere fact that Sneed testified falsely about his own medical history undermines his credibility and may have caused the jury to doubt the state's essential witness. Additionally, had defense attorneys known about Sneed's mental health diagnosis, they could have raised doubts about the state's murder-for-hire theory — instead arguing that Sneed committed murder as a spontaneous act brought about by a manic episode and his drug use. As Sotomayor explains in the Court's Glossip opinion, the Napue decision is quite favorable to someone, like Glossip, who is convicted based on false testimony that the prosecutor could have corrected. Napue calls for a conviction to be tossed out 'so long as the false testimony 'may have had an effect on the outcome of the trial.'' Later Supreme Court decisions establish that 'a conviction obtained by the knowing use of perjured testimony must be set aside if there is any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the jury's verdict,' and they suggest that this rule can only be overcome if the prosecution can 'prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the error complained of did not contribute to the verdict obtained.' Sotomayor's opinion, in other words, merely followed these established precedents to their logical conclusion. There is a reasonable likelihood that a jury would have acquitted Glossip if it had known that Sneed's testimony was false. And that's enough to grant him a new trial. See More: Criminal Justice Policy Politics Supreme Court
Reuters
24-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Law firm Reed Smith opens in Denver as big firms look to smaller markets
Feb 24 (Reuters) - Reed Smith is opening an office in Denver, it said on Monday, becoming the latest large law firm to expand into a smaller legal market this year. A spokesperson for Pittsburgh-founded Reed Smith, which has 1,600 lawyers, said the firm hired 20 lawyers, including 11 partners, from rival firms Akerman; Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck; Dentons; Foley Hoag; and Greenberg Traurig to launch the new office. The partners' practices include corporate transactions, emerging technologies, insurance recovery, litigation and real estate, according to Reed Smith. At least four other large out-of-state firms opened Denver offices last year, including Fennemore Craig, Frost Brown Todd, Venable and Vinson & Elkins. Another firm, Taft Stettinius & Hollister, opened in Denver and seven other U.S. Mountain West cities when Taft merged with regional firm Sherman & Howard on Jan. 1. This year has already seen a handful of big national and global law firms hire groups from other firms to open new offices outside the largest U.S. legal markets of New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Reed Smith last month opened an office in Atlanta with a group of 37 lawyers, while Kirkland & Ellis opened in Philadelphia with five partners from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. London-founded Freshfields on Monday opened an office in Boston. Launching in small-but-growing markets like Denver can help law firms expand their access to talent without the costs and challenges of competing in a larger city, legal industry consultants said. Large law firms are searching for markets "that have not been thoroughly and entirely picked over," said consultant Bruce MacEwen of Adam Smith Esq. He also noted the COVID-19 pandemic showed that lawyers can work remotely and be successful. "A lot of people want to live in Denver, which is part of why the talent base is strong," Zeughauser Group legal industry consultant Kent Zimmermann said.
