Reed Smith has opened a four-partner office in Singapore, with two lateral hires from Holman Fenwick Willan and a number of relocations.

The new office is Reed Smith's fourth in Asia, and adds to its presence in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. It will be headed by arbitration partner Gautam Bhattacharyya, who relocates from London.

Bhattacharyya will be joined by Barry Stimpson and Simon Sloane from Holman Fenwick, who focus on shipping and arbitration respectively, and energy-focused Philip Antcliffe, who returns to Reed Smith as a partner, having left the firm as an associate in 2011 to work at Citigroup.

In addition to the four partners, Reed Smith is in the process of adding several associates in the local market.

"We're excited to follow the lead of our clients in the region and continue our strategic drive into key sectors including energy, natural resources, commodities and international trade, shipping and logistics" said Roger Parker, Reed Smith's managing partner for Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

The disputes and arbitration focus of the new office also reflects the prominence of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre as a major dispute resolution forum in the eyes of global corporates, the firm said. Bhattacharyya also pointed to Singapore's status as a gateway for commerce with India as a key strategic consideration.

Kyri Evagora, co-chair of the firm's energy and natural resources practice, added that London-based commodities lawyers would be deployed to the new office to work with clients in the region.

The firm's office space is currently held on a temporary lease, with a move into a permanent location in Ocean Financial Centre pencilled in for early 2013.