Legal News

Kirk to Lead Reed Smith?s Real Estate Practice Firmwide

By Brian Harris

By Gina Passarella
Of the Legal Staff

Less than a year after leading a team of seven attorneys from Pepper Hamilton to Reed Smith, Dusty E. Kirk will take over as head of Reed Smith's firmwide real estate department.

The Pittsburgh-based partner joined the firm in May 2010 along with six other attorneys and seven staff members. She said at the time she was looking to bring her national practice to more of an international platform. That will carry over into her new role.

As head of the real estate practice, Kirk said in a statement that among her first priorities are enhancing the group's contacts with the firms' major clients and organizing initiatives that span multiple offices. 

"I am very enthusiastic about helping to build our international real estate practice, and integrating it into the group as a whole," she said in the statement. "There is also considerable opportunity for growing our involvement in mixed-use and transit-oriented projects; alternative energy and sustainability-focused projects; and private equity and other real estate investments."

While her focus for the group is, at least in part, international, her practice has strong Pittsburgh ties as well. Kirk's most recent deal involved representing the Pittsburgh Penguins in the hockey team's development of the Consol Energy Center. She continues to handle real estate matters for the team.

Kirk succeeds Washington, D.C.-based partner David C. Evans, who had led the group since 2005.

Gina Passarella is the senior reporter for The Legal. She can be contacted at GPassarella@alm.com.

Full post as published by The Legal Intelligencer Blog on March 23, 2011 (boomark / email).