Reed Smith has entered into a formal alliance with Singapore firm Resource Law.
Through the alliance, Reed Smith will be able to cater for clients needing Singapore law advice, having first mooted its hope to establish a tie-up a year ago.
Alliance firm Resource Law is made up of nine lawyers in total and is led by Mohan Subbaraman, who moved from Ince & Co’s alliance firm Incisive Law last October.
The tie-up will increase Reed Smith’s total lawyer headcount in the city from 20 to 30. The firm first entered the Singapore market in 2012.
“An alliance has been on the agenda since day one, but it’s been about finding the right people,” said Singapore managing partner Barry Stimpson. “It’s a process that has gained momentum in the last 18 months.”
Subbaraman, the former managing director of Incisive Law, was approached by Reed Smith last year to enter an alliance with the firm, leading him to join Resource Law and put in place a structure for a tie-up.
He said Resource Law “operates in areas that are aligned to Reed Smith’s overall strategy,” including energy and natural resources, maritime, life sciences, dispute resolution and financial services work.
“We have a sector-based strategy on arbitration, shipping, energy and natural resources,” added Reed Smith’s managing partner for Europe, Middle East and Asia Roger Parker.
“This was a primary driver when we launched and there’s still lots of logic in building up in Singapore.”
Resource Law currently operates in a separate building to Reed Smith, although the team will move into the US firm’s offices in due course.
The news of the alliance comes as Watson Farley Williams gears up to end its joint law venture agreement with Asia Practice, which was set up in 2011.