Global law firm Reed Smith has revealed two new partner hires to boost its operations in London and Hong Kong.

It said the recruitment reflects its "continued commitment to the shipping industry."

Nick Austin and Peter Glover will be joining in October as partners in its Transportation Industry Group.

Austin will work in London and is leaving Clyde & Co, its fourteenth partner to leave the company in the last couple of weeks.

He specialises in shipping and international trade disputes in court, arbitration and mediation and has more than 20 years’ experience advising shipowners, operators, charterers and traders.

Glover is joining from Norton Rose Fulbright and will be based in Hong Kong, specialising in shipping, international trade, arbitration, regulation and marine insurance.

He comes from a maritime background, having served at sea with the oil majors, is a qualified Master Mariner.

Glover "will enhance the firm’s growing shipping and casualty team in the wider Asia Pacific region," Reed Smith said.

He is qualified to practice law in the jurisdictions of Hong Kong, England and Wales and Queensland, Australia.

Andrew Taylor, co-chair of Reed Smith’s Transportation Industry Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome both Nick and Peter to the team.

"We’ve made significant investments in our group to meet client demand and to evolve with the ever-changing industry. The appointment of both partners will have an important role in driving our strategy."

Clyde losing lawyers

Earlier this month, eight more Clyde & Co partners resigned, making it 13.

The shipping specialist confirmed to TradeWinds that the lawyers leaving the San Francisco office are Joan D'Ambrosio, Christina Terplan, Julie Hawkinson, Jamie Narbaitz, Bill Casey, Christina Marshall, Eric Moon and David Jordan.

The news followed the resignation of four partners from the global marine group to go it alone.

The quartet - Andrew Preston, Elizabeth Turnbull, Fanos Theophani and Rob Collins - are forming their own boutique outfit called Preston Turnbull, Legal Business reported.

Also this week it was reported that shipping lawyer Ed Mills-Webb has resigned with immediate effect.

In July, TradeWinds reported that two shipping lawyers had been suspended from Clyde & Co's London office while the law firm investigated suspected financial misconduct.

The pair included a partner at the firm and an associate, TradeWinds learned.