Demarest announces the hiring of a new tax partner

Jerry Levers de Abreu joins Demarest to strengthen the tax practice, which remains one of the largest in the firm, and now totals 15 partners

Demarest Advogados – one of the largest and most reputable full-service law firms in Latin America – announces the hiring of Jerry Levers de Abreu as a new partner in the firm’s tax practice area.

This is the second recruitment in the tax area in the past three months aimed at expanding the team due to the demands generated by the tax reform on consumption and the new phases of its regulation, currently under discussion in the Brazilian Congress.

Jerry holds a specialization in Tax Law from the Law School of PUC-SP (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo) and a degree from the Law School of Universidade São Francisco. Jerry also attended the Academy of American and International Law, hosted by The Center for American and International Law, in the USA.

With over 25 years of experience in the area as well as in tax advisory and dispute resolution, Jerry assists domestic and international companies, with an emphasis on indirect taxes and the taxation of a wide range of sectors – such as automotive, information technology, consumer goods, intellectual property, food, health and cosmetics. He is also a researcher at the Center for Tax Studies (“NEF”) at FGV’s Law School (São Paulo campus), founded in 2009 in order to examine the relationship between taxation and development.

“Jerry’s arrival is in line with our strategic plan to expand the firm’s offering in strategic practices, such as tax, and with the potential to develop new deals and further strengthening the high-quality services we provide to our clients, especially in the scope of the new tax system reform, which introduces opportunities and demands,” says Paulo Coelho da Rocha, Demarest’s managing partner.

Jerry also highlights that the reform of the tax system can contribute not only to improving the current landscape, but to leveraging sustainable economic growth. “The simplification and reduction of bureaucracy are essential measures to update the Brazilian tax system, bring greater legal certainty, as well as create a more favorable environment for business development and increased international competitiveness,” he says. “I hope I can assist Demarest’s clients in finding effective and fair legal solutions that will boost their business,” adds Jerry.

Douglas Mota, partner in the tax area and executive director of Demarest, emphasizes that “the hiring of Jerry Levers de Abreu, an experienced professional in the tax market, follows that of Fabio Florentino – both hires aimed at expanding the area in light of the demands generated by the tax reform on consumption and the next stages of its regulation, currently under discussion in Congress”.

The Consumer and Retail practice (indirect taxes) in the Tax Department is historically traditional at Demarest, including partners Douglas Mota and Thiago Amaral, and recently Fábio Florentino. With the arrival of Jerry Levers de Abreu, the tax team now has 15 partners and remains one of the largest in the firm, which celebrated its 76th anniversary in the legal market this year.

In the past nine months, Demarest has hired 15 new partners in the market and 20 associates for the areas of Infrastructure and Project Finance; Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A); Listed Companies; Capital Markets; Dispute Resolution (Arbitration and Litigation); Tax; Alternative Investments, Private Equity and Venture Capital, in line with its strategic plan for 2024-2026. The firm also promoted five senior associates to partners, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to valuing and recognizing the talent of the professionals who already integrate its team.