DLA Piper is set to end its formal relationship with Portuguese firm Miranda Correia Amendoeira & Associados as it looks for a more permanent tie-up in the region.

DLA announced today (22 September) that the firms will end their working relationship from 30 November this year, a decision which concludes the formal, non-exclusive tie-up which has been in place since 2004.

Both firms will now pursue their respective business strategies for the Iberian and Portuguese-speaking African markets independently, with DLA Piper understood to be seeking an exclusive tie-up in the region before the end of the year.

The news comes amid a review of DLA's business in which the firm is assessing which clients it should be acting for, where the firm should be located geographically and what services it should offer.

The review, which is being led by joint chief executive Nigel Knowles and global board chairman Francis Burch, for the first time sees DLA Piper International and DLA Piper US share the same three-year strategy.

The firm is aiming to increase its market share among major corporates and improve cross-selling between practices and geographical locations. DLA Piper International's current three-year strategy comes to an end on 31 December 2010.