The Legal 500

Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie

Brazil : Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie's most recent activity in this sector has involved assisting banks and commercial companies on regulatory and compliance issues. In 2011, key contact José Augusto Martins and his team assisted Dresdner Bank Brasil-Banco Múltiplo in compliance issues relating to its acquisition by Scotiabank.

Brazil : Bankruptcy and restructuring

Within Bankruptcy and restructuring, Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Marcio de Souza Polto leads the bankruptcy and restructuring team at Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie. The group advised key client Whirlpool in several matters, and recently represented the company as a creditor in the bankruptcies of Panashop, Brasimac, Ultralojas, Eletrodireto and Freitas Refrigeração. Polto is also representing Enterasys Network do Brasil and F5 Networks – as R$9.8m and $1.4m creditors, respectively – in the judicial restructuring of LWS Comércio e Serviços em Informática.

Brazil : Competition and antitrust

Within Competition and antitrust, Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Absolutely excellent in every way', the competition and antitrust group at Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie assists clients in cartel investigations, abuse of dominance cases, merger control, and compliance issues. It also has notable experience in cross-border work, and regularly provides advice on Brazilian law aspects of international investigations. Clients particularly praise the firm's ability to ‘work well with other global counsel as a team' and for its ‘excellent relationships with the regulators'. The team of ‘very substantive lawyers' provides ‘thoughtful advice' and has ‘a wonderful willingness to work through different questions'. Leading the group are the ‘very responsive and knowledgeable' Francisco Ribeiro Todorov and Tulio Freitas do Egito Coelho, who are ‘fully dedicated to their clients' and ‘a pleasure to work with on every level'. The ‘timely, pragmatic and business-orientated' team is currently representing Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in a Brazilian cartel investigation, and also acted for Air Liquide do Brasil in a judicial review of a R$198m fine imposed by CADE. In 2011, it advised Fox Film do Brasil on the notification process for the formation of a joint venture with Sony.

Brazil : Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie fields a large and highly capable corporate team, which is noted for its experience assisting international clients on acquisitions in Brazil. The team is divided by industry focus, and has particular experience in the mining, retail, energy, telecoms and insurance areas. Claudia Farkouh Prado is the key contact, and recently acted for steakhouse chain Fogo de Chão in the sale of a holding in the company to private equity firm GP Investimentos. Also recommended is Rio de Janeiro-based Anna Tavares de Mello, who acted for Dresser Rand on its $690m acquisition of Grupo Guascor, and also advised Avio on its $14m acquisition by the aviation maintenance arm of Focal Engenharia e Mantuenução. In other work, Maria Beatriz Mello and José Roberto Martins represented CPFL Energia in the formation of a $2.8bn joint venture with Energias Renováveis (ERSA), and also assisted the client with its $600m acquisition of wind farm developer Jantus. Alberto Mori and Alexandre Simões Pinto advised US chemical company Eastman on its acquisition of Scandiflex do Brasil Indústria Químicas. Simões also advised the Swiss-based Sika on its acquisition of Colauto Adesivos e Massa, and acted for independent energy trader Coomex in connection with its sale to Banco BTG Pactual. Nazir Takieddine is also recommended.

Brazil : Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Joaquim Tavares de Paiva Muniz's ‘communicative, partner-led' team at Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie fields a ‘body of highly qualified professionals that provide high levels of client attention'. Scoring points for its ‘unique sector specialisms, which allows for a wide range of service provision' the firm has particular experience across the administrative sector, as well as in product liability, construction-sector disputes, and in general commercial and corporate matters. The team's lawyers have a ‘deep knowledge of the fields in which they operate' and demonstrate ‘excellent technical abilities'. Newly promoted partner Andrea Zoghbi Brick is highlighted for her ‘unparalleled commitment and dedication', she recently advised on a $1m shareholder dispute. Among the firm's headline instructions, Silvana Campos and Ana Beatriz Kesselring are leading the team representing a major multinational car manufacturer in a claim brought against a local District Attorney following the prohibition of the sale of one of its models – the Court of Appeals of Minas Gerais granted an injunction to suspend the effects of the order. Corporate and consumer law specialist Marcio de Souza Polto is also highly recommended.

Brazil : Energy and natural resources: electricity

Within Energy and natural resources: electricity, Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Lawyers at Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie are commended as ‘fast and efficient professionals with deep experience'. In a major highlight, the firm advised on a landmark $2.8bn joint venture in the energy sector.

Brazil : Energy and natural resources: mining

Within Energy and natural resources: mining , Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

In 2011 Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie's involvement, in a rare public bidding process for metal exploration rights is a reflection of its strong engagement with -and reputation in – the Brazilian mining sector. With excellent project capability, the firm also has strong corporate finance experience and acts for some of the sector's leading names.

Brazil : Energy and natural resources: oil and gas

Within Energy and natural resources: oil and gas, Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is recommended for its ‘experienced, focused and clever' team that ‘always ensures personal attention is a priority'. Anna Tavares de Mello is highlighted for her ‘well-rounded knowledge of the sector' and recently led in providing advice to Petrobras on its joint venture with GALP for the production and storage of biodiesel – significantly, this is one of the first projects involving the long term export of Brazilian biodiesel. Newly promoted Danielle Gomes de Almeida Valois is a ‘star in the making'.

Brazil : Environment

Within Environment, Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

The one-partner team at Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is recommended for its ‘effectiveness' and ‘readiness to assist'. Under the leadership of Ana Beatriz Kesselring the firm has a particular niche in advising on complex contamination litigation, but it also has a strong consultancy practice that stays busy advising on project development and corporate support matters. The team acts for a healthy mix of domestic companies and large multinationals across a broad range of sectors, including some of the major companies in the chemical, oil and gas and tobacco industries.

Brazil : Insurance

Within Insurance, Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie has recent experience assisting clients before insurance regulator SUSEP. Rio de Janeiro-based Anna Tavares de Mello advised Infrassure and Allied World Insurance Company Re on their respective registrations as occasional reinsurers with the regulator. The team also assists insurance sector clients in transactional matters.

Brazil : Intellectual property

Within Intellectual property , Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

The ‘effective' and ‘very accurate' team at Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie scores points for its ‘great technical knowledge', ‘quick response times' and ‘clarity of information and market knowledge'. Led by Esther Miriam Flesch, the four-partner team also includes the ‘knowledgeable and dedicated' Flavia Rebello Pereira, IT and pharmaceutical specialist Flávia Maria Vasconcelos Pereira and newly promoted partner Bruno Carneiro Maeda. Among its recent cases, the firm advised a multinational company in the development of a training programme to assist its staff in combatting parallel imports and counterfeit products. It has also advised on matters relating to patent and trade mark registrations, licensing matters and trade mark portfolio management.

Brazil : International trade and customs

Within International trade and customs, Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie has recently assisted major companies with anti-dumping investigations, tariff issues, and customs compliance and regulation. The team features Tulio Freitas do Egito Coelho and Francisco Ribeiro Todorov in Brasilia and Alessandra Machado in Sao Paulo: all three are highly recommended. Representative instructions include advising on an anti-dumping investigation of polypropylene resin exports from India and the US, and advising a client on customs compliance and regulations concerning the importation of IT products into Brazil.

Brazil : Labour and employment

Within Labour and employment , tier 4

At Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie, Hércules Celescuekci leads the Sao Paulo side of the practice, while Ana Paula Ferreira Vizintini is the main contact in Rio de Janeiro. In 2011, the three-partner group was active advising its predominantly multinational client list on issues ranging from the employment aspects of joint venture agreements through to major labour litigation claims.

Brazil : Public law

Within Public law , Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie attracts praise for its ‘strong market knowledge in the area of procurement and contracts administration' and it also has excellent experience in complex public law litigation. In a headline piece of work, Heloisa Barroso Uelze is advising GE Lifesciences in negotiations for the second phase of the first human plasma plant in Brazil. Associate Henrique Frizzo is considered ‘one to watch' and clients single him out as a ‘highly qualified professional, with the experience and skill to handle adverse situations'.

Brazil : Real estate

Within Real estate, Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

At Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie, practice head João Francisco Rebello Regos is rated for his ‘great experience' and ability to ‘understand the problems and differences between Brazilian and foreign real estate practices'. The team has a distinct focus on assisting clients with real estate matters related to the retail, commercial and leisure sectors. The ‘reliable and responsive' Regos recently advised Fox-Sony Pictures Home Entertainment do Brasil on due diligence and lease agreement negotiations for the head office of its new joint venture in Brazil. In 2011, the team also acted on several shopping centre acquisitions and on office and retail leases and clients recommend the team for its knowledge in these areas.

Brazil : TMT

Within TMT , Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Lawyers at Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenziereply to requests as soon as possible' and demonstrate ‘genuine concern for their client's business'. Esther Miriam Flesch heads a five-partner team that also includes ‘excellent professional' Maria Cristina Machado Cortez, who stands out for her ‘technical quality, personal customer service and commitment to achieve the best result'. The firm shines on the technology side and over the past year it has advised a broad mix of IT providers and software companies on outsourcing issues and general corporate and commercial matters.

Brazil : Tax

Within Tax, Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

The ‘best in class' team at Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, associated with Baker & McKenzie impresses for its ‘responsiveness and technical ability'. It was further bolstered in 2011 by the arrivals of new partners Lavinia Junqueira from Itaú Unibanco, and Marcos Vinicius Neder de Lima from the Brazilian Treasury Department, bringing the total number of partners in the team to 11. Simone Dias Musa heads the tax consulting practice and is singled out as ‘extremely capable and totally committed to the client's needs'. Paulo Sehn leads the litigation side and is considered a ‘leading specialist'. Other recommended partners include the ‘very punctual and dedicated' tax-planning specialist Maria Fernanda Furtado, and newly promoted partner Leonardo Martins, who is ‘very sensitive to the peculiarities of industry and operational demands'. The team's excellent all-round experience, gained both in-house and in private practice, ensures that it is a firm that excels in both tax consultancy and litigation. Recent work has included advising on the tax aspects of major acquisitions, complex cross-border restructurings and major strategic litigations.


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