Dentons, the world's largest law firm, is announcing today proposed combinations with Rattagan Macchiavello Arocena in Argentina and with Jiménez de Aréchaga, Viana & Brause in Uruguay. The combinations would position Dentons as the largest global law firm in Argentina and Uruguay from launch, connecting clients to top-tier legal talent in its 23 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean and more than 10,000 lawyers around the globe.

Along with previous combinations in Latin America and the Caribbean (“LAC”), these combinations strengthen the foundation for Dentons to become the leading global law firm in the LAC region. Dentons' clients will have access to the experience and talents of its lawyers working in six continents, enabling Dentons to connect clients to top-tier legal talent in the markets where they do business.

“Dentons is now the first truly Pan-Latin American and Caribbean firm in the history of the legal profession,” said Joe Andrew, Global Chair of Dentons. “Since entering the LAC region in 2016, Dentons will now have offices in 23 countries across the region. This tremendous growth is a result of Dentons’ focus on finding combination partners who have the proven ability to offer sophisticated, high-quality legal services and business solutions in their home markets as it creates a virtuous circle for attracting talent both within a new market and future combination partners within the region.”

“As is the case with all of its strategic growth initiatives, Dentons’ desire to expand its presence in Latin America and the Caribbean is client-driven,” said Elliott Portnoy, Global CEO of Dentons.  “Clients have explicitly identified the Argentina and Uruguay markets as priorities, and the combinations with Rattagan Macchiavello Arocena in Argentina and with Jiménez de Aréchaga, Viana & Brause in Uruguay, would see the firms able to meet client needs in these countries and around the globe.”

Since entering the region in 2016, Dentons has become the fastest growing law firm in Latin America and the Caribbean. With new offices in Buenos Aires and Montevideo, the combinations will give Dentons' clients access to an additional team of lawyers who can meet the needs of clients across a wide range of industries.

“Dentons' combinations in Colombia, Central America, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, the Caribbean, Venezuela, and Chile have helped to establish Dentons as the only pan-LAC law firm, and these combinations in Argentina and Uruguay, further strengthen the position for Dentons to become the leading global law firm in the region,” said Jorge Alers, CEO of Dentons LAC Region.

“Rattagan Macchiavello Arocena's clients are increasingly looking to expand throughout Latin America and beyond, and the combination with Dentons will allow us to support our clients in more of the markets where they do business,” said Juan Martín Arocena, Founding and Managing Partner of Rattagan Macchiavello Arocena.

“Dentons' unsurpassed reach, both in Latin America and the Caribbean and globally, will mean that Jiménez de Aréchaga, Viana & Brause can provide clients with access to top legal talent around the globe,” said Fernando Jiménez de Aréchaga, Founding and Managing Partner of Jiménez de Aréchaga.

Rattagan Macchiavello Arocena is recognized as a leader in Corporate and M&A, Environment and Natural Resources, Energy, Banking and Finance, Compliance and Anticorruption, Government Relations, Infrastructure, Labor Law, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Pharmaceuticals and Tax.

Jiménez de Aréchaga, Viana & Brause is recognized as a leader in the areas of Banking and Finance, Corporate and M&A, Energy, Infrastructure, Labor Law, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Natural Resources, and Real Estate. The practice and sector synergies of these firms to Dentons will give the combined firms a competitive advantage in international panel competition and build on Dentons’ strength in these areas.

Like Dentons, these firms are dedicated to a polycentric approach that values inclusion and diversity and in and of the community roots, and they have strong traditions of giving back to the communities they serve through pro bono work and volunteerism.

The combinations, following approval by partners and subject to meeting regulatory requirements, are expected to launch in the next several months.

Recently, Dentons announced its intention to combine with three leading law firms in seven days: Kensington Swan in New Zealand, Gustavo Zacapa y Asociados in Honduras, and Lee International in South Korea.  Dentons' partners have since approved all three combinations.  Also in 2019, Dentons' partners have approved a combination with MawereSibanda in Zimbabwe and Dentons has launched Dentons Venezuela in Venezuela, and Dentons Larraín Rencoret in Chile. 

To read Rattagan Macchiavello Arocena's press release click here.

To read Jiménez de Aréchaga, Viana & Brause's press release click here.

About Dentons

Dentons is the world's largest law firm, delivering quality and value to clients around the globe. Dentons is a leader on the Acritas Global Elite Brand Index, a BTI Client Service 30 Award winner and recognized by prominent business and legal publications for its innovations in client service, including founding Nextlaw Labs and the Nextlaw Global Referral Network. Dentons' polycentric approach and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client interests in the communities in which we live and work. www.dentons.com

About Rattagan Macchiavello Arocena

Rattagan Macchiavello Arocena comprises a team of more than 40 lawyers that enjoy a high recognition in their respective areas of expertise, share with Dentons a work philosophy and whose partners have a common history of over 25 years practicing together. It was set up in 2005 by partners who, in most cases, studied and practiced in Argentina and in the US. The Firm can offer the energy and muscle of a modern, sophisticated and fully bilingual organization while assuring clients working methods developed and improved throughout many years.

About Jiménez de Aréchaga, Viana & Brause

Jiménez de Aréchaga, Viana & Brause is the result of the merger of Jiménez de Aréchaga & Brause, and Estudio Hector A. Viana, the first successful merger of law firms in Uruguay.

The consolidation of this merger throughout the years has confirmed Jiménez de Aréchaga, Viana & Brause as one of the leading firms in Uruguay, with extensive experience in a wide variety of transactions and a diverse first ranked international and local clientele.