Dentons, the world's largest law firm, today announced it will form a combination with Gallo Barrios Pickmann in Peru, one of the strongest and fastest-growing economies in Latin America.

The proposed combination would uniquely position Dentons and Gallo Barrios Pickmann to provide high-quality legal services to clients within Peru and around the world.

If approved by the partners of both firms, this combination would give Gallo Barrios Pickmann's clients access to the experience and talents of thousands of lawyers working from more than 60 countries on six continents. Similarly, Dentons' existing global clients would have direct access to the talented lawyers of Gallo Barrios Pickmann in Lima, Peru's capital.

“By combining with a high-quality firm in Peru, Dentons confirms its reputation as not just the largest law firm in the world, but the leading law firm,” said Joe Andrew, Global Chairman of Dentons.

The proposed combination follows a proposed strategic alliance announced earlier this month with Brazil's Vella Pugliese Buosi Guidoni. It also follows the launch earlier this year of Dentons Muñoz in Central America, and the launch last year of Dentons López Velarde in Mexico and Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas in Colombia. These moves are part of our long-planned strategy to build our fast-growing presence in Latin America.

"With this combination we are truly poised to become one of the leading firms in Latin America," said Elliott Portnoy, Global CEO of Dentons. "We are growing faster there—and with truly high-quality firms—than anyone has ever done before."

The combination enhances both firms' depth and reach in key business sectors and practice groups, including Banking and Finance; Corporate; Dispute Resolution and Litigation; Labor, Employment and Migration; Mining and Natural Resources; and Tax.

"The proposed combination with Dentons, with its polycentric approach, will allow us to maintain our deep roots in the local community and the best attributes of our firm, which have enabled us to become one of the elite firms in Peru," said Julio Gallo, of Gallo Barrios Pickmann.

Following approval by partners of both firms, who are expected to vote on it in the next few weeks, the proposed combination will launch later in 2017.