20/03/18

Dentons to combine with seven elite firms in Africa, the Caribbean and South East Asia

Combinations will uniquely position the world's largest law firm to meet client needs in yet more places around the globe

Dentons, the world's largest law firm, is today announcing combinations with seven leading law firms. It will combine with a leading law firm in Kenya, two leading law firms in Mauritius, two leading law firms in the Caribbean, one based in the west in the Cayman Islands and another based in the Barbados with coverage across the Eastern Caribbean, a leading law firm in Indonesia and a leading firm in Malaysia. These combinations with seven elite law firms in Africa, the Caribbean and South East Asia further the Firm's 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 and Delany Law in the Eastern Caribbean (including offices in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago); Hanafiah Ponggawa & Partners (HPRP) in Indonesia; and Zain & Co. in Malaysia.

These combinations will give Dentons' clients access to the experience and talents of lawyers working in 73 countries, and will uniquely position Dentons to provide high-quality legal services to clients around the world.

The combinations in Kenya and Mauritius follow in the wake of last year's combination in neighboring Uganda with Kampala Associated Advocates. Dentons traces its presence in Africa to the establishment of a Cairo, Egypt, office in 1964. It also has offices in Casablanca, Morocco, and Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, as well as Uganda. These combinations will further allow Dentons to pursue its Africa strategy to become a pan-African law firm that reaches more of Africa than its competitors.

The combinations in Barbados, the Cayman Islands and other islands in the Caribbean are forged in the wake of rapid expansion in Latin America, with a strategic alliance launched last year with Brazil's Vella Pugliese Buosi Guidoni as well as a combination with Gallo Barrios Pickmann in Peru. They also follow the earlier launch of Dentons Muñoz in Central America, and of Dentons López Velarde in Mexico and Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas in Colombia. These moves are part of Dentons' long-term strategy to build our presence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The combinations in Indonesia and Malaysia follow on recent combinations with firms in nations that are also members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), 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 neighboring 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."

"Clients within East Africa, the Caribbean and South East Asia, and clients wanting to do business in those growing regions, will benefit from high-quality legal service on a truly global scale that only Dentons can offer," said Joe Andrew, Global Chairman of Dentons. "Our clients have access to the deep local knowledge that is provided by lawyers who are both in and of the communities they serve.”

The combinations enhance Dentons' depth and reach in key business sectors and practice groups, including Banking and Finance, Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Real Estate and Tax, as well as greatly boost our capabilities in infrastructure rebuilding.

"Our expansion in Kenya will build on our East Africa presence in Uganda, while our combinations in Mauritius will help us pursue our overall Africa growth strategy," said Noor Kapdi, CEO of Dentons' Africa region and Managing Partner of Dentons South Africa.

"These combinations with Dentons will allow us to continue our unprecedented, rapid growth in Latin America and the Caribbean," said Jorge Alers, CEO of Dentons Latin America and Caribbean region.

"Our expansion in Indonesia and Malaysia high-quality firms there will help us build on our currently strong South East Asia presence in region with very dynamic economies," said Philip Jeyaretnam, S.C., Singapore Chief Executive Officer, Global Vice-Chair and the first CEO of Dentons ASEAN Region.

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

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