Kennedys has merged with its Portuguese alliance partner Almeida & Athayde as the fast-growing UK firm continues its international expansion.

The merger went live today (1 March) following a six-year relationship between the two firms.

Almeida is made up of five lawyers based in Lisbon including founding partners Augusto de Albuquerque de Athayde and Paulo Cruz Almeida.

The move marks Kennedys' eighth international office outside the UK. The firm has a further seven associated firms in Chile, France, Ireland, India, Pakistan, Poland and the United Arab Emirates.

Kennedys senior partner Nick Thomas (pictured) said: "When we went into association with our Portuguese colleagues it was because we needed a contact point in the Portuguese market and the Portuguese-speaking world, particularly to complement our Madrid office.

"We viewed it a bit like an engagement; we always hoped to take the relationship to a full merger, and now is the right time to make that move."

The news follows the firm's move into Miami in October last year, which marked the firm's first presence in the US. The launch was prompted by the firm's desire to be closer to its Latin American and Caribbean clients.

In addition to the Lisbon and Miami bases, Kennedys has other offices outside the UK in Sydney, Hong Kong, Auckland, Singapore, Madrid and Dubai.