DLA Piper has added Angolan firm ADCA to its Africa network, bringing the number of firms in the network to fifteen.

ADCA is a 16 lawyer firm based in Luanda and is a partner of Portuguese firm ABBC with which DLA has an existing connection.

DLA opened its first office on the continent in late 2015, launching in Casablanca, Morocco with a two partner team. It also plans to launch in Johannesburg, South Africa in early 2016.

Its move to open in South Africa comes after its alliance with South African firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) was broken off in August 2015 after its partners baulked at closer integration with DLA.

Former CDH chief operating officer Michael Whitaker was appointed by DLA to assist in the development of DLA's South Africa base.

David Church, international development partner at DLA Piper, said: "Welcoming ADCA into DLA Piper Africa marks another important step for DLA Piper as we further strengthen capabilities and expertise across the continent."

The DLA Africa Group is an alliance of law firms in 15 countries across the continent. The network currently has members in Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.