Connecting companies to the Gulf’s innovative and strategic ecosystem
Doing business with leading global investment countries requires technical precision, cultural understanding, and a broad strategic vision. The Gulf nations – including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman – have firmly established themselves as international business and technology hubs. These countries have been driving billion-dollar projects and attracting companies from around the world across a wide range of sectors, such as agribusiness, energy, finance, healthcare, mobility, logistics, infrastructure, agritech, and climate mitigation technologies.
Demarest’s Gulf Desk assembles professionals with hands-on experience advising entities in the Gulf region and an in-depth understanding of the legal, cultural, and commercial dynamics of these countries to help companies expand or launch their operations in Brazil.
Our practice combines technical knowledge, full-service expertise, and intercultural sensitivity to unlock opportunities, mitigate risks, and enable robust, sustainable business.
Trust Demarest’s cross-sector know-how and strategic expertise to foster connections between two of the world’s most dynamic regions: Brazil and the Gulf nations.
Demarest’s Gulf Desk practice includes:
M&A
- Mergers and acquisitions and private equity investments.
- Establishment and structuring of companies in Brazil.
- Assistance to foreign companies in starting operations in the region.
- Corporate reorganizations: mergers, acquisitions, incorporations, and spin-offs.
- Joint ventures and strategic alliances.
- Structuring of investment funds and alternative investment vehicles.
Financing
- Cross-border financing transactions.
- Public and private offerings of securities.
- Financing transactions with multilateral agencies.
- Securitization of receivables.
Litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution
- Representation in commercial and contractual disputes.
- National and international arbitration.
- Legal audits and assessments of legal and socio-environmental risks.
Tax
- Tax planning for cross-border transactions.
- Structuring of business models optimized for international investments.
- Analysis of tax impacts on pricing and profit distribution.
Competition, contracts, and compliance
- Drafting and review of commercial and strategic contracts.
- Development of anti-corruption and integrity compliance programs.
- Competition and regulatory advice.
ESG
- Evaluation of legal structures and instruments for investments with a positive social and/or socio-environmental impact.
- Auditing of internal processes and the supply chain.
- Portfolio analysis to support investment decisions.
- Drafting and review of sustainability reports and policies, including those related to disclosing ESG information as required by the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) and the Central Bank of Brazil, among others.
Strategic sectors
- Energy, infrastructure, and logistics.
- Mining, basic industries, chemicals, and petrochemicals.
- Agribusiness and new technologies.
- Health, biotechnology, and Life Sciences.
- Fintech, open finance, and financial services.
- Real estate developments, hospitality, and large-scale urban planning projects.
What sets us apart
- A team with experience in cross-border operations, notably advising several leading global sovereign wealth funds.
- Understanding of the business, culture, and legal practices in different regions.
- Integrated advice across all practice areas in the firm.
- Responsiveness, strategic vision, and a focus on results for cross-border transactions.