CMS Cameron McKenna has set up a temporary base in Brazil to advise a number of energy clients on projects work, it has emerged.

Energy partners Ted Rhodes and Ivan Londres have been working in the South American country since last autumn on behalf of clients in the firm's energy, projects and construction (EPC) practice.

The news comes after Camerons highlighted Brazil as one of its targeted expansion areas in a new three-year strategy approved in December. However, the firm said it would not set up a formal presence in the country without clearing plans with its network of CMS alliance firms.

Camerons' Shanghai-based emerging markets head, Steven Shone, said: "Because of its oil fields, Brazil is now very important to our energy clients. We currently have lawyers from our London EPC group serving clients on the ground."

Camerons' French ally CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre has three Latin American offices, with bases in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

Shone said any further Brazil expansion would be done in co-operation with CMS: "Camerons has a reputation as a firm strong in emerging markets and clearly we want to develop that capacity. The BRIC countries are very important to us, but if we were ever to do more in Brazil we would do it with clearance from and in co-operation with our CMS colleagues."