Global law firm Reed Smith announced the expansion of its Entertainment and Media Industry Group in Paris with the addition of partner Agathe Malphettes, while also unveiling a new Boston office to strengthen its presence in key U.S. and international markets.
In Paris, Malphettes joins with more than 15 years of experience spanning intellectual property, IT law, cybersecurity, consumer law, and content regulation. Her work includes advising clients on complex IP and IT agreements and helping businesses navigate evolving European and national regulations such as the Digital Services Act, the Data Act, and the NIS2 Directive. She also represents clients in disputes before courts and regulatory authorities and previously served as regulatory litigation counsel on secondment at Meta.
Her appointment is part of Reed Smith’s broader strategy to deepen its capabilities across advisory, regulatory, and litigation matters for media and digital sector clients. Malphettes began her career at Chanel in New York and later held roles at Alain Bensoussan and PDGB before spending 12 years at White and Case. She is admitted to the Paris Bar, is a member of Cyberlex and the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and teaches platform regulation at Sciences Po.
Separately, Reed Smith announced the opening of a Boston office, its 34th globally and 21st in the United States, as part of a continued expansion strategy focused on private equity, M&A, finance, and fund formation. The office launches with 12 lawyers, including six partners, a senior strategic advisor, and five associates, with additional hires expected.
The Boston team includes talent from firms such as White and Case, Goodwin, McDermott Will and Schulte, Morrison Foerster, Kirkland and Ellis, and K&L Gates. The office will provide integrated transactional, regulatory, litigation, and advisory services to private equity sponsors, financial institutions, and fund managers, with particular strength in sectors including life sciences, technology, fintech, and financial services.
Key hires include Omar Hemady and Claudette Druehl focusing on fund formation and private equity, Matthew Hacker advising on M&A in healthcare and technology, Ian Hohmeister specializing in complex financings, Grant Butler in financial services regulation, Jim Nicholas in employment litigation and transactional support, and Kevin J. Sullivan joining as a senior strategic advisor to the private equity practice.
The Boston expansion follows recent openings in Atlanta, Denver, and Riyadh, reflecting the firm’s broader growth trajectory and focus on serving clients in major investment and innovation hubs.
Reed Smith said the dual developments in Paris and Boston reinforce its commitment to expanding its global platform, enhancing sector expertise, and supporting clients navigating complex regulatory, transactional, and litigation environments across key markets.
KEY QUOTES
“We are delighted to welcome Agathe to our Entertainment & Media Industry Group — she will further strengthen our IP/IT offering, one of the firm’s key areas of excellence. This marks an important step in the continued growth of our Paris office across its core sectors. Her capabilities will generate strong synergies with our transactional, disputes, and regulatory teams, ultimately benefiting our clients, who are among the leading players in the sector.”
Natasha Tardif, Managing Partner of Reed Smith’s Paris Office
“The Paris market is particularly dynamic and plays a key role in the growth of the practice in Europe. The arrival of Agathe will significantly strengthen our IP/IT and regulatory offering across Europe.”
Elle Todd, Co Chair of Reed Smith’s Entertainment and Media Industry Group
“I am joining Reed Smith with the ambition of developing a practice in line with the technological shifts that are redefining business models, consumer behaviours, and legal frameworks. The rapid expansion of regulation and litigation around data, AI, content, and consumer matters calls for an approach that is both practical and international. Reed Smith offers exactly that, through the cross disciplinary strength of its teams and its deep experience in complex, high stakes international matters.”
Agathe Malphettes, Partner at Reed Smith
“Our Boston opening is a direct response to our clients, who want us closer to their business and in the places where they are investing and growing. Boston is a premier market for private equity, finance, banking, and life sciences, and our expansion reflects our commitment to these practices and industries.”
Casey Ryan, Global Managing Partner at Reed Smith
“By continuing to invest in top tier lawyers, we bring the strength and resources to help clients achieve their most important business objectives, today and over the long term. As a firm, we are firing on all cylinders. Boston marks our fourth new office in the past 14 months, following Atlanta, Denver, and Riyadh, underscoring the exceptional growth and momentum we are seeing with clients around the globe.”
Casey Ryan, Global Managing Partner at Reed Smith
“Our Boston opening builds on our record setting 2025, during which we welcomed more than 180 new lawyers across our global platform, including 55 new partners. This continued growth of top tier talent reflects the strength of our client base and our commitment to being a best in class global firm.”
Julie Hardin, Managing Partner Americas at Reed Smith
“Expanding to Boston strengthens our corporate and finance footprint in a critical market and directly responds to client demand for enhanced capabilities in the region. Our Boston team brings together decades of experience, with deep roots in the region and a keen understanding of the New England business community. We have received a strong response from clients and have big plans for the office, this is just the beginning of our expansion into the Boston market.”
Julie Hardin, Managing Partner Americas at Reed Smith
“We are excited to join Reed Smith and to lead the firm’s expansion into Boston. In addition to the firm’s large cap capabilities, Reed Smith knows how to provide elite service for the middle market’s most complex and heavily regulated deals, which is important to my fund clients.”
Omar Hemady, Partner at Reed Smith
“The firm’s strength in private equity, digital assets, banking and financial services, and life sciences expands the services I can offer my clients. We’ve all been impressed by the firm’s growth strategy and collaborative culture, which truly set Reed Smith apart.”
Ian Hohmeister, Partner at Reed Smith
“I have admired Reed Smith’s investment in private equity and rapid ascent up the league tables. The firm is building something special, and I can’t wait to be a part of it. After more than 25 years advising leading private equity sponsors across leveraged buyouts, growth equity, carve outs, and cross border M&A, I know what it takes to serve this market at the highest level. Reed Smith’s established private equity practice and commitment to delivering value to its clients uniquely position the firm to become a leader in this market.”
Kevin J. Sullivan, Senior Strategic Advisor at Reed Smith
“We are thrilled to welcome this talented team to Reed Smith and to continue growing our top tier corporate and private equity practices. These lawyers add to our deep bench of private equity, fund formation, and finance partners and significantly expand our depth for sponsors, lenders, fund managers, and portfolio companies. They also provide us with day to day boots on the ground in an important market.”
Matt Mohn, Co Chair of Reed Smith’s Global Corporate Group
“Our clients are increasingly turning to us for sophisticated, multi jurisdictional transactional support, and this team enhances our ability to meet that demand. Their experience in the Boston market aligns with where our clients are deploying capital and growing their businesses, positioning our firm to support complex transactions across the full lifecycle in a more comprehensive way. This is an important step in accelerating the growth of our corporate platform and delivering even greater support to our clients.”
Matt Mohn, Co Chair of Reed Smith’s Global Corporate Group
