rewrite Reed Smith Sued by Business Development Manager for Overtime Pay in 6 to 8 words

A Big Law business development manager says Reed Smith owes her at least $50,000 in overtime pay and other costs after forcing her to work 90 hours per week.

Phoebe Medeiros filed a lawsuit against the firm in California on Feb. 14, alleging that Reed Smith LLP stiffed her on overtime pay. Medeiros said the firm wrongly classified her as a manager, rather than an employee, to avoid paying overtime.

“Although her timesheets state she worked eight-hour days, five days a week, Plaintiff regularly worked ninety-hour workweeks, including working seven days per week and sometimes working up to thirty-six-hour shifts,” lawyers for Medeiros said in the complaint, filed in California Superior Court for Los Angeles County.

A Reed Smith spokesperson did not immediately respond to a comment request.

Medeiros transferred to the firm’s Southern California office from New York in October 2022, taking a position as senior manager for business development and operations and focusing on Reed Smith’s private equity practice, according to the complaint and her LinkedIn profile. Despite the title, Medeiros said she spent most of her time operating as an employee under the “clear and specific directions” of partner Mark Pedretti.

“Mr. Pedretti did not practice law at the firm but spent his time pitching new clients to hire the firm,” according to the complaint. “He made dozens of new client pitches per week. More than half of Plaintiff’s time was spent preparing business pitch decks for Mr. Pedretti to use during sales pitches. Plaintiff also attended meetings, took notes, and relayed information from Mr. Pedretti to other employees.”

Pedretti, who is not named as a defendant, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Medeiros left Reed Smith last year, taking a senior business development manager position at Freshfields, according to her LinkedIn profile. She previously worked in similar roles at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and White & Case.

Medeiros and her lawyers from The Rutten Law Firm, also did not respond to comment requests.

The case is: Medeiros v. Reed Smith, LLP, Cal. Super. Ct., No. 25STCV04101, complaint filed 2/14/25.