Demarest announces new partner in transactional practice area

Julia Lobo Dutra joins the firm in Minas Gerais to strengthen its operations in the Capital Markets, Listed Companies and Corporate Law practice areas

In line with its strategic plan and with the goal of further strengthening its operations in the Capital Markets, Listed Companies, and Corporate Law practices, Demarest, one of the largest full-service law firms in Brazil and Latin America, announces Julia Lobo Dutra as its new partner.

With more than 17 years of experience in domestic and cross-border transactions, Julia joins the firm’s team to continue advising public and private companies on fundraising, corporate, regulatory and corporate governance matters, as well as on processes involving mergers and acquisitions.

With an Executive MBA from Fundação Dom Cabral, Julia holds a degree in Law from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and in International Relations from Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (PUC-MG). She is also recognized by leading legal directories and publications such as Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500.

Julia advises several publicly- and privately-held companies, financial institutions, investment funds and investors, and has participated in some of the most complex and innovative capital market operations in the country – one of the most recent being the privatization of the Basic Sanitation Company of the State of São Paulo (SABESP). In addition to public offerings of shares, debentures and other securities, she also advises companies from different segments on business combinations and regulatory consultancy for publicly-held companies.

“Minas Gerais is a Brazilian state with large companies and investors, which is why a regional presence has become increasingly important to provide advisory services through proximity and knowledge of the local market. The growing demand for fundraising and business combination operations has been driving the market, opening up new sources of resources for companies to invest or to renegotiate debts and offering alternatives to traditional operations. This trend should continue in the current landscape, creating more opportunities to operate in this segment”, says Julia, who will be based in the state’s capital, Belo Horizonte. 

“The goal is to combine local presence with the strength of Demarest’s team of professionals, who have invested in strategic growth and high added value, to participate in increasingly significant transactions in the economy and help clients from Minas Gerais find legal solutions that can boost their businesses”, adds Demarest’s new partner.

“Julia’s arrival seeks to bring proximity to the provision of services in the region, and her work will be complemented by the experience of our other practice areas, especially in regulated industries, such as energy, mining and logistics”, says Luciana Tornovsky, partner in the Mergers and Acquisitions practice and member of Demarest’s Executive Committee. 

Paulo Coelho da Rocha, Managing Partner of Demarest, also highlights that Julia’s hiring is in line with the firm’s expansion plan for the period from 2024 to 2026, with the arrival of professionals recognized for the excellence of the legal work they perform in strategic areas for the development of clients’ businesses.

“In addition to increasing our transactional practice area and developing new business to continue growing sustainably, we maintain our commitment to diversity and the pursuit of a more equal job market that is free from gender discrimination. Julia is the eighth female partner hired since January 2024, out of a total of 12 lateral partner hires that have already occurred during this period”, says Paulo.

With the arrival of Julia, Demarest now has 96 partners working in over 50 areas of law to serve more than 1,500 clients in Brazil and abroad.

Demarest’s expansion in recent months:

1. In early January 2025, six senior associates were promoted to join the firm’s team of partners: Celso Báez (Labor), Fabio Tayar (Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate, Private Equity and Venture Capital), Marco Fonseca (Corporate Investigations/Competition), Milena Arbizu (Dispute Resolution/Litigation and Arbitration), Robson de Oliveira (Real Estate and ESG) and Vitor Amorim (Telecommunications, Media and Technology).
2. In December 2024, Cristina Tomiyama joined the Capital Markets and Listed Companies team.
3. In November 2024, Elysangela Rabelo was announced as a new partner in the Life Sciences and Healthcare area. In the same month, Tatiana Ferri joined the Dispute Resolution (Arbitration and Civil Litigation) practice. And in early November, Pablo Queiroz arrived at the firm to be part of the Real Estate team.
4. In July 2024, Maria da Paz Tierno Lopes joined the Mergers and Acquisitions practice area.
5. In June 2024, the Tax team was reinforced with the arrival of partner Jerry Levers De Abreu.
6. In May 2024, João Busin, Juliana Maluf and Beatriz Seixas joined the firm to focus on Private Equity and Venture Capital in the M&A area.
7. In March 2024, Fabio Florentino was hired as a new Tax partner.
8. In January 2024, Julia Visconti was announced as a new Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) partner.