High-Profile Breakaway: Former DLA Piper Affiliate Lawyers Launch COSRO Advogados in Brazil
In one of the largest legal migrations Brazil has seen in recent years, a team of lawyers, including six partners and two dozen other professionals, has departed from DLA Piper’s Brazil affiliate, Campos Mello Advogados, to form COSRO Advogados. The newly launched firm, led by managing partner Marcelo Frazão, will operate as a full-service law firm, aiming to reshape the legal landscape with a strong international orientation.
A Significant Shift in the Brazilian Legal Market
“This is a big move in terms of the market in Brazil,” stated COSRO managing partner Marcelo Frazão. The team comprises attorneys with substantial experience working in global networks, many of whom held leadership roles at Campos Mello and DLA Piper. Frazão, formerly co-head of Campos Mello's energy practice, explained that the decision to go independent allows COSRO to collaborate freely with numerous international law firms, a flexibility unavailable under the affiliate model. “If you have a commercial agreement with one law firm, you will not be working with the others,” he noted, underscoring COSRO’s goal to expand its partnerships beyond DLA Piper.
Expanding Global and Local Presence
COSRO has already established offices in Rio de Janeiro, with plans to add São Paulo and Brasília locations by next year. The firm’s global footprint includes notable attorneys based abroad, such as arbitration and litigation partner Beni Flint in Madrid and energy associate Patricia Winter in Singapore. With an international reach, COSRO anticipates future collaborations with top firms, including Latham & Watkins, Allen & Overy, Shearman & Sterling, and Kirkland & Ellis. Despite its independence, COSRO maintains strong ties with DLA Piper. “The relationship with DLA is actually great,” Frazão said, emphasizing DLA’s role as a strategic partner.
Navigating a New Path in Brazil’s Legal Landscape
Brazilian regulations prevent foreign law firms from directly practicing local law, a restriction that historically led to affiliations like that between DLA Piper and Campos Mello. COSRO’s independent model enables its lawyers to sidestep these limitations, allowing them to work flexibly with diverse international clients and networks. Other founding members, including Alexandre Bittencourt Calmon and Bruna Barbosa Rocha, bring expertise in various fields, positioning COSRO to cover industries such as energy, life sciences, agribusiness, and infrastructure.
As the Brazilian legal market adapts to this shake-up, Campos Mello acknowledged the transition, saying, “Arrivals and departures are a normal part of the firm’s business evolution, and we wish the departing lawyers well.” Frazão described the split as “very good and diplomatic,” adding, “In this market, there’s space for everyone.” With this new chapter, COSRO Advogados is set to make its mark, poised to challenge traditional structures in Brazilian law and reinforce international partnerships.
