The world’s largest law firm by fee-earners, Dentons, is continuing its relentless global expansion as it announces new combinations with seven law firms across Africa, the Caribbean and South East Asia today (14 March).
Dentons is combining with Hamilton, Harrison & Mathews in Kenya, Mardemootoo Solicitors and Balgobin Chambers in Mauritius, Dinner Martin in the Cayman Islands, Delany Law in the Eastern Caribbean, Hanafiah Ponggawa & Partners (HPRP) in Indonesia, and Zain & Co in Malaysia. The combinations mean the firms become full voting, contributing and participating members of the Dentons group, and are expected to launch later this year subject to partner approval and meeting regulatory requirements.
The combinations will give Dentons a presence in 73 countries, and follow expansions in The Netherlands in early 2017 , Scotland in mid-2017 , and Uganda through a merger with that country’s largest law firm, Kampala Associated Advocates (KAA), in September last year kicking off a strategy to become the ‘first truly pan-African law firm’.
Dentons also expanded in Latin America last year through a strategic alliance with Brazil’s Vella Pugliese Buosi Guidoni and a combination with Gallo Barrios Pickmann in Peru, following the launch of Dentons Muñoz in Central America, Dentons López Velarde in Mexico and Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas in Colombia. It has also recently combined with firms in the South East Asia region.
Dentons said the seven new combinations would grow its offering in banking and finance, corporate, dispute resolution, real estate, tax and infrastructure.
Dentons global chief executive Elliott Portnoy commented: ‘We are growing faster in Latin America and the Caribbean – and with truly high-quality firms – in a way that no one has ever done before. Our new offices in Mauritius and Kenya complement our growing pan-African presence, coming on the heels of our expansion in neighbouring Uganda just last year. And our expansion in Indonesia and Malaysia builds on our presence in Singapore and Myanmar in the dynamic South East Asia region.’