Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has added Indonesian law firm Mataram Partners to its Asia network as the firm looks to further boost its profile in South East Asia.

The UK outfit, which has offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Singapore, established its Asia network earlier this year with a view to adding alliance firms in fast-growing countries with high demand for natural resources, manufacturing and infrastructure work.

Mataram's is a full service firm led by senior partner Andi Zulfikar, with a focus on mining and an office located within the Indonesian Stock Exchange building in Jakarta.

BLP has previously been servicing the country from its Singapore base, with the practice covering M&A, mining, oil and gas, asset finance, dispute resolution and private client work.

It is among a long list of international outfits to formalise a tie-up in the country, the latest being magic circle firm Clifford Chance in association with Linda Widyati & Partners (LWP).

"Indonesia is a key market for BLP," said Alistair Duffield, head of BLP Singapore and South East Asia.

"Already the largest economy in South East Asia, and one of the fastest growing economies in the world, this is a country with enormous potential.

"[It's] dynamic sectors, including natural resources, manufacturing and agriculture, are attracting increasing foreign attention and investment."
Mataram is the second law firm BLP has added to its Asia network this year.

In March it became one of the first international firms to venture into Myanmar through a non-exclusive tie-up with local firm Legal Network Consultants (LNC), aiming to focus on international investment into the country.

Others to have launched in Myanmar include Baker & McKenzie, which opened in commercial centre Yangon in February, Duane Morris Selvam, which signed leases in both Yangon and Naypyidaw last September, and London IP firm Rouse which launched in the country with a team of two partners in November.

BLP's managing partner Neville Eisenberg told Legal Week last month that the firm was doing work in Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Mongolia and Malaysia, hinting that tie ups in all of these areas were of interest.

He said the new Asia network would allow for secondment and training schemes between BLP and its relationship firms, as well as joint pitches for work and co-branding and co-marketing exercises.

Related: Clifford Chance moves into Indonesia with local tie-up