Reed Smith signage Photo: Jason Doiy/ALM

Reed Smith has lost another partner from its London base after a flurry of exits earlier in 2020.

The firm's LNG and offshore groups co-leader, dispute resolution partner Marcus Dodds, has joined WFW as a partner in London.

Dodds had been a partner at Reed Smith for 13 years, having been an associate at legacy Richards Butler.

Prior to that he was a ship's captain, and specialised in dry-shipping, offshore and Admiralty matters, both contentious and non-contentious. He also previously acted as external legal advisor to the international industry body Society of International Gas Tanker & Terminal Operators Ltd.

WFW London dispute resolution co-head Andrew Ward said in a statement: "Expanding our global disputes practice is a key strategic growth ambition for the firm and a talented partner such as Marcus joining us, especially given the perfect alignment between his areas of special expertise and the firm's core sectors, demonstrates our commitment to and success in achieving that goal".

A Reed Smith spokesperson said in a statemnt: "I can confirm that Marcus Dodds will be leaving the firm. We thank him for his contributions and wish him well for the future."

Reed Smith has had a bumpy 2020 so far, with a slew of London partner exits at the start of the year and has had to take several reactive measures to the COVID-19 crisis across its international business.

Three finance partners – Monica Barton; Ranajoy Basu and James Fisher – left its London base in a matter of weeks earlier this year to join rival U.S. firms.

Meanwhile the firm has taken several measures to protect its business from the financial impact of the coronavirus, including halting all business services hires, making partner pay cuts and then extending those cuts, and undertaking a redundancy consultation in its London base.

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