Denton Wilde Sapte has announced its entry into the Turkmen market after cementing an association with domestic firm AK Counsel.

"We have been committed to Central Asia for over 15 years with offices in Almaty and Tashkent," said the firm's Central Asia managing partner Marla Valdez. "Turkmenistan holds enormous energy potential and is set to become one of the world's leading natural gas producers."  The firm's JV partner AK Counsel is located in capital city Ashgabat and headed by managing partner Kerim Akmamedov. The firm has 11 lawyers, including four partners, and focuses its advice on project work and foreign investments in Turkmenistan. Under the terms of the association, Denton Wilde Sapte and AK Counsel will combine their resources to provide legal advice to clients wishing to enter this emerging market.

The firm's man on the ground in Turkmenistan will be Dr Murad Haitov, who joined the firm in 2008 as a senior consultant.