In its first foray into Latin America, Mayer Brown has set up shop in Sao Paulo.
Stephen Hood, a former head of Clifford Chance's capital markets group in London, will run the new office.
The firm's chairman, James Holzhauer, said that though the firm has represented clients in Brazil and Latin America for over 15 years it had done so from afar.
The firm believes that Latin America is of strategic interest to its clients. Holzhauer also noted that Brazil is one of the world's fastest-growing financial markets and a country that continues to experience a surge in initial public offerings, infrastructure financing and cross-border acquisitions, while foreign investment in Brazilian businesses and real estate is brisk.
Holzhauer said the firm expects to add around 12 lawyers in São Paulo over the next 18 months. The firm has a 40-lawyer Latin American practice group that will continue to work from other Mayer Brown offices around the world.
Lawyers will practise US and English law only, with local law capacity offered through established relationships with Brazilian law firms.
Hood was an equity partner with Clifford Chance where he served on the management committee as well as being managing partner of the Hong Kong office, the New York City office and, since 1999, the Sao Paulo office. He was also head of Clifford Chance's capital markets group in London from 1986 to 1992.