Dentons has set up an alliance in Turkmenistan making it the first international law firm to secure a base in the emerging Central Asia market.

The UK firm has entered an exclusive association with AK Counsel, one of only two licensed law firms in Turkmenistan.

Dentons Central Asia managing partner Marla Valdez said: "Turkmenistan holds enormous energy potential and is set to become one of the world's leading natural gas producers. The market has only just opened and looks very promising as a new frontier."

The 11-lawyer AK Counsel has four partners, including managing partner Kerim Akmamedov, and is based in Turkmenistan capital Ashgabat.

In anticipation of the move, the firm also hired local lawyer Murad Haitov as a senior consultant, also based in Ashgabat.

Separately, Dentons is also preparing to seal its first South African alliance in March.