São Paulo PR and SEO agency covering 15 Latin American markets
About Sherlock Communications
Sherlock Communications is an independent PR and digital agency with headquarters at Rua Fradique Coutinho 1235 in São Paulo. Patrick O'Neill and Alasdair Townsend founded it in 2015 with three staff. It now has 172 staff after 13% annual growth. They operate in about 15 countries, with teams or offices in Mexico City, Bogotá, Santiago, Lima, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Panama City, San José and Guatemala. O'Neill remains managing partner. In February 2026 Bianca Boucault, Maria America Costa and Patricia Zylberman became joint managing directors.
Their core business is public relations, but they also run a full search offer. Technical audits cover speed, mobile usability, security, Core Web Vitals and structured data. They build local keyword plans for each Latin American country and do multilingual SEO for brands working across Spanish and Portuguese markets. Content is structured for AI search, including ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. Link building starts with competitor and SERP analysis, then moves to negotiated placements with regional publishers, managed through one contact across all markets. Their digital PR uses original research and trend reports to earn editorial links, and they also audit backlink profiles and recover lost links.
Healthcare is a small part of their work, with medical at 5% of their industry mix. Their healthcare PR guidance covers ANVISA rules in Brazil and COFEPRIS in Mexico, and they have worked with drug makers, device makers, health-tech start-ups and institutions. The only health-related client with a public review is Fundacáncer Panamá, which received national media coverage for a family fundraising walk. They have no dental clients. The agency is a better fit for dental brands, product makers, DSOs or dental tourism groups entering Brazil or Spanish-speaking markets than for a single practice that needs local maps rankings.
They have strong industry recognition. PRovoke Media named them Brazil Agency of the Year for 2024. PRWeek has named them Best Agency in Latin America several times, with the 2026 award their sixth. They won seven Latin America SABRE Awards in 2024. Clients include Getty Images, GitHub, Coinbase, Skyscanner, British Council, Snapchat, Bumble and Palo Alto Networks.
On Clutch they average 4.9 from 23 reviews. Clients most often praise on-time delivery, flexibility, proactivity and work quality. Suggestions for improvement include more real-time reporting, more frequent updates and better access to top media in Chile. Time-zone gaps with Europe also came up, and one client said the agency declined to use Slack. The minimum project is $5,000, rates run $100 to $149 an hour and a typical project costs $10,000 to $49,999.
Sherlock Communications' Website
Sherlock Communications at a Glance
| Founded | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Team size | 172 employees (some listings say 50-249) |
| Headquarters | São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Other offices | Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, Bogotá, Santiago, Lima, Buenos Aires, Panama City, San José, Guatemala |
| Leadership | Patrick O'Neill (Co-founder and Managing Partner); Alasdair Townsend (Co-founder); Bianca Boucault (Managing Director); Maria America Costa (Managing Director); Patricia Zylberman (Managing Director) |
| Languages | Portuguese; Spanish; English |
| Pricing | Minimum project $5,000+, $100-$149 per hour; most common project size $10,000-$49,999. |
| Tools & partnerships | Arybe (media relationship platform they invested in); Broadminded research arm |
Dental Marketing Services
- Technical SEO audits
- local keyword strategy by country
- multilingual and international SEO
- generative engine optimisation
- link building with regional publishers
- digital PR
- media relations
- thought leadership
- crisis communications
- social media and influencer campaigns
Dental Clients & Results
- Fundacáncer Panamá: national media coverage and interviews for a family fundraising walk (Aug-Sep 2025)
Why Dentists Choose Sherlock Communications
- News coverage for Oxford University Press reached over 5 million people
- Clients include Getty Images and Indeed
- 4.9 from 23 Clutch reviews
- Projects from $5,000
Key Strengths
- Builds thought leadership for practice owners through PR and content
- Reaches patients in English, Spanish and Portuguese across many Latin American markets
- Optimises practice content for generative AI engines as well as traditional search
- Starts every campaign with bespoke research into a practice's local patient market
Awards & Recognition
- PRovoke Media Brazil Agency of the Year 2024
- PRWeek Best Agency in Latin America (multiple years, including 2024 and 2026)
- Latin America SABRE Awards 2024 (7 wins)
How the DSA Score Breaks Down
Points earned: 54.2 of 100 (profile 46 × 0.8 + client feedback 17.4). DSA Score: 91/100
What Clients Say About Sherlock Communications
- 3 on Google
- 5 on review sites
Clients Most Often Praise
- Understanding of dentistry 2
- Higher Google Maps & local rankings 2
- Communication & responsiveness 1
In ShortClients praise responsiveness, commitment, industry knowledge and on-time delivery across PR, link building and SEO in LatAm. Mainly a PR agency.
Lucas Palma recommends the agency for PR, marketing and communications in Brazil; motivated, detail-oriented staff.
See it on designrush.comrodrigo zecchinelli says the agency understands clients well and is a committed, excellent partner.
See it on designrush.comPedro Belasco calls it an excellent PR agency, praising environment, team and results.
See it on designrush.comShow 5 more client reviews
- Serafin Rodriguez, PR & Marketing Coordinator, Fundacáncer: PR campaign for a cancer foundation's family walk was handled very satisfactorily. Clutch, Dec 11, 2025
- Cesar Christoforidis, VP Strategic Partnerships, HypeAuditor: Impressed by the agency's industry knowledge and efficiency on ongoing PR. Clutch, Nov 24, 2025
- Brenda Wong, Asst PR Manager, financial services company: LATAM PR and thought leadership collaboration rated very positive overall. Clutch, Aug 14, 2025
- Kathleen Trestrail, Director of Brand Strategy, Overhaul: PR, digital marketing and SEO; team works hard, learns fast and is committed to client success. Clutch, Nov 1, 2023
- Anonymous, SEO Executive, Betfair International: Link building, outreach and SEO content in Colombia; very client-oriented and supportive. Clutch, Sep 20, 2022
Where Sherlock Communications Is Listed
Questions Dentists Ask About Sherlock Communications
Is Sherlock Communications a dental marketing agency?
No. They are a PR and digital agency for international brands in Latin America, and healthcare is about 5% of their work. They have no dental clients.
What SEO services do they offer?
Technical audits, local keyword strategy for each Latin American country, multilingual SEO, optimisation for AI search, and link building through regional publishers and digital PR.
Do they understand healthcare advertising rules in Latin America?
Yes. Their guidance covers ANVISA rules in Brazil and COFEPRIS in Mexico. They have worked with drug makers, medical device firms, health-tech start-ups and healthcare institutions.
How much do they charge?
The minimum project is $5,000, with rates of $100 to $149 an hour. Most projects fall between $10,000 and $49,999.
What do clients say?
They average 4.9 from 23 Clutch reviews, with praise for on-time delivery, flexibility and proactivity. Some clients asked for more real-time reporting and more frequent updates.
Reviews of Sherlock Communications
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