Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, a global law firm, today announced that its São Paulo, Brazil, office has opened following completion of its registration with the São Paulo Bar Association (OAB-SP). Actively involved in Brazilian transactions for nearly half a century, Davis Polk has advised on many of the largest and groundbreaking international securities offerings, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments and project financings involving Brazilian companies.

In addition, Davis Polk announced today that Stephen Hood and James Vickers, leading international project finance lawyers, will join the firm’s newly opened office in São Paulo. Together with Manuel Garciadiaz and Maurice Blanco, they will form Davis Polk’s core team of senior lawyers resident in the São Paulo office. 

Mr. Hood is one of the preeminent international project finance lawyers in Latin America and is widely recognized for his involvement in the most sensitive and complex corporate finance matters there. He joins Davis Polk from the São Paulo office of Mayer Brown. Mr. Hood was formerly a member of the management committee and head of the São Paulo, New York and Hong Kong offices of Clifford Chance LLP and founded that firm’s capital markets practice in London. His practice focuses on corporate, infrastructure, project and other finance and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. He is experienced in advising lenders and sponsors on project finance and energy corporate finance deals across Latin America. He is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales. Mr. Hood also speaks Portuguese. 

Mr. Vickers joins Davis Polk from the São Paulo office of Mayer Brown. His practice focuses on project and corporate finance, energy and infrastructure and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and he has advised clients on transactions throughout Latin America. He was formerly a lawyer in the São Paulo, London and Tokyo offices of Clifford Chance LLP. He is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and is fluent in Portuguese. 

“Stephen and James are outstanding lawyers and leading figures in the Brazil market,” said Thomas J. Reid, Managing Partner of Davis Polk. “They are ideal additions to our team, and we look forward to their playing a key role as we continue to expand our presence and client roster in Brazil.” 

“As recognized leaders in project and infrastructure financings in Brazil and elsewhere across Latin America, Stephen and James will help accelerate the growth of our project finance practice in the region,” said Waide Warner, who leads Davis Polk’s Project Finance Group. 

“With the opening of its São Paulo office, Davis Polk brings together a truly unique and formidable combination of preeminence across a broad corporate practice and the capabilities on the ground that sophisticated São Paulo-based transactions require,” said Mr. Hood. “James and I are eager to join a firm with a strong Brazilian platform that is exceptionally well-positioned to seize upon the ever-expanding opportunities in the Brazilian marketplace.” 

In addition to Stephen Hood, Manuel Garciadiaz, Maurice Blanco and James Vickers in São Paulo, Davis Polk’s Brazil practice includes senior lawyers from other Davis Polk offices, including corporate partners Andrés Gil, Michael Willisch, Joseph Hall and Nicholas Kronfeld as well as M&A partners John Amorosi, Michael Davis, Diane Kerr and Paul Kingsley, and credit and project finance partner Waide Warner, all of whom are active members of the firm’s Brazil practice.