DAC Beachcroft has strengthened its presence in Brazil with a new association with Sao Paulo-based firm Wongtschowski & Zanotta (W&Z).

The 28-strong corporate and commercial firm specialises in corporate, capital and financial markets, contracts, civil and commercial litigation, tax, real estate and employment work – making it DAC's first association firm to not be insurance-focused.

The move will complement DAC Beachcroft's longstanding relationship with JBO Advocacia, a specialist insurance law firm also based in Sao Paulo. The Brazilian firms have many mutual clients due to their lack of service overlap.

DAC Beachcroft's has struck up a number of association relationships with firms across the globe and in March added De La Torre & Monroy and Gan Partnership in Colombia and Malaysia respectively.

The firm often uses alliances as a means to a full merger, illustrated by its three-way union with SegurosLex and Amunategui & Cia in Chile last November. SegurosLex had been an association firm of legacy Davies Arnold Cooper since 2010. Furthermore, the firm plans to turn its association with Canada firm McCague Borlack into a full merger in 2014 after signing into a two-year agreement in May 2011.

DAC Beachcroft managing partner Paul Murray said: "Our associations in Brazil are particularly important as the current rules don't allow for foreign-owned firms to operate within the country.

"Associations with trusted firms are part of the foundation of our strategy to expand our reach to meet the needs of our clients and this association with W&Z is another milestone in our development as an international firm."