Greenberg Traurig (GT) has hired a partner from Reed Smith to boost its infrastructure bench in London.

Richard Ceeney has joined GT as a shareholder after 18 years at his former firm. He is the second Reed Smith partner the firm has hired in London in the past month after finance specialist Kevin-Paul Deveau, with whom he will work closely to boost the firm’s infrastructure and projects offerings.

Ceeney has advised government authorities, lenders, sponsors, contractors and suppliers in the delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects worldwide, particularly within the transport, power, renewable energy and oil and gas sectors. 

GT noted Ceeney’s track record in structuring and negotiating EPC and EPCM contracts across multiple jurisdictions, adding that his experience in real estate development in relation to data centres and other digital infrastructure reinforced its existing capabilities. 

Fiona Adams, managing shareholder of GT’s London office and co-chair of its global corporate practice, said Ceeney’s experience complemented Deveau’s expertise in infrastructure and project finance, as well as that of other recent additions including Shashank Krishna, who leads the firm’s London energy practice, and arbitration shareholders Jason Hambury, Gurmukh Riyat and Clea Bigelow-Nuttall. 

“We now have the strength and depth of experience in our London office to support our clients on their most ambitious projects and transactions,” she added. 

GT said it had added 12 new shareholders to its 140-lawyer London office over the past year. Hambury, Riyat and Bigelow-Nuttall joined from Pinsent Masons last September as part of an effort by the firm to become a major force in disputes, the same month former Sidley Austin partner Sava Savov joined to lead the London private equity practice. 

Real estate finance partner Duncan Hubbard also defected from Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft last summer, following earlier real estate hires in the City from BCLP and Paul Hastings.

“Greenberg Traurig’s impressive growth in London, coupled with its global network, creates a unique platform for international infrastructure work,” Ceeney said. “I’m excited to join the firm and, alongside [Deveau] and my new colleagues, unlock new opportunities for our clients.”

A Reed Smith spokesperson said: “I can confirm that Richard has left the firm. We thank him for his contributions and wish him well for the future.”