Mr. Reed's father was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. As a result, Mr. Reed spent several years of his young life in Europe and Japan. The family settled in Houston, Texas, after his father's retirement. Mr. Reed became interested in public speaking and debate during his high school years. He excelled and won the UIL state championship in debate. Mr. Reed was recruited by several universities and eventually decided to accept a full scholarship from Houston Baptist University. At 20, Mr. Reed applied for and was accepted into the Houston Police Academy. He graduated from the Academy with distinction and was immediately assigned to work as a patrol officer. It was during his time in uniform, patrolling the streets of Houston, that Mr. Reed developed a serious interest in becoming a lawyer. He saw injustices that could not be adequately resolved by the criminal justice system alone--horrific injuries caused by drunk drivers and families destroyed by the loss of loved ones. He continued working toward his undergraduate degree by going to college part time while working full time on the police force. Mr. Reed was promoted after only two years and became one of the youngest Sergeants on the force. He received Department Commendations and a Life Saving Award while in uniform. During his fifth year on the force, Mr. Reed moved to plain clothes and began working as a detective. He investigated crimes involving both property issues and bodily injury.
Mr. Reed completed his undergraduate work at the University of Houston Downtown. The Downtown campus was next door to the main police station, so attending college while working full time was not as burdensome as it otherwise might have been. Upon his graduation in 1988, Mr. Reed applied for and was accepted into the University of Texas School of Law. He resigned from the Houston Police Department and moved to Austin to begin law school and a new career.
From the start of law school, it was clear that Mr. Reed would distinguish himself from other students. He was the only first year student out of over 500 selected to participate on a Moot Court team representing the University of Texas Law School against other law schools. The team won its regional competition and Mr. Reed, as a first year law student, was named best speaker. His success continued during his second and third years as well. Mr. Reed again won the State Bar Moot Court competition and was named best speaker. One of his teammates was his current partner, Lonnie Roach. He competed in and won the National Trial Competition and was named best speaker. That competition invites every law school in the United States. It had been more than ten years since a team from the University of Texas had won the national championship. By the end of his law school career, Mr. Reed had become one of the most highly decorated advocacy students to ever attend the University of Texas School of Law. As a result of his success and hard work, he was awarded the Niemann Cup, which goes to the single outstanding advocacy student.
While attending law school and competing in advocacy events, Mr. Reed also worked as an investigator for Spivey, Grigg, Kelly & Knisely, a personal injury trial firm in Austin, Texas. It was this exposure to representing victims of accidents and civil torts that led Mr. Reed to his interest in plaintiff's work. In many ways, his work with the Houston Police Department prepared him for working with plaintiffs as well. Police work and representing plaintiffs as an attorney both involve working with individuals who have been wronged. A plaintiff's attorney seeks justice on behalf of his client just as a policeman does with a victim of crime. Broadus Spivey, former president of the State Bar of Texas, advised Mr. Reed that trial experience was needed before jumping into plaintiff's work. Mr. Spivey recommended working for a defense firm out of law school or going to the district attorney's office.
Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Reed took an associate position at McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, L.L.P., in Austin, Texas. He worked in the general litigation section and was immediately thrown into trial practice. During his time at McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, Mr. Reed became active in bar events. He was elected to a Director's position with the Austin Young Lawyers Association. He was also appointed as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law working with the advocacy teams.
In 1993, Mr. Reed began discussions with his former law school classmate, Lonnie Roach, about starting a personal injury law firm. Given that they each had less than three years of experience, Mr. Reed and Mr. Roach asked Lloyd Bemis if he would be interested in starting a personal injury firm. The firm was founded as "Bemis, Roach & Reed" in late 1993 and continues with the same members today.
At Bemis, Roach & Reed, Mr. Reed has focused his practice on litigation in several different areas. He has successfully tried numerous personal injury cases and general business litigation cases, generally on behalf of plaintiffs. Mr. Reed has also represented individuals who have been injured or are otherwise disabled and are forced to seek disability payments through the Social Security Administration or through some other disability plan.
Mr. Reed is married to Diane, a paralegal for Lea Noelke, a family law attorney at Noelke English Maples St. Leger, L.L.P. His interests outside of work include golf, camping, and travel.
