The firm’s São Paulo practice is staffed by two partners. Alan Dickson has relocated from Conyers’ corporate department in Bermuda and Benjamin Dyer has relocated from the firm’s Hong Kong office.

The São Paulo practice will initially focus on investment funds, public company listings and holding company incorporations, providing clients with direct access to the key jurisdictions of the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda and Mauritius.

The São Paulo launch is designed to bolster Conyers’ presence in the fast-growing BRIC markets. In March 2008, the firm said it became the first and only offshore firm to have an office in Russia with the launch of its Moscow office.

In October 2008, Conyers established a presence in Mauritius, a preferred jurisdiction for structuring investments in India, and added the provision of Mauritius legal advice to its roster of jurisdictions to service the Indian, Middle Eastern and African markets.

Conyers chairman John Collis said: “Even in this challenging economic climate, the prospects for leading Brazilian businesses in global commerce are immense. The firm’s entry into Brazil and the other major BRIC markets is part of our strategy to provide responsive advice to our clients in the world’s key financial centres and reinforces our strength as a leader in the market for offshore legal services.”