The Legal 500

Brazil

Banking and finance

Banking and finance - ranked: tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados

Over the past year, Dias Carneiro Advogados' 'very business-oriented and friendly team' made a particularly strong showing in the agribusiness and energy sectors — for both lenders and borrowers. Highlights included advising Inter-American Development Bank, the Inter-American Investment Corporation and the China Co-Financing Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean on a $55m loan to Vale do Paraná Álcool e Açúcar to finance the expansion and renewal of sugarcane plantations. On the borrower side, it assisted Biosev with its R$3.6bn global debt refinancing, which involved 11 domestic and foreign financial institutions. Department head Thiago Vallandro Flores 'understands the commercial as well as legal drivers', while increasingly prominent project finance specialist Paulo Leme is a 'very skilled banking lawyer, with deep market knowledge'.

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Bankruptcy and restructuring

Bankruptcy and restructuring - ranked: tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados

Dias Carneiro Advogados excels in litigation and as such is regularly instructed in judicial restructuring proceedings, where it has a solid track record representing creditors. In recent work, Laura Mendes Bumachar acted for Organización Corona, the largest individual creditor and former joint venture partner of Eternit group on the latter’s judicial reorganisation. Also in the team are Eduardo Zilberberg and counsel Antonio Nachif.

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Capital markets

Capital markets - ranked: tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados

‘Responsive and business-savvy’, Dias Carneiro Advogados debt-focused group is recommended for its expertise in energy, agribusiness, infrastructure and mining-related offerings. Highlights included advising sugar and agribusiness giant USJ Acucar e Alcool, on its R$91.8m offering of debentures. Thiago Vallandro Flores is a ‘pleasure to work with’ and heads a group that includes new arrival Anna Dutra, who was previously general counsel at Brasil Plural, and recently made-up partner Paulo Leme.

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Competition and antitrust

Competition and antitrust - ranked: tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados

Dias Carneiro Advogados' antitrust and compliance expert Joyce Ruiz Rodrigues Alves was promoted to partner in 2018, illustrating the firm's investment in these fields. The team was further bolstered by the arrival of associate Camila Lisboa Martins from L.O. Baptista Advogados. The pair are currently representing a pharmaceutical company in an administrative proceeding as part of CADE's investigation into alleged cartel practices in public procurements for drug acquisitions.

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Compliance

Compliance - ranked: tier 3

Dias Carneiro Advogados

Dias Carneiro Advogados handled a number of corporate investigations during 2017 and 2018, and the firm illustrated its commitment to the compliance practice when it promoted Joyce Ruiz Rodrigues Alves to partner in 2018. She is often retained by domestic and foreign companies to advise on and review compliance programs. Ricardo Sanches has a broad practice that spans anti-corruption, corporate integrity, M&A, regulatory and public law.

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Corporate and M&A

Corporate and M&A - ranked: tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados

Dias Carneiro Advogados excels in the tech sector, often representing venture capital firms in significant acquisitions. In 2018, this included advising Monashees Capital in the purchase of a minority stake in healthcare start-up Hi Technologies, and Kaszek Ventures in the indirect acquisition of a minority stake in Hash Lab Soluções Pagamentos; Eduardo Zilberberg led the advice on both deals. Beyond this field, the team has a broader corporate and M&A offering, handling domestic and cross-border deals in several industries. A team led by Eduardo Turkienicz and Artur Fernandes Andrezo advised Dechra Pharmaceuticals on the acquisition of Laboratórios Vencofarma do Brasil. The department expanded with the hire of Anna Dutra, formerly general counsel at investment bank Brasil Plural.

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Dispute resolution (including White-collar crime)

Dispute resolution (including White-collar crime) - ranked: tier 7

Dias Carneiro Advogados

The 'very capable and engaged' team at Dias Carneiro Advogados is led by Laura Bumachar, who has notable experience in litigation and restructuring. In recent work, Bumachar and senior associate Lucas Paulino successfully defended a client in a public civil action related to alleged environmental damages. Eduardo Turkienicz and Antonio Nachif are also recommended.

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Labour and employment

Labour and employment - ranked: tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados

A 'great business partner', Dias Carneiro Advogados  is 'very objective' and its lawyers 'reply promptly'. It stands out in the tech sector, and recently expanded its client portfolio of startups and investment funds. Practice head André de Melo Ribeiro is an 'outstanding lawyer', and senior associate Cynthia Fernandes Guidotti an 'excellent labour litigator'.

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Projects and infrastructure

Projects and infrastructure - ranked: tier 2

Dias Carneiro Advogados

Dias Carneiro Advogados has a 'good commercial understanding' and regularly advises international clients on the negotiation of project contracts, regulatory matters and project financings. A recent highlight in the renewables sector was assisting Vestas Wind Power with the negotiation of agreements with Queiroz Galvão Energia for the operation and maintenance of wind farms. Ricardo Sanches has 'incredible negotiation skills and know-how' and Thiago Vallandro Flores is 'excellent'.

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Tax

Tax - ranked: tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados

Antonio Amendola and Rodrigo Maito da Silveira lead the tax and customs practice at Dias Carneiro Advogados, which had a busy year in 2018 in both litigation and consulting. Its clients include tech, telecoms and life sciences companies. Counsel Juan Manuel Mendez and senior associate Thiago Corrêa Vasques are active members of the team.

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Brazil: Energy and natural resources

Electricity

Electricity - ranked: tier 3

Dias Carneiro Advogados

Dias Carneiro Advogados continues to ramp up on the power side, notably adding Shanghai Electric Power Generation as a new client in 2018, among other high-profile names. Best known for its strength in commercial and regulatory matters, the group is also very active on the transactional front, particularly on the finance side. Project finance head Thiago Vallandro Flores recently advised Usina de Energia Eólica Vila Acre I on a R$105.4m loan facility from Banco do Nordeste do Brasil to finance the construction and development of a wind project. Ricardo Sanches, who leads the public law, regulatory and infrastructure groups, is also recommended.

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