Bird & Bird has expanded its presence in the Asia-Pacific region by entering into partnership with two Indonesian firms.

The co-operation agreements, with intellectual property specialists K&K Advocates and business law firm Nurjadin Sumono Mulyadi & Partners (NSMP) were finalised yesterday (24 June). Both firms are based in Jakarta.

The move follows Two Birds' entry into Korea in February through a non-exclusive partnership with Seoul-based outfit Hwang Mok Park (HMP).

Bird & Bird also has similar tie-ups in Malaysia and China, as well as offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, while it has a further base in Singapore through its global association with ATMD Bird & Bird.

"The Indonesian economy is fast moving into a new consumer led development phase which has resulted in a growing demand for high-quality, international advice in areas where technology and regulation are driving change," said the the UK firm's chief executive David Kerr.

In the next three to five years, Bird & Bird aims to grow its Asia practice from 15% to 20% of firmwide revenues and lawyer headcount.

Last month, Legal Week reported that Bird and Bird is working towards an extension of its cooperation agreement with Sydney law firm Truman Hoyle that would result in an into a full merger in the autumn.

Other UK firms to have made recent moves in the Indonesian legal market include Taylor Wessing, which tied up with local outfit Hanafiah Ponggawa & Partners (HPRP) last October, while Clifford Chance entered into an association with local outfit Linda Widyati & Partners (LWP) in January.

BLP is also understood to be considering a tie-up with a local firm in the country as part of a wider plan to tap emerging markets through its new BLP Asia network.