Reed Smith, the US law firm, has hired Mark Parkhouse to run its European corporate insolvency practice as part of its strategy to mirror its franchise in the US, where the company has worked for banks and creditors in several big bankruptcy cases.

Parkhouse joins Reed Smith's London office from Seddons, where he oversaw development of the company's corporate recovery services. He was previously head of insolvency and litigation at Steptoe & Johnson Rakisons.