Days after announcing its fifth merger of 2015 with Luxembourg outfit OPF Partners, Dentons has today (30 November) announced it will launch a presence in Latin America and the Caribbean, and is considering combining with Colombia’s Cárdenas & Cárdenas, and Mexico’s López Velarde, Heftye y Soria (LVHS).
Having long touted its ambitions to expand in Latin America, the proposed deal with Cárdenas & Cárdenas and LVHS will extend the firm’s offering in disputes, banking and finance, corporate, IP, energy, infrastructure, and telecommunications.
If approved Denton’s headcount will grow by more than 55 lawyers in Colombia and more than 35 lawyers in Mexico, for a global total of more than 7,400. The tie-ups are subject to partner votes which are to be completed by December 18.
The firm first signalled its intent to launch in the region last year when it appointed Jorge Alers as its chief executive for Latin America and the Caribbean. Alers, who joined Dentons after serving as general counsel of the Inter-American Development Bank, has been ‘focused on helping the firm meet its goal for whole firm combinations in Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean’.
Global chair Joe Andrew said the region comprised of ‘opportunity-filled economies.’ He added: ‘Entering the region with a presence in two of its top four economies, and with firms that are aligned with the high level of service and quality that our clients expect, is key to delivering on our strategy to have seasoned, local talent, wherever our clients need it.’
Just weeks ago Dentons approved a tripartite union with Australian firm Gadens and Singaporean firm Rodyk & Davidson. The firm’s most high profile deal this year was a mammoth combination with Chinese firm Dacheng under a Swiss verein structure.
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk
