In the rankings, the firm stood out in shipping, corporate law, and litigation/arbitration, which were each listed in more than one country. The firm was recommended in 11 categories for Hong Kong and in seven categories for Singapore.
The firm was ranked for the first time in three areas: Singapore Asset finance: Foreign firms; Singapore Corporate: Local firms; and Singapore Shipping: Local firms. (In Singapore, Reed Smith is in a Formal Law Alliance and shares its offices with Resource Law LLC.)
Here is the full list of 23 practice areas in which the firm was listed this year:
- China Corporate and M&A: Foreign firms
- China Projects and energy: Foreign firms
- Hong Kong Asset finance: Shipping finance
- Hong Kong Banking and finance
- Hong Kong Capital markets (equity)
- Hong Kong Corporate (including M&A)
- Hong Kong Dispute resolution: International arbitration
- Hong Kong Dispute resolution: Litigation
- Hong Kong Insurance
- Hong Kong Labour and employment
- Hong Kong Private equity
- Hong Kong Restructuring and insolvency
- Hong Kong Shipping
- India Foreign firms
- Singapore Asset finance: Foreign firms
- Singapore Corporate: Local firms
- Singapore Corporate and M&A: Foreign firms
- Singapore International arbitration
- Singapore Projects: Foreign firms
- Singapore Shipping: Foreign firms
- Singapore Shipping: Local firms
- Singapore White-collar crime: Foreign firms
- South Korea Shipping: Foreign firms
Two other Reed Smith practice areas – Singapore Financial services regulatory; and Singapore TMT: Foreign – were featured in a new “Firms to Watch” section. Law firms in this section have gained Legal 500’s attention.
Eight Reed Smith lawyers were ranked this year, with four individuals – Denise Jong, Simon Spells, Jennifer Ince and Timothy Cooke – being named for the first time, and Richard Lovell in the Hall of Fame for the second year running. Here’s the full list of ranked individuals.
- Timothy Cooke, Singapore International arbitration
- Jennifer Ince, Singapore Asset finance: Foreign firms (Rising Star)
- Denise Jong, Hong Kong Corporate (including M&A)
- Peter Lee, Hong Kong Asset finance: Shipping finance
- Lianjun Li, Hong Kong Shipping
- Richard Lovell, Singapore Shipping: Foreign firms (Hall of Fame)
- Donald Sham, Hong Kong Dispute resolution: International arbitration
- Simon Spells, Singapore Asset finance: Foreign firms
Hall of Fame entrants are selected for earning “constant praise from their clients for continued excellence,” and for being “at the pinnacle of the profession.” Rising Stars are defined as associate-level lawyers who appear frequently in significant matters and make major contributions to practices, according to the Legal 500 website.
A client said of the shipping group: “Reed Smith’s approach is … a true partnership based on relationships and finding solutions. Their capabilities and expertise are wide and varied covering all aspects of ship operations, compliance and industry regulatory change. We rely and depend on this partnership and advice ensuring our business is compliant and forward thinking preparing for the future, well in advance.”
Another client said of the international arbitration group: “The team is rich in resources at home and abroad, such as the resources of the Chinese Law Office, the resources of expert witnesses, etc., which can serve customers very well. The billing method is more flexible, and it can provide a more flexible quotation method according to the needs of customers.”
About its corporate and M&A services, clients told Legal 500: “The team is made of really good lawyers, knowledgeable, experienced, with good analytical ability and very good appreciation of local issues that become crucial in transactions. They are also very approachable and friendly, down to earth people who have a very good understanding and appreciation of cultural differences."