Hammonds has been appointed as legal counsel for the Brazilian Government to advise on matters concerning the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The firm's trade law team in Brussels won the tender alongside Greenberg Traurig and Brazilian law firm LO Baptista, beating competition from 12 other bidders including Hogan Lovells, White & Case and Mayer Brown.

The team was led by head of trade Vassilis Akritidis alongside counsel Yongqing Bao and associates Yves Melin, Fernanda Crespo and Jochen Beck.

Hammonds has previously advised the Russian, Chinese and Indian Governments on WTO matters.

Most recently, the firm acted for South Korea as a third party on the Airbus v Boeing case that has seen the WTO side with Boeing over alleged illegal subsidies provided to Airbus.

Akritidis said: "We have been advising various governments on WTO matters over the past few years, but this Brazilian appointment is particularly significant because Brazil is historically one of the most active WTO members.

"I think that this will also give way to more work for the firm as a whole in Brazil and the Americas, and already we have had a number of cases through, due to the visibility of this instruction."

Hammonds' appointment lasts for up to four years, at which point the tender will be reviewed. Meanwhile, the firm has also expanded its trade law team with the hire of Robert MacLean from Crowell & Moring.

MacLean joined Hammonds' Brussels arm this week from his role as a partner in the European Union and international trade practice group at his previous firm. He was at Crowell & Moring for seven years, prior to which he was a partner at CMS Cameron McKenna in Brussels from 2000-03.