LONDON--Law firm Reed Smith has handed international PR duties to Ogilvy PR, following a pitch that included as many as 19 agencies.

Ogilvy is charged with public and influencer relations to support Reed Smith's expansion across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Key initial markets are Germany, China, Greece, Singapore and the UAE.

The appointment follows a review that began earlier this year. The brief called for a PR agency to develop a thought leadership position for Reed Smith that could be implemented both globally and in the brand’s individual markets.

According to the American Lawyer, Reed Smith is the world's 25th largest law firm, with more than 1,700 lawyers across 23 global offices.

"Reed Smith’s geographic expansion over recent years has made it increasingly important for us to have a public relations agency that’s able to reflect our global footprint, ensuring on the ground support for our teams locally and providing an integrated service across the firm’s international platform," said Reed Smith EME PR manager Jeyda Star. "Ogilvy’s creative approach and truly global network impressed us most and we’re very excited to begin working with the team next year.”

Ogilvy PR UK MD Michael Frohlich added that his firm would seek to integrate its influencer relations expertise within Reed Smith's existing PR framework.