BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Global law firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., already one of the most active and broadly positioned US firms in Latin America, is expanding its network of local and regional firms to provide multinational clients a one-stop shop in Latin America and the Caribbean Basin.

Squire Sanders Legal Counsel Worldwide Network will provide clients of Squire Sanders and network member firms instant access to legal services provided by well-respected law firms committed to working collaboratively in Latin American countries where Squire Sanders does not have offices. Member firms will also be able to offer their clients legal counsel from the fully integrated Squire Sanders global platform, which spans Asia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. The new network covers approximately 93 percent of South America's landmass and 94 percent of South America's population.

Squire Sanders' pre-existing network included Estudio Bunge - Bunge, Smith & Luchia Puig - Abogados in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Toro & Depolo in Santiago, Chile. The network will be expanded to include Guevara & Gutierrez S.C. in La Paz, Bolivia; Munoz Tamayo & Asociados in Bogota, Colombia; Fabrega, Molino & Mulino in Panama, Republic of Panama; and Rebaza, Alcazar & De Las Casas in Lima, Peru. Network members will work closely with Squire Sanders offices in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; and Caracas, Venezuela.

"The new network is off to a great start with these strong, prestigious firms, all of which are known and respected for their understanding of their local business and legal markets and their experience advising multinational clients," said Squire Sanders Chair R. Thomas Stanton. "Our network colleagues will assist us in supporting our multinational clients' business goals. Our clients in the United States, Asia and Europe, in particular, are showing increased interest in opportunities in Central and South America, and many view these opportunities from a regional perspective. Our network will respond to client demand for an integrated regional legal resources solution."

Diego Cesar Bunge, head of Estudio Bunge - Bunge, Smith & Luchia Puig in Buenos Aires, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week, said the expanded legal network grows out of the effective working relationships his firm and Santiago's Toro & Depolo developed during several years of association.

"Businesses in Latin America are increasingly participating in the global economy," Bunge said. "The network fulfills our clients' need for high-caliber legal counsel not only throughout Latin America and the Caribbean Basin, but throughout the world."

Stanton added that Squire Sanders continues to discuss opportunities with other potential network partners in the region. www.ssd.com

"We anticipate long and productive relationships with the firms already in the network and expect we will be introducing additional firms to the network in short order," he said.

About Squire Sanders: Founded in 1890, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. has lawyers in 32 offices and 15 countries around the world. With one of the strongest integrated global platforms and a longstanding one-firm philosophy, Squire Sanders provides sophisticated seamless legal counsel worldwide. Offices in the Americas are located in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Palo Alto, Phoenix, San Francisco, Tallahassee, Tampa, Tysons Corner, Washington DC, West Palm Beach, Caracas, Rio de Janeiro, Santo Domingo and Sao Paulo. In Europe, offices are in Bratislava, Brussels, Budapest, Frankfurt, Kyiv, London, Moscow, Prague and Warsaw. In Asia, offices are in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo. Squire Sanders Legal Counsel Worldwide Network firms are located in Bogota, Buenos Aires, La Paz, Lima, Panama and Santiago. Associated firms are in Bucharest and Dublin.

    Contact:
    Drez Jennings
    Media Relations Manager
    Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.
    +1.216.802.7301
    djennings@ssd.com

SOURCE Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.