Portuguese independent Morais Leitao Galvao Teles Soares da Silva & Asociados has strengthened its position in Asia with an alliance in mainland China.

The firm has joined forces with Macau law firm MdME in a formal alliance, in a bid to capitalise on outbound investments in Portuguese-speaking countries by Chinese investors.

The move marks the third formal international alliance for Morais Leitao, coming on the back of an alliance formed in Brazil in 2006, and another in Angola earlier this year.

Corporate and commercial partner Nuno Galvao Teles said: "The firm is pleased with this decisive step in furthering its international strategy and particularly for having found a partner with the quality and professionalism of MdME.

"With this alliance our clients may be assured that the same top-notch and professional legal services provided in Portugal will be provided in Macau and China."

Macau was formerly a Portuguese colony until sovereignty was transferred to China in December 1999.

Morais Leitao has 160 lawyers across three offices in Portugal in Lisbon, Porto and Funchal. Three-partner firm MdME advises on banking and finance, corporate and M&A, construction and infrastructures, litigation and arbitration and real estate.

News of Morais Leitao's tie-up comes after fellow Portuguese firm PLMJ set up a new alliance in China with Dacheng Law Offices, while Abreu Advogados confirmed a Mozambique tie-up with local firm Ferreira Rocha & Associados earlier this month.