News & Events

Firm expands to support growing Latin American practice

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP announced today that, subject to Brazilian approval, it plans to open an office in São Paulo, Brazil in the Fall of 2008 to support its growing practice in Brazil and Latin America.

“This new office expresses the strength of our existing practice in Brazil and the region and the strategic importance of the region to our clients,” said Pete Ruegger, Chairman of the Firm’s Executive Committee. “This is a strategic move for us and reflects the increasing presence of our clients on the ground in Brazil.  This new office, combining New York resources with local presence, will allow us to provide even better service and coverage to our clients."

Simpson Thacher has represented clients in the region for several decades and has developed a strong practice group of approximately 30 lawyers that includes multi-lingual attorneys focused on Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula.  Simpson Thacher attorneys have advised on transactions, from Mexico to the Southern Cone, that cut across disciplinary lines, including equity and debt offerings, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, private equity investments and fund formation, syndicated loans and project and other structured financings.  Simpson Thacher has achieved one of the leading market shares among international firms in the Brazilian IPO market over the last four years with nearly 50 equity offerings completed.  It has also been active in representing international firms in Brazilian acquisitions, such as UBS in its acquisition of Banco Pactual, and Brazilian firms in U.S. acquisitions, such as Gerdau in recent U.S. acquisitions.

Corporate partners Todd Crider and Jaime Mercado, who will head the São Paulo office, will be based in São Paulo, in succession, while continuing to represent clients elsewhere in Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula.  They will be supported by partners Glenn Reiter, David Williams, George Miller and John Ericson in New York and by Bill Brentani in Palo Alto, all of whom are active participants in the Firm’s Latin American practice.