Dentons, the world’s largest law firm by headcount, has entered the Chilean market by combining with local firm Larrain Rencoret Urzua (LRU).

According to the firm, the combination builds on Dentons’ strategy of expansion in Latin America and the Caribbean and follows recent combinations this year in both the Caribbean and the Cayman Islands. Combinations have also previously been announced in Peru, Mexico and Colombia.

LRU, based in Santiago, has 33 lawyers and a full range of practice areas. It specialises in projects and infrastructure, banking and finance, and mergers and acquisitions.

Jorge Alers, chief executive of Dentons Latin America and the Caribbean region, said: ‘This combination in Chile with a strong firm like LRU will help us continue to attract even more top talent and top law firms in Latin America and the Caribbean.’

The combination is expected to launch in the next few months, subject to meeting regulatory requirements.

Dentons has offices in more than 70 countries and has 8,800 lawyers across the world. The firm has announced several expansions in the past few years including mergers with US firm McKenna Long & Aldridge and Chinese firm Dacheng.  Most recently, the firm said it had set up a ‘Eurozone’ hub in Frankfurt to help meet possible consequences of Brexit.