Reed Smith adds shipping group

Reed Smith adds shipping group    Reed Smith LLP said Tuesday that two maritime lawyers had joined its shipping group.
   C. Jonathan Benner and Matthew J. Thomas have become partners at the firm's Washington office. Benner was practice group leader of Troutman Sanders' Transportation Practice in Washington, and Thomas was a member of that group.
   'Their practice mirrors our international capabilities and will enable us to provide the same high quality of service in the U.S that our shipping sector clients are accustomed to in other parts of the world especially in London, Paris, Greece, Dubai and Hong Kong,' said Gregory B. Jordan, Reed Smith's global managing partner. He said it was “a great first move in the development of a U.S.-based shipping practice.'
   They will focus on domestic and international maritime and shipping matters as well as trade regulation issues incidental to global commerce. In addition to representing ship owners and managers, container, tanker and cruise line operators, maritime trade associations, international marine insurance groups, and investment entities, a primary element of their practice is the representation of major U.S. ports and marine terminals in legal disputes concerning environmental and infrastructure development.