Reed Smith is entering into a formal law alliance (FLA) with Singapore firm Resource Law, the firm announced today.

Through the FLA arrangement Reed Smith will be able to offer domestic Singapore law in addition to its international offering, and also represent clients in Singapore courts.

Only created this year, Resource Law is headed by former joint managing director of Incisive Law – Ince & Co's FLA in Singapore – Mohan Subbaraman, who left the firm in February this year.

Subbaraman left Ince along with the firm's office head Richard Lovell.

Resource Law currently has a team of eight lawyers in addition to Subbaraman. The combined firm's offering will include transactional, corporate and dispute resolution capabilities.

Subbaraman said: "As Singapore consolidates its position as one of the world's leading international dispute resolution, commodity trading, maritime and financial centres, I am confident our enhanced offering via the FLA will become even more important as we aim to support and grow these practice areas."

Under FLA regulations the firms are able to share branding, training and expertise and issue single bills when they have cooperated on a matter.

Reed Smith's Singapore managing partner Barry Stimpson told Legal Week: "There were a number of matters that we were receiving every year that had an element of Singapore law – the final piece of the puzzle was an alliance.

"It not only provides our clients with the ability to call on us to provide Singapore work but it's opened doors that were closed to us in sectors where Reed Smith does practice, for example work in the regulatory, life sciences, pharmaceutical and financial industries. It's relevant not just in terms of existing areas but for new ones too."

Reed Smith is the latest firm to gain Singapore law capabilities in the city-state. Last year, Herbert Smith Freehills tied up with best friend firm Prolegis, while Olswang entered into an association with Holborn Law  in December.

However, last week (12 July) Watson Farley & Williams announced it is ending its Joint Law Venture with Asia Practice LLP.

Pictured from R-L are: Subbaraman Mohan (managing director), Bernard Yee (director), Kohe Hasan (director) and Barry Stimpson (Reed Smith Singapore office managing partner).