U.S. firm Dickinson Wright has formed an alliance with full-service Macau firm MdME. The move is expected to extend Dickson Wright’s reach into Asia, and open the door for MdME’s clients to enter the American and European markets.

The arrangement with MdME gives Dickinson Wright access to the world’s largest gambling market; Reuters reported that casino revenue hit about 268 billion patacas ($33.5 billion) in 2011. Since Macau is the only destination in China where gambling is permitted, gamers pouring in from the mainland have helped drive the former Portuguese colony’s growth.

The two firms are also expected to refer work to each other, and split the resulting generated revenue. Dickinson Wright has similar alliances with WH Partners in Malta, and Varela & Fonseca Abogados in Peru.

The nine member MdME practice is led by partners Goncalo Mendes da Maia, João Encarnação, Luis Mesquita de Melo and Rui Pinto Proenca. Dickinson Wright, on the other hand, has 10 offices in the U.S. and Canada. ALB

Kanishk Verghese is North Asia journalist at ALB. Follow him on Twitter: @ALB_Magazine.

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