Features
Moving forward: women's rights in Brazil
08 March 2018
To mark International Women’s Day, Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados partners Isabel Bueno and Paula Vieira and human rights lawyer Laura Davis Mattar discuss advancements and challenges for women’s rights in Brazilian society and law firms.
Time to wake up
30 January 2018
Sophisticated companies’ use of AI to improve efficiency has the potential to revolutionise their relationships with legal service providers. Law firms would be wise to keep up, argue Adam Smith, Esq’s Bruce MacEwen, Janet Stanton and Antonio Leal Holguín
Artificial lawyers
29 January 2018
A survey of Latin Lawyer Elite firms by Latin Lawyer and law firm consultancy Adam Smith, Esq has found overwhelming enthusiasm for AI with one in three already trialling or using the technology. But how AI will transform the legal space proved more divisive. Tom Muskett-Ford reports
Banding together
26 January 2018
In the aftermath of Mexico’s fatal 7.1 magnitude earthquake, the legal community responded quickly to help the shaken country back on its feet. Emilio Demetriou-Jones hears how, in an unprecedented move, the country’s three clearing houses used the media to reach those most in need
2017: A year in review
19 January 2018
Political reform in favour of pro-market policies in major jurisdictions across Latin America prompted many firms to strengthen their service offerings with senior level talent over the course of 2017. Further encroachment from new competitors was another factor influencing law firm expansion strategies. Here we round-up the laterals, splits and departures that shaped 2017
Bearing down on bearer shares
19 January 2018
Paraguay recently became one of the last countries in the Americas to pass a law eliminating bearer shares. Néstor Loizaga, managing partner of Ferrere (Paraguay), explains what the legislation means for the country
Latin Lawyer and the Vance Center’s annual pro bono survey
21 December 2017
The findings from our latest joint survey suggest pro bono practices are taking root in Latin American law firms. More firms from a greater spread of countries are taking part, and at the same time, a slew of new clearing houses in the region and the growing reach of established initiatives promise to benefit an increasing share of the region’s disadvantaged. Yet challenges remain; in Latin America there is still a deep-rooted culture that is unobliging to pro bono, while lack of funding and uncooperative governments have slowed pro bono’s progress. Vincent Manancourt reports
On the up
21 December 2017
Our survey results suggest that more partners are participating in their firms’ pro bono programmes. While the increase may be small, the greater involvement of senior lawyers is nonetheless encouraging given the impact it has on a law firm’s overall output
Build it and they will come
21 December 2017
In its mission to spread pro bono throughout Latin America, the Vance Center has focused on supporting the development of local clearing houses. Here, we explore how these organisations are taking pro bono to the next level
Leading Lights
21 December 2017
Here we list 56 “Leading Lights”: law firms who responded to our survey and whose pro bono efforts during 2016 stood out