UK law firm Reed Smith has recruited eight lawyers as it opens up a new office in Brussels.
The addition of five new partners plus a counsel and two associates will enable it to target European Union competition and regulatory law business in shipping, oil and gas and other sectors.
The firm now has five offices across continental Europe after setting up in Paris in 2005 and Frankfurt in 2015.
The new team will complement US and Chinese antitrust, regulatory and trade practices.
Filippitsch brings shipping expertise
Among the new partners are Christian Filippitsch, formerly of Norton Rose Fulbright, where he was also a partner.
He has a particular focus on shipping, oil and gas, and is a competition lawyer with over 20 years of experience.
Filippitsch advises clients on strategic planning, closing on mergers, joint ventures, restructurings and public takeovers.
He also defends clients in cartel and abuse of dominance investigations.
Four other partners and two associates have joined to focus on competition law in other sectors like aviation, technology and life sciences.
Max Seuster, who also has experience in shipping, has been added as counsel from Norton Rose Fulbright.
Brussels 'vitally important'
Sandy Thomas, Reed Smith’s global managing partner, said: “As the de facto executive and legislative capital of the European Union, Brussels is a vitally important market for our clients who are seeking to navigate the complex regulatory environment in Europe.
"Establishing an office in Brussels expands the global reach of our esteemed regulatory and competition practices and further strengthens our capacity to advise clients on highly regulated transactions across the world."
Managing partner Tamara Box said the opening had been led by client demand.
"While we have had a very strong presence in continental Europe for many years, the rapidly changing political and economic environment across Europe demanded that we establish an on-the-ground presence in the EU capital," she added.
Reed Smith now has 175 partners in Europe, with more than 400 other lawyers and 375 business support staff.
Asian growth also expected
Delphine Currie, co-chair of Reed Smith’s Global Corporate Group, is leading the integration effort in Brussels.
In November, Reed Smith told TradeWinds it was also focusing on further expansion in Singapore and the wider Asian region after losing two partners to US rival Squire Patton Boggs.
The Washington DC-headquartered US law firm launched a global commodities and shipping group with new recruits Barry Stimpson and Jessica Kenworthy as partners in Singapore.
Reed Smith has also recently added partners such as Nick Austin in London, Mark West and Peter Glover in Hong Kong, and Dora Wang in Shanghai.
