DLA Piper has entered new territory, finally crossing the border to Latin America. The firm has 62 offices in the U.S., U.K., Europe, Middle East, and Asia, but none in Central or South America. Taking steps to address this regional hole, DLA has launched a Latin America Initiative led by two Dallas lawyers. Partner Michael Santa Maria and counsel Todd Bowers already do cross-border deals; what the initiative will do is to establish a network of “best-friend” firms in Latin America with which DLA will work closely. Using that network, the firm will build its business in the region and eventually be able to select locations for offices. The best-friend firms include six in Mexico, four in Brazil, and three in Argentina.

Source: www.nylawyer.com