Lawyers from two of Spain’s top firms have become the first foreign lawyers to be granted the right to practise local law in Brazil, one of the most restrictive legal markets in the world.

Jaime Llopis, a Cuatrecasas partner, and Uria & Menendez associate Pablo Gonzalez-Espejo are the first non-Brazilians to be granted the title of consultor em direito estrangeiro by the Sao Paulo Bar Association. Both lawyers are based in the city.