Portuguese firmSérvulo & Associados has signed a partnership agreement with Brazilian outfit Manesco Ramires Perez Azevedo Marques Sociedade de Advogados.
The move will see the firms collaborate on client projects of mutual interest, particularly in the infrastructure sector.
The agreement consolidates the existing relationship between the firms that has been in place for around four years.
Sérvulo partner Lino Torgal said a partnership with a Brazilian firm had been desired for a long time.
Infrastructure in Brazil remains poor despite the country’s booming economy. Torgal added that Sérvulo’s portfolio has several clients in the infrastructure sector.
He explained that the move could also open up connections in Angola. Manesco currently has clients that are investing in the region and this may create a “magic triangle” between Angola, Portugal and Brazil, he said.
Sérvulo and Manesco are similar in turnover and size, with both housing approximately 80 lawyers. The latter has expertise in areas such as energy, telecommunications and transport and has offices in São Paulo, Brasília and Belo Horizonte. The firm is also due to open in Rio de Janeiro in the near future. Sérvulo has offices in Lisbon and Ponta Delgada.
Prior to the agreement the relationship between Sérvulo and Manesco was of an academic nature and saw both share information.
The news follows Sérvulo’s recruitment of a banking and insurance team from Iberian giant Cuatrecasas Gonçalves Pereira earlier this year (22 June 2011).
In March 2011 the firm voted in favour of moving to a single managing partner model, with Pedro Furtado Martins taking up the new role (3 March 2011).
