Expansive US national law firm Reed Smith has secured a major platform for Asian growth after last Thursday (18 October) brokering its long-planned merger with Richards Butler’s profitable Hong Kong arm.

As reported on 19 October by legalweek.com, the deal was struck after prolonged talks between the US-based law firm and the Hong Kong practice, which have been ongoing since Reed Smith’s tie-up with Richards Butler’s London office in June last year.