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Flag of Greece/clipart.com 2012
Pittsburgh-based Reed Smith has formed a strategic alliance with Athens, Greece-based business law firm Papapolitis & Papapolitis, aiming to team up on the "large projects and transactions" anticipated to come out of the economic struggles and structural reforms in Greece, according to a joint press release sent out Monday.
Reed Smith has had an office in Piraeus, Greece, since 2007, when it merged with 250-lawyer, London-based firm Richards Butler.
The firm currently has eight lawyers, including three partners, based in the office, which focuses mainly on shipping, life sciences, commercial disputes and corporate work.
According to a scan of the Am Law 100, Reed Smith is the only U.S.-based firm with an office in Greece.
In fact, it appears to be one of only three firms on the Global 100, along with Allen & Overy and Norton Rose, that have Greek offices.
Papapolitis & Papapolitis is a 114-year-old firm with 17 lawyers that centers its practice on banking, finance and capital markets, corporate governance, corporate and mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution, real estate and tax law.
According to the press release, the two firms have had "an informal working relationship" for the past two years.
Reed Smith global managing partner Gregory B. Jordan told The Legal Intelligencer Monday that the formation of the strategic alliance is an opportunity for Reed Smith to partner with a "strong and well-established" Greek firm.
"We've become increasingly close with the Papapolitis firm," Jordan said. "The purpose of the alliance is to get closer with them and to let the marketplace know."
Jordan said the two firms will now embark on joint marketing efforts.
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