In Brazil, DAC Beachcroft draws on the expertise of Demarest Advogados, an acknowledged full service market leader in Brazil with a reputation for excellence.

Under Brazilian law, foreign law firms are not able to practise local law in Brazil. Local law advice can only be provided by a local independent firm that is comprised of local lawyers.

In August 2015 Demarest acquired DAC Beachcroft's existing Brazilian associate firm, JBO Advocacia, and JBO's Managing Partner, Marcia Cicarelli, became Demarest's Head of Insurance. Marcia, with her partner Andre Alarcon, advises on all aspects of insurance and reinsurance business, including claims, wordings, regulatory and corporate.

By working with Demarest, DAC Beachcroft is able to assist its clients, particularly insurers and reinsurers, doing business in Brazil who require both local and international legal advice. The firm also has Portuguese speaking lawyers based in its London office, as part of its international insurance team.

Demarest is a full service firm operating across all areas of commercial legal practice, contentious and non-contentious.

Local insurance law services offered by Demarest include:

• Insurance claims: Services include recovery, defence (mass risks), and liability (with particular expertise in transport and logistics);
• Insurance regulatory and commercial: Services include registration of reinsurers at SUSEP, administrative issues and policy wordings;
• Strategic litigation and dispute resolution: Services include major business and contractual disputes, insurance and commercial international and domestic arbitration.