Reed Smith has hired four partners – Edward Rhyne, Robert Phillpott, Efren Acosta and Ron Scharnberg – to its global corporate group in its Houston office. The team brings private equity, middle-market mergers & acquisitions, and business tax background, including experience in the Texas market.
The group represents all parties in the spectrum of private-equity and M&A transactions, from buyers, sellers and management teams to private equity funds and their investors. They service a wide range of industries and sectors, including aviation, agriculture, construction, energy, financial services, food and hospitality, industrial manufacturing, professional sports, recycling, technology, and many others. All were formerly partners with Baker Botts.
“We continue to acquire substantial corporate talent in Texas and across the Reed Smith platform,” said James Tandler, Chair of the firm’s U.S. Corporate Group. “This team of Efren, Bobby, Ed and Ron brings additional high-level talent in the area of private equity, middle-market M&A, and sophisticated business tax counselling, particularly in structuring complex transactions,” Tandler added, “and they expand the breadth of our sizeable Latin America offering.”
“Our team had a choice of firms, but selected Reed Smith for its broad base and global private equity practice, which is committed to growth,” Rhyne said. “We also have a comfort level with Reed Smith because so many of our former colleagues have joined the firm over the past few years, and they and their practices are thriving.”