Bird & Bird has struck a cooperation agreement with Swiss firm BCCC Advocats, marking the firm's third recent such deal in the wake of moves into the Australia and Denmark markets.

The firms signed the agreement last month. It is understood that the co-operation deal could potentially lead to a full merger in future.

BCCC's relationship with Bird & Bird began in 2009, a year before the firms jointly created a forum for general counsel based in the Lake Geneva and Thones-Alpes region, called the Legal Counsel Club.

The Swiss firm, which has 24 lawyers including eight partners, has offices in Geneva and Lausanne, and handles a range of work including technology, media and telecoms, healthcare and life sciences. Its clients include corporations, small and medium enterprises and start-ups active in the Lake Geneva region, as well as entrepreneurs, families and individuals.

Bird & Bird head of France Frederique Dupuis-Toubol said: "Switzerland is emerging as a key European arbitration hub, increasing 15% year on year. This, combined with the recently founded Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, presents great opportunities for us to develop and expand our work in this region.

"As the only international law firm with a presence in Lyon we have been uniquely positioned in the area for a number of years and this agreement will allow us to strengthen our relationships and better support new and existing clients."

The news comes weeks after Bird & Bird announced an exclusive cooperation agreement with Australian firm Truman Hoyle, a deal which could also lead to a future merger. The Sydney-based firm, which has 30 lawyers, will now jointly market its services with Bird & Bird.

Bird & Bird is currently gearing up to merge with its Danish ally Bender von Haller Dragsted after entering into a strategic cooperation agreement at the start of 2012. The merger will go live on 1 May.