Demarest Advogados

Firm overview: Founded in 1948, Demarest is one of the most renowned law firms in Brazil and ranks among the largest firms in Latin America. Throughout its history, providing services in the most diverse practice areas of law, Demarest has always maintained a commitment to providing legal services of the highest standards of quality and excellence.

The firm’s multidisciplinary model contributes to the agility and effectiveness of its work, integrating its professionals and creating a synergy across all teams. Clients from all over the world are assisted in domestic and international transactions, with an organisational structure that has offices established in the major cities of Brazil.

Excellence: Demarest is one of the leading full-service corporate law firms in Brazil, with more than 75 years of experience in assisting clients from all over the world. The firm is constantly ranked as one of the most prestigious Brazilian transactional law firms considering the number of transactions carried out and value of deals. Clients recognize Demarest’s lawyers as trusted advisors. The quality of the firm’s performance can be attributed to how matters are approached strategically, and the lengths to which teams prepare before even the first action is taken. The firm’s division into ‘work cells’ enables lawyers to become deeply familiar with the cases and the clients that they are involved with, resulting in a service that is of international quality yet provided with a personal approach.

Citizenship: For Demarest, there is a strong belief that it is everyone’s duty to contribute and work towards creating a more equal and compassionate society. As a result, the firm has established partnerships with organizations committed to realizing these values and promoting the foundations for well-being, education and social inclusiveness. Demarest is involved in projects that aims to strengthen the relationship of the firm with local communities. By means of partnerships with ‘Instituto Pro Bono’ and the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation, Demarest provides legal advice to nongovernmental and nonprofit organisations. The firm also contributes to research carried out by renowned institutions regarding pro bono work in Brazil, including TrustLaw Index of Pro Bono and Latin Lawyer Pro Bono Survey. Demarest prides itself on adhering to a strong and active Diversity and Inclusiveness program, and firmly believes that this forms an essential part of the Demarest approach that enables sustainable and cost-effective business, which in turn contributes directly to the socioeconomic development at local and global levels. The firm therefore promotes a pluralistic work environment that is non-discriminatory, respectful, welcoming, innovation-driven, and that ultimately contributes to achieving business results.

International reach: Leadership, commitment to its clients and the local market, and continued professional development. These traits are the cornerstones that led to Demarest’s being selected as the sole Brazilian member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent law firms, and also a member of The Interlex Group, ELA and Taxand. Besides certifying Demarest’s global service quality, these affiliations provide an extensive network of cooperation and sharing of information with leading member law firms around the globe and enables Demarest to take on the most challenging cross-border international transactions and litigation cases. Demarest leverages its international capabilities by providing legal advice to international companies seeking to invest in Brazil, as well as Brazilian companies intending to open business units around the globe. The firm’s foreign desks have particular knowledge and expertise in specific regions such as China, France, Germany, Korea, Portugal, Spain and Latin America, in addition to its established relation with the European Community and North America.

Clients: Demarest is recognised for its ability, initiative and dedication to provide responsible, efficient and high quality legal services to all of its clients doing business in Brazil and abroad. The firm advises numerous multinational companies and the largest Brazilian groups in a vast range of industries.

Main areas of practice:  Agribusiness; arbitration; aviation; banking and finance; bankruptcy/restructuring; capital markets; competition/antitrust; compliance; contracts; corporate/M&A; corporate criminal law; data privacy and cybersecurity; environment; ESG; government relations; insurance and reinsurance; intellectual property and innovation; international trade/ WTO; labour and employment; life sciences; litigation; media, sports and entertainment; mining; oil and gas; power; product liability; projects/infrastructure; public law; real estate; shipping; social security; tax; telecommunications and technology; timberland investment; wealth and succession structuring and white-collar crime.