When DLA Piper set its sights on Latin America as part of a strategic build-out more than a decade ago, the firm identified a handful of key markets where it hoped to establish a presence so as to better serve global clients.

The expansion has not come without some hiccups, but firm leaders are now working hard to align its local talent in the region with the goals and ethos of DLA Piper’s Americas practice, which is anchored in the U.S. The objective is to have top-notch lawyers on the ground who can add value to complex, and lucrative, cross-border work.