DLA Piper has opened in Colombia through a cooperation agreement with domestic firm Martinez Neira Abogados.

The agreement gives the firm its fourth regional base in the continent, adding to its office in Venezuela with DLA InterJuris Abogados and its cooperation agreement with Campos Mello Advogados in Brazil. In 2012 DLA entered a combination with Gallastegui y Lozano in Mexico.

The firm will operate in Colombia as DLA Piper Martinez Neira.

DLA global co-chair Roger Meltzer said: "Colombia is a key jurisdiction with particularly attractive opportunities, having experienced an historic economic boom in the last decade with strong prospects for continued growth. This agreement is just the latest step in our plan to continue to expand in Latin and Central America."

Separately, Martinez Neira Abogados is a member of LatamLex Abogados, an association of law firms located across Central America and Colombia, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

Latin America is of increasing interest to international law firms. Last year Eversheds announced the launch of a Latin American alliance network made up of 19 firms in 13 countries.

Meanwhile, Hogan Lovells opened in Mexico in July last year through a merger with local firm Barrera Siqueiros y Torres Landa, following years of speculation regarding the firm's ambitions in the Americas.