Reed Smith has named corporate specialist Jie Zhang and projects and finance attorney Simon Harvey as partners at the firm’s Beijing and Dubai office, respectively. Both lawyers specialise in advising clients in the energy and natural resources sector – a practice area where the firm is pushing for growth.

Previously a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, Zhang has significant experience in M&A and corporate matters, handling areas such as upstream oil and gas production, construction materials and oil and gas services. He also assists clients on China outbound and inbound investments.

Zhang’s arrival comes after Reed Smith added corporate partner Gregory Wang to its Hong Kong office in September 2015.

“Our strategic aim remains to continue the growth of our corporate offering in Hong Kong and Mainland China and our global energy and natural resources sector focus,” said Michael Fosh, the firm’s Beijing office managing partner, in a statement.

Harvey, a former partner at Pinsent Masons, oversees projects and infrastructure issues connected to gas, upstream, power, offshore work and minerals and resources. His recent experience involved water desalination and other public-private partnership programmes, as well as mixed-use commercial and residential property developments and advanced manufacturing. Harvey serves as project counsel for sponsors and developers, covering O&M, concession, EPC construction and financing.

At present, Reed Smith’s global energy energy and natural resources group has over 120 lawyers.