Squire Patton Boggs has launched a global commodities and shipping group as it announced two new hires from Reed Smith.
The Washington DC-headquartered firm said Barry Stimpson and Jessica Kenworthy will join as partners in Singapore.
“Barry and Jessica are leaders in their field with sophisticated global practices and we are very excited to have them join us,” said Squire Patton Boggs’ global managing partner for clients and strategy, Steve Mahon.
Chairman and global CEO Mark Ruehlmann added that the firm already has capabilities in the area in its London, Australia and US offices.
“And with the addition of this team and future hires in the pipeline, we expect to very quickly ascend to become one of the premier firms in the commodities and shipping space,” he said.
Stimpson has worked in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney for more than 25 years, handling international trade, shipping, offshore energy, construction and insurance.
He was the founding partner of Reed Smith’s Singapore office when it was established in 2012, as well as the office managing partner from 2016 to 2018.
Kenworthy’s practice covers a broad range of financing, with a specialisation in complex commodity financing and ship deals.
She has handled a large number of ship sale and purchase transactions and the financing of newbuildings and secondhand vessels, involving both debt and sale and leaseback structures.
"Growing the practice"
Stimpson said: “Squire Patton Boggs’ Asia-Pacific network and its presence across the Middle East, London, Europe and the US, as well as its commitment to growing a global, market leading commodities and shipping practice makes the firm an ideal place to serve the diverse needs of our global clients. I’m very excited to be joining the firm and growing the practice.”
Kenworthy spoke positively of contributing to a strong global financial industries practice, as well as working alongside the firm's leading commodities and shipping lawyers.
"The culture and drive of Squire Patton Boggs to ensure its commodities and shipping capabilities are market leading, attractive and competitive for clients have been very compelling, and I look forward to working closely with the teams in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, London and the US,” she said.
The commodities and shipping group will provide a full range of legal services on all aspects of international trade and shipping and across all commodity sectors, including advice and assistance with transactions, corporate matters, trade finance, litigation and arbitration, regulatory matters, environmental law, renewable energy, derivatives and projects.
