Denton Wilde Sapte is reviewing its association with Tanzanian law firm Mkono & Co after the firm last month signed a rival agreement with US practice Hunton & Williams.

Huntons plans to go ahead with its first African alliance – aiming to cooperate on energy and infrastructure work with cross-referrals between Asia, Africa and the US.

Huntons maintains that it believed Mkono's relationship with Dentons was also non-exclusive and that the African firm had cleared the agreement with Dentons. Emerging markets partner John Beardsworth told Legal Week: "Tanzania is an investment destination and we have been working here for about 15 years… people will look for the best combination of a local and an international firm for legal transactions."

Dentons told Legal Week it would monitor the situation to see if the firm's relationship with Huntons impacted on service levels for clients. The firm said: "The association with Mkono has been in place for over eight years and is still in operation… Having operated in East Africa for many years, and worked with other firms in Tanzania… if necessary, Denton Wilde Sapte will enter into an association elsewhere."

Dentons has eight associations in Africa: in Algeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, Ghana, Mauritius and Botswana. The firm denied reports that Kenyan ally Hamilton Harrison & Matthews is set to join the association this year.