Simmons & Simmons has entered the South African market by forming a non-exclusive alliance with Canadian firm Fasken Martineau's African arm.

Fasken Martineau fully merged with Johannesburg-based firm Bell Dewar last February, with Bell Dewar managing partner Blaize Vance spearheading the  offering.

The alliance, negotiated by Simmons senior partner Colin Passmore and Fasken Martineau managing partner David Corbett, will focus predominantly on energy, infrastructure and TMT work.

Simmons' Africa focus group, comprising London energy partner Patrick Wallace and Paris energy partners Yves Baratte and Christian Taylor, will be overseeing the venture alongside Vance.

Simmons is not relocating any lawyers to South Africa on a permanent basis.

Passmore said: "It became increasingly obvious that we needed a presence in South Africa. We knew Fasken well and the alliance was the product of discussions that had been ongoing for several months."

Passmore added that further integration with other parts of Fasken Martineau were not on the agenda.

He said: "We have worked with the wider firm in Toronto and know it reasonably well, but Africa is the place where we both saw the need for a tie-up."

Simmons brokered a similar arrangement with New York outfit Seward & Kissel in 2012, when the two firms formed a non-exclusive venture focused on hedge funds and shipping finance work.