Mexico's Jauregui Navarrete & Nader has become the first Mexican firm to launch an office in London.

The office, which will be headed up by partner Yves Hayaux du Tilly, opened for business in the City on 1 July at 60 Lombard Street.

The new base will provide advice on Mexican law to Jauregui's clients in London and Europe, while the firm is also aiming to identify business opportunities for its existing clients in the region.

Hayaux du Tilly has been head of insurance and reinsurance at the firm since 2004, and the London base will have a specific focus on insurance alongside general advice on conducting business in Mexico.

He said: "We have been working with London-based international firms on a number of insurance and reinsurance cases for some time and we decided to take the opportunity to get closer to them and develop other areas of practice involving Mexico.

"If all goes well we will look to grow the office to between three and five Mexican lawyers within the next two years."

South America has been a significant area of expansion for global firms over recent years. Last year Jones Day launched its first office in Latin America with a merger with its referral partner in Mexico City, De Ovando & Martinez del Campo.