Squire Sanders has become the latest international law firm to grow its Asian footprint into Indonesia after forming a strategic alliance with local outfit Melli Darsa & Co.

The US firm, which currently manages Indonesian deals from its Singapore base, has entered into an association with the seven-partner entity that will involve co-marketing, co-branding, knowledge-sharing and potentially seconding lawyers to each other's offices.

Melli Darsa & Co was established in 2002, and currently ranks itself as a mid-sized firm in Indonesia with a total of 33 qualified lawyers.

Headquartered in Jakarta, it focuses on four core practices: banking and finance, corporate and commercial, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets.

There are currently no plans to send any Squire Sanders partners to work permanently in the office of the local firm, but there is a possibility for growth and hiring in the region.

James J. Maiwurm, CEO and Chair of Squire Sanders, said: "This alliance is a logical next step for the firm as we seek to support our clients who do business in Indonesia and across the Asia Pacific region.

"We are seeing increasing investment in Indonesia from countries such as China, Japan and Korea, and with our presence in all of those locations, and our desire to offer extensive, integrated regional coverage, it was clear that Indonesia was a missing link."

Squire Sanders has significantly ramped up its presence in Asia in the last 12 months, with new office launches in Sydney, Seoul and Singapore.

It is among a string of firms which has added Indonesia to its bow in the hopes of tapping Southeast Asia's largest economy for projects and transactional work.

Other firms who have made similar moves since January include Taylor Wessing, Clyde & Co, DLA Piper and White & Case.

However, despite growing numbers of foreign outfits on the ground, Indonesia continues to prohibit international law firms from practising Indonesian law.

Related: Taylor Wessing signs association in Indonesia