Dentons has launched its previously announced combination with the Malaysia firm Zain & Co., a long-established and elite law firm in South East Asia.

The combination gives Dentons' clients access to the experience and talents of lawyers working in 74 countries. This combination uniquely positions Dentons to provide high-quality legal services to clients around the world.

Dentons already has a strong presence in Singapore and Myanmar, both members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and earlier this year we also announced a combination with a law firm in neighboring Indonesia, also an ASEAN member.

Dentons seeks to enable our clients to seamlessly access business opportunities across all ASEAN countries. In 2016, the ASEAN economy was collectively the third largest economy in Asia, and sixth largest in the world. Malaysia has a population of 31 million and a GDP of approximately US$300 billion, with a strong annual growth rate of 4.2 percent.

"Clients in South East Asia, and clients wanting to do business there, will benefit from high-quality legal service on a truly global scale that only Dentons can offer," said Joe Andrew, Global Chairman of Dentons. "Our clients have access to the deep local knowledge that is provided by lawyers who are both in and of the communities they serve.”

Zain & Co. is a full-service firm with a solid reputation and strong credentials. Key practice areas are Banking and Finance (including Islamic), Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Real Estate and Intellectual Property. It has established growing new practice areas in cybersecurity, blockchain technology, IP litigation, high net worth Islamic estate planning, and film and media.

"The launch today of our expansion in Malaysia with one of the best firms there will help us build on our currently strong South East Asia presence," said Philip Jeyaretnam, S.C., Global Vice-Chair and ASEAN CEO.

Zain & Co. has been a member of Nextlaw Referral Network since 2017.

"The launch of this combination with a truly high-quality firm in Malaysia gives us an even stronger presence in South East Asia and will further allow Dentons to pursue its strategy to become a pan-Asian law firm that reaches more of Asia than its competitors," said Elliott Portnoy, Global CEO of Dentons.

About Dentons

Across over 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organization by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com