Garrigues has exited from its alliance network in Latin America as the Spanish independent targets solo expansion in the region.

The Affinitas alliance – which launched in February 2004 – tied Garrigues with Argentine firm Bruchou Fernandez Madero & Lombardi, Mexican firm Mijares Angoitia Cortes & Fuentes, Bogota-based firm Gomez-Pinzon Zuleta, Miranda & Amado in Peru and Chilean firm Barros & Errazuriz.

Garrigues will open offices in Colombia, Mexico and Peru and intends to practise local law. It is also targeting office openings in countries outside Affinitas' geographical base.

The Madrid-headquartered firm said that such regional expansion plans needed to be done independently and therefore it could not continue its membership of the alliance.

"Latin America represents a key strategic region for a significant number of Garrigues' clients, who, hailing from different origins and on a consistent basis, have been pursuing their activities in the area," the firm said in a statement.

In 2012, 26% of Garrigues' clients were geographically based in the Americas.

Commenting on the move, managing partner Fernando Vives (pictured) said: "Garrigues holds the Affinitas member firms in the highest esteem and intends to maintain the excellent professional relations that have united them throughout this period."

The Affinitas network was originally spearheaded by Garrigues in order to build on the increasing business links between Iberia and Latin America.