DLA Piper finalises exclusive tie-up with Portugal's ABBC

The talks were exclusively revealed by The Lawyer (1 November 2010). Under the terms of the agreement reached this week ABBC will become DLA Piper’s “focus firm” in Portugal, meaning it will have an exclusive referral relationship with the international giant.

However, as yet ABBC will not take on any DLA branding, although it is understood the relationship is likely to become closer over time.

The two firms are planning to use the relationship as a starting point to boost their practices in lusophone Africa.

ABBC has 56 fee-earners, all based in Portuguese capital Lisbon.