LOS ANGELES — Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has announced plans to open an office in São Paulo, Brazil, becoming the latest law firm to target South America.
Lisa Alfaro, co-chairwoman of the firm’s Latin America practice group and a partner in the New York office, will move to São Paulo to head the office. Two other partners — Kevin Kelley, co-chairman of the capital markets practice group, and William Campbell, co-chairman of both the Latin America practice group and the energy and infrastructure practice group — will continue to work on Brazilian matters from the firm’s New York office.
The Los Angeles-based firm is still in the process of obtaining a license for its São Paulo location, but Alfaro said that she expects the office, which will include an associate, to open within a few weeks.
“We’re seeing Brazilian companies maturing and growing and becoming more sophisticated players, and that requires international law needs and New York law, specifically,” Alfaro said. “Also, we’re still seeing private equity coming to Brazil. Several clients who have never invested before are still interested in Brazil, even given the economic situation. Brazil’s economy has remained stable and very diverse, with biofuels, mining, logistics, consumer products. It’s still a really very good investment environment here.”
During the past five years, more than a half-dozen law firms have opened offices in São Paulo. Among them are Shearman & Sterling; Proskauer Rose; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Mayer Brown; Squire, Sanders & Dempsey; Allen & Overy; and Thompson & Knight.
American lawyers cannot practice Brazilian law but can be approved as foreign attorneys practicing U.S. law in the country under an arduous regulatory process.
Gibson Dunn is the first West Coast firm to open an office there.
Its São Paulo office will focus on energy and infrastructure project finance, capital markets and mergers and acquisitions. The firm has been serving the region for the past decade in those practice areas, as well as in private equity, fund formation, real estate and international arbitration.
Last year, Gibson Dunn opened offices in Dubai and Singapore. São Paulo is the firm’s first in South America.
Amanda Bronstad can be reached at [email protected].
