Mayer Brown has bolstered its South American practice after sealing an alliance with Brazilian firm Tauil & Chequer (T&C).

T&C, which specialises in energy and infrastructure work and has offices in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, will now operate as Tauil & Chequer in association with Mayer Brown.

Mayer Brown said that it will maintain its Sao Paulo office, but that it will now turn to the 60-lawyer Brazilian firm for local counsel.

Mayer Brown announced its Sao Paulo launch in September 2007, sending out corporate partner Stephen Hood to head up the office.

The firm currently has four partners and seven associates in its Brazilian outpost.

Commenting on the alliance, Mayer Brown chairman Bert Krueger said: "This agreement marks an important milestone in the execution of Mayer Brown's global strategy to leverage the strengths of our local offices and our global platform.

"Combining the resources of our Sao Paulo office and T&C will deliver important benefits to our current and future clients and create new growth opportunities for both firms."

The news comes a month after the firm's Paris arm merged with litigation boutique Ayela Semerdjian & Associes, gifting the firm seven litigation and arbitration lawyers, including name partners Christophe Ayela and Renaud Semerdjian.