Global law firm Reed Smith has announced the relocation of shipping and sanctions partner Alex Brandt from its London office to Singapore, effective 12 August 2026.

Brandt advises insurers, owners, charterers, brokers, and traders across the full spectrum of sanctions-related challenges. His work includes analyzing applicable legislation, conducting due diligence, and providing compliance training. He brings extensive experience in U.S. and UK government investigations, disclosures, and enforcement actions, and has played a central role in many high-profile designations, seizures, and enforcement proceedings involving members of the international shipping community.

The relocation comes as maritime stakeholders face intensifying sanctions compliance pressure, with the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) both having escalated enforcement activity against shipping companies, commodity traders, and vessel owners in recent years. Singapore, as one of the world's busiest transshipment hubs and a center for maritime services, has seen growing demand from clients seeking guidance on navigating overlapping U.S., UK, EU, and UN sanctions regimes.

In addition, Brandt has wide-ranging experience drafting protective language for transportation, trade, and financing contracts. He has collaborated with major lenders and other organizations to develop best-in-class compliance programs and has served on several BIMCO and other industry drafting committees, contributing to the development of standard clauses used across the maritime sector.

Beyond his sanctions practice, Brandt routinely advises on contractual and tortious rights and obligations covering a broad range of dry shipping matters, including charterparties, P&I club rules, bills of lading, ship sales and purchases, and shipbuilding contracts.

Brandt previously spent four years in Reed Smith's Hong Kong office, where he handled dry shipping work and assisted in multiple casualty investigations and criminal prosecutions arising from major maritime incidents.

Praj Samant, Reed Smith's Asia-Pacific managing partner, said: "We are very pleased to welcome Alex to the Singapore office, and back to Asia. He is a tremendous talent with a global perspective and commercial outlook, which is an invaluable asset to clients both in the region and beyond."

Richard Hakes, global chair of Reed Smith's Transportation Industry Group, said: "Our transportation practice's commitment to Asia and to our clients based in the region is longstanding and Alex's relocation is a direct response to the needs of our clients. We have a leading and growing shipping practice across Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore – with a number of new arrivals in the last year. Alex will be joining that team at an exciting time for us, and at a time where there is high regional demand for his complex sanctions advice."

Brandt added: "I am delighted to be making the move to a region I am very familiar with already. It is clear that our global clients require increased support in the region, and I look forward to working with the regional team here, as well as continuing to collaborate with our market-leading sanctions team globally."