Global Managing Partner, Reed Smith LLP
Sandy Thomas joined Reed Smith in 1999 and became Global Managing Partner in 2014. He was previously the Global Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department. Under Sandy’s leadership, Reed Smith has made diversity a strategic priority and added critical roles like Global Chair of Diversity and Inclusion and Executive Director of Diversity Recruiting.
As part of LCLD's Leaders at the Front initiative, Sandy created a Leader's Pledge detailing his personal and organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Read Sandy's pledge here.
At Reed Smith, women represent 20 percent of equity partners and 32 percent of chairs and office managing partners. The firm’s extensive diversity efforts include mandatory diversity and inclusion training at all levels of the organization, an Associate Liaison system designed to connect associates with Diversity Committee members, and strong support of LCLD. In 2017, Reed Smith also launched a Diversity Summit for firm management, clients, and prospective hires.
In 2022, Reed Smith was named an LCLD Top Performer for the seventh consecutive year.
Joined LCLD 2009
Highlights of LCLD Participation
Fellows Program
Fellows nominated:
2023: Jennifer Eppensteiner; 2022: Ashley Jordan; 2021: Karen Lust; 2020: Julia Lopez; 2019: Amber Finch; 2018: Denise Michelle Ware; 2017: Keyonn L. Pope; 2016: Jean Fan Kuei; 2015: Nipun J. Patel; 2014: Jason E. Hazlewood; 2013: Tiffany Renee Thomas; 2012: Lorraine M. Campos; 2011: Rana Jewel Wright
Pathfinder Program
Pathfinders selected:
2023: Justine Lee, Andrew Lu; 2022: Christian Castile, Jason Angelo; 2021: Johnathan Foster, Natalie Salazar; 2020: Lora Spencer, Amanda Brown; 2019: Brandon White, Alice Kyureghian; 2018: Claudia Cortes, Reginald Sainvil; 2017: Zalika Tashia Pierre, Maytak Chin; 2016: Tsedey Abai Bogale, Pakapon Phinyowattanachip
1L LCLD Scholars Program
Scholars hosted:
2022: Emily Chang, Julian Humphrey-Davis, Erin Apsokardu, Alejandra Chavira, Jenna King-Shepherd, 2021: Nkora Carr, Martine Augustin, Kristen Smith, Erica Herrera, Caitlin Williams, Alexis Hammond, Blake Hale; 2020: Meena Kandallu, Brian Kay, Jacob Nikituk, Priya Patel, Marquan Robertson; 2019: Justin Angotti, Haesun Burris-Lee, Zachary Bell, Benjamin Antillon Fernandez, Amanda Lack; 2018: Colin Edwards, Evan Hacker, Michael Harris, Oluwaseyi Odunaiya, Jordan Rose, Matthew Shapiro; 2017: Michael Bassi; 2016: Benjamin Paulsen, Nicole Prieto; 2015: Adebola Olofin, Farzeen Tariq, Gregory D. Vose; 2014: Jorge Rojas; 2013: Yvonne Elosiebo, Takayuki Ono; 2012: Alexander Nk Kanu, Wesley Morrissette
Success in Law School Mentoring Program
Mentors provided: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012
Attendance
Annual Meeting (2021, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2016)
Member: Alexander Thomas
Diversity Professionals: Peter Ellis, Patricia Conner, John Iino, Casey Ryan, Pauline Vesleno
Communications: John Buchanan
