Bryan Cave has hired two senior partners from DLA Piper to lead its new office in Miami.

The Missouri-headquartered firm, which is looking to tap work coming from Florida and Latin America, in particular Florida-based litigation, has launched the new base at 200 South Biscayne Boulevard, with the recruitment of Pedro Martinez-Fraga and Ryan Reetz.

Martinez-Fraga, who was coordinator all of DLA's Latin American disputes work, will serve as co-leader of Bryan Cave's global international arbitration practice, whilst Reetz be managing partner of the Miami base.

Comment, Don Lents, chair of the firm said: "Miami is a global centre for international law and the principal US nexus to the Latin-American business community.

"Pedro and Ryan have a strong practice handling international arbitration cases and a wide range of matters for clients with interests in Latin America. Together with our presence across the US, Europe and Asia, this new office furthers our commitment to serve our clients globally."

Martinez-Fraga specialises in international litigation and transnational arbitration, covering matters related to sovereign immunity, act of state contentions, international investment law, corporate governance, anti-suit injunctions, oil and gas, asset tracing and interim relief.

He has represented seven sovereignties in Latin America as well as the Kingdom of Spain, and his arbitration experience includes disputes in the US, London, France, Germany and Hong Kong.

He has previously acted as US counsel for the Republic of Chile in the case against former Chilean President Augusto Pinochet, and also maintains an active international human rights group.

Reetz represents clients as trial counsel in international and domestic, commercial and regulatory disputes, handling both litigation and arbitration.

His practice ranges from investment disputes and sovereign immunity challenges, to class actions, unfair trade practice cases, fraud and claims and contract disputes related to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

Reetz currently serves as chair of the International Law Section of the Florida Bar.

Based in Miami, both partners previously worked for Squire Sanders & Dempsey, and before that Greenberg Traurig.

Martinez-Fraga was coordinator of Squire Sanders & Dempsey's international dispute resolution department in Florida and Latin America, and was also founder and chair of Greenberg Traurig's practice.

Bryan Cave has 27 offices around the globe, including three in Asia and five in Europe. It also has international consulting offices located in seven countries, namely China, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.