Clyde & Co has formed an association in New Zealand with Auckland insurance litigation boutique Fee Langstone.

The two firms will enter into a best friends relationship, which will see them collaborate on cases, refer work to one another and join forces for Asia-Pacific marketing initiatives.

Fee Langstone, which is led by co-founding partners Philippa Fee and Craig Langstone, has about 20 lawyers, including five partners. Until 2015 it was known as Jones Fee, but rebranded as Fee Langstone after name partner Greg Jones split off from the partnership.

The firm's practice covers a range of insurance disputes including professional negligence, directors' and officers' liability, and shipping and aviation matters. This May, it successfully defended Vero Insurance New Zealand, one of the country's largest insurers, on a dispute arising from the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

Clydes Australia managing partner Dean Carrigan said the firm had worked with clients on New Zealand-related matters for many years. "It's strategic to collaborate with a leading New Zealand law firm [and] to be able provide a comprehensive service for clients with interests in New Zealand," he said.

New Zealand is the second association Clydes sealed in the past month. In November, the firm also entered a relationship with seven-lawyer Malaysian firm Shaikh David & Co.

Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region, Clydes also has associated offices in Mongolia, India and Indonesia.