DLA Piper has launched a strategic alliance with Indonesian law firm Ivan Almaida Baely & Firmansyah (IAB&F), as the global firm looks to step up its presence in the booming economic region.

According to its website, the Jakarta-based firm has two partners, including founding member Ivan Baely and offers services to international and domestic corporations, investors and state owned enterprises.

DLA has been actively involved in Indonesian matters for many years, advising Government, state-owned and local enterprises, international companies, financial institutions and funds on a broad range of matters.

However, to date, it has carried out this work from Singapore as Indonesian bar rules prevent international firms from practising local law directly. The association with IAB&F will allow DLA to service its clients directly from Indonesia.

Global co-chief executive Nigel Knowles said: "At DLA Piper we make it our business to do business where our clients do business. Indonesia is one of the fastest growing emerging economies in the world, with a young population, burgeoning middle class consumers and growing international trade – it makes sense for us to formalise our close ties with our partners there."

Numerous international law firms are targeting natural resource-rich Indonesia, with the alliance with IAB&F making DLA the latest in a string of firms to find similar arrangements.

Clyde & Co is looking for an alliance in the region, while, at the end of January, White & Case sealed an agreement to work exclusively with Indonesian firm MD & Partners, having previously had a non-exclusive arrangement with Jakarta-based Ali Budiardjo Nugroho Reksodiputro that ended in 2005.

Other firms with links in Indonesia include magic circle firms Allen & Overy and Linklaters, as well as Ashurst and Norton Rose.