Dentons adds seven more firms in further global expansion

Dentons, the world's largest law firm, has announced combinations with another seven law firms, in the Caribbean, Kenya, Mauritius and south east Asia.

The firm, which last year merged with Maclay Murray & Spens to establish a Scottish operation, said the deals would further its "stated growth strategies in these dynamic and growing regions".

Dentons will combine with Hamilton, Harrison & Mathews in Kenya; Mardemootoo Solicitors and Balgobin Chambers in Mauritius; Dinner Martin in the Cayman Islands (west Caribbean) and Delany Law in the eastern Caribbean (including offices in Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago); Hanafiah Ponggawa & Partners (HPRP) in Indonesia; and Zain & Co in Malaysia.

As a result Dentons will have a presence in 73 countries.

The combinations in Kenya and Mauritius follow in the wake of last year's combination in neighboring Uganda with Kampala Associated Advocates. The Caribbean moves come in the wake of rapid expansion in Latin America, including a strategic alliance last year with Brazil's Vella Pugliese Buosi Guidoni and a combination with Gallo Barrios Pickmann in Peru, and the earlier launch of Dentons practices in Colombia, Central America and Mexico and Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas in Colombia. Other south east Asia combinations have been completed in Singapore and Myanmar.

"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," said Elliott Portnoy, global CEO of Dentons. "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."

The seven combinations, following approval by partners and subject to meeting regulatory requirements in each jurisdiction, are expected to launch later in 2018.