DLA Piper and the South African firm have been in formal alliance for a decade - but they have been involved in 'recent discussions aimed at aligning the firms and their respective businesses more closely', according to a Cliffe Dekker statement. When Cliffe Dekker decided not to integrate more closely,  the two 'concluded that their respective interests and strategies, internationally and on the African continent, are best delivered separately', according to the statement.

Informal collaboration

But the relationship continues in a less formal way, with the two working together on existing client relationship and referrring to each other 'where appropriate'.  Source: Cliffe Dekker