Brazil is home to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and has become a point of interest for several firms this year.
The office will launch as a foreign legal consultancy, as required by the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), and will open as soon as all regulatory approvals are obtained. Jones Day will open its own office, with no association or alliance with any local law firm.
Jones Day São Paulo will focus on supporting global clients with inbound investments into Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America. It will also work with independent firms and provide legal counsel to Brazilian companies in their international operations. The office will concentrate on cross-border M&A, private equity, banking and finance and project finance/infrastructure transactions, as well as energy and capital markets.
“Brazil is a dynamic, expanding economy, and one of the world’s key emerging markets,” Stephen J. Brogan, managing partner of Jones Day, said in a press release. “It is a significant commodity producer, a world leader in energy, and home to some of the most important worldwide infrastructure projects undertaken in recent years.”
Luis Riesgo, chair of Jones Day’s Latin American practice, will move to São Paulo to serve as Partner-in-Charge of the new office.
Mercedes Fernandez will take over from Riesgo as Partner-in-Charge of the Madrid Office.
Jones Day is a global law firm with more than 2,500 lawyers, including over 400 in Europe and 200 in Asia, located in 33 centers of business and finance throughout the world.