International law firm Reed Smith is pleased to announce the appointment of partner Brett Hillis to its Energy and Natural Resources group. Brett, who was previously at SNR Denton, will join the firm's London office on 16th May.

Brett focuses on a combination of energy trading and derivatives, regulatory and related transactional work. He primarily works for banks and energy companies active in the trading sector, advising them on commodity and environmental derivatives agreements, exchange traded products, and the impact of financial services regulation and regulatory capital requirements. He has also acted in the areas of asset management, Islamic finance, payment services and financial sector outsourcing and M&A.

Kyri Evagora, Reed Smith partner, commented:

"We are delighted to be recruiting one of the market's best names in commodity derivatives and regulation. Brett's expertise in financial regulatory law is of increasing importance to energy traders and, more broadly, to all traders of commodities and derivatives. This is a function of the unprecedented levels of reform currently underway around the world and the far broader application of these laws and regulations than was historically the case.

"His financial derivatives focus in power and gas trading will complement the physical trading practice. Brett's financial regulatory expertise is also a very welcome strengthening of our firm's relationship with clients in the financial industry."

Brett Hillis added:

"Reed Smith's integrated approach to energy and natural resources, and ability to serve energy clients across products and disciplines, is extremely impressive and makes Reed Smith a natural fit for what I do."

Brett's appointment marks the eighth new partner to join Reed Smith's Energy and Natural Resources practice in London in the last year. His arrival follows the recent appointments of associates Lynne Davy, Elinor Crowther, Joseph Otoo and Shareena Edmonds who joined the group's energy projects team in April and the appointments of partners Stefan Schmitz, Gordon Bell, Peter Cassidy, Keith Hartley, Vincent Rowan, Siân Fellows and John Varholy who have joined over the last 12 months.

ENDS

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Reed Smith is a global law firm, with 22 offices and nearly 1,600 lawyers in offices across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States.

For further information please visit www.reedsmith.com or contact Jeyda Star (PR Manager EME) on +44 (0)20 3116 2571.