Withers has enhanced its dispute resolution capabilities in Asia by appointing Mohammed Reza as partner and head of international arbitration at Withers KhattarWong, its affiliated practice in Singapore.

Reza joins after a decade at Simmons & Simmons, where he led the dispute resolution function in Singapore, having previously held a senior role at Rajah & Tann. 

He brings a wealth of experience in complex commercial litigation and arbitration, with a strong focus on cross-border disputes. His practice spans first instance and appellate litigation, international arbitration and regulatory investigations across the banking, energy, insurance and sports sectors.

Peter Wood, CEO of Withers’ global dispute resolution division, said: “Our clients increasingly operate across multiple jurisdictions, and the ability to effectively resolve complex, cross-border disputes is more critical than ever. Reza’s arrival enhances our international offering and reflects our commitment to providing market-leading dispute resolution services across key global centres.” 

Under Reza’s tenure, Simmons doubled the size of its disputes team in Singapore last year, with partner Terence Seah joining as a lateral hire from Stephenson Harwood and infrastructure disputes partner Steve Kaye relocating from London. 

Withers’ Asia divsion leader for dispute resolution, Chenthil Kumarasingam, noted the firm had made substantial moves to strengthen its disputes team in Singapore this year, having also added Pardeep Singh Khosa as Singapore head of litigation in January from Morgan Lewis. 

“As international arbitration continues to grow in Asia – and with Singapore solidifying its position as a leading arbitration hub – Reza’s expertise will be key to our expansion and provision of client services across the region,” Kumarasingam added. 

Reza agreed, noting the firm’s investment in servicing Asian disputes at a time of increased interest regionally, saying: “International arbitration in Asia is entering a transformative period, with Singapore and Hong Kong leading institutional innovation and enforcement reliability.

“Clients are increasingly seeking cross-border, industry-savvy counsel, and Withers is perfectly positioned to meet those needs with its international reach.”

Reza is a fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and a specialist mediator at the Singapore International Mediation Centre. He also serves on the appeals board of the Council for Estate Agencies and holds positions with the Law Society of Singapore and Pro Bono SG. 

Withers recently announced that trusts litigator Paul Hewitt will serve as its new chair from July 2025, and hired art law expert Mari-Claudia Jiménez as a partner and head of its newly formed art and advisory practice in New York. 

Reza is the second senior arbitration partner to leave Simmons & Simmons this month, with the firm’s co-head of international arbitration, Stuart Dutson, moving over to Stephenson Harwood in London.