Global firm Dentons has announced plans to form a strategic alliance with São Paulo-based Vella Pugliese Buosi Guidoni (VPBG). VPBG is a Brazilian firm with 13 partners and offices in São Paulo and Brasília.
This is just one step into Latin America among many for the global firm. Most recently, Dentons entered Central America through a combination with Muñoz Global, which gave the firm offices in Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemala. The firm has also combined with Colombia’s Cárdenas & Cárdenas, and Mexico’s López Velarde.
While global and international firms play leading roles in Brazilian transactions, maintaining a physical presence in the country can be complicated as Brazilian regulations prevent foreign firms from practicing local law.
To step into the country, some firms choose to open practices which focus exclusively on international law. Others, like Dentons, form associations or alliances with local firms. For example Mayer Brown maintains an association with Tauil & Chequer, and Baker McKenzie has a strategic cooperation with Trench Rossi & Watanabe Advogados.
Partners from both Dentons and VPBG are expected to vote on the alliance within the next few weeks.