FreitasLeite Advogados > Sao Paulo, Brazil > Firm Profile

FreitasLeite Advogados Offices

FreitasLeite Advogados
R. ELVIRA FERRAZ 250 - VILA OLIMPIA
SAO PAULO - SP 04552-040
Brazil
Visit website 55 11 3728 8100

FreitasLeite Advogados > The Legal 500 Rankings

Brazil > Wealth and succession planning Tier 2

Combining expertise in capital markets, tax, corporate and M&A, regulatory issues and real estate, FreitasLeite Advogados offers private clients comprehensive advice on offshore investment schemes, tax planning, and probate matters. In addition to its strong following of high-net-worth individuals and families, the ‘dynamic, extremely technical and pragmatic‘ group acts for financial institutions, family offices and financial advisers. Drawing on more than 20 years’ experience in this space, co-founding partner Raul De Paula Leite Filho jointly leads the practice with Humberto de Lima Isaac, who specialises in foreign investment structures and asset management. Associate Thiago Hatab manages a broad practice, spanning wealth and tax planning, as well as M&A and corporate reorganisations.

Practice head(s):

Raul de Paula Leite Filho; Humberto de Lima Isaac

Testimonials

‘It is a great team, with not only technical skills but also interpersonal skills to be able to deal with HNWI on very complex matters.’

‘They stand out not only for their professional skills (which are outstanding), but also for the way they communicate and make clients feel. Raul Leite is my key person in Freitas Leite.’

‘FreitasLeite is dynamic, extremely technical and pragmatic, in addition to having complete mastery of all matters related to wealth management.’

‘Raul Leite has in-depth knowledge of matters involving asset management. Thiago Hatab has complete mastery of matters, is helpful and super hands-on.’

Brazil > Capital markets Tier 3

FreitasLeite Advogados has established itself as a leading player in the investment funds sector. The ‘very available’ team provides a comprehensive range of services, including fund launches and advisory work on equity and debt offerings. The firm’s solid foundation in regulatory and administrative litigation adds further value. The transactional practice covers various asset classes, encompassing real estate, student loans, distressed debt, private equity, and emerging areas like fintech. Founding partner Cristiano Da Cruz Leite stands out for his strong regulatory skills. Humberto De Paula Lima Isaac, who specialises in funds and collective investment vehicles, and offshore funds expert Isabela Nunes are singled out for their ‘level of knowledge’ and ‘attention’.

Practice head(s):

Cristiano Leite; Humberto Isaac

Testimonials

‘All of our contacts are always very available, in addition to demonstrating complete knowledge of the necessary subjects.’

‘Isabela Nunes and Humberto Isaac – level of knowledge, proximity, attention, availability. Many of our clients decide to hire the firm because they feel confident from the first meeting, not only in terms of knowledge, but also service.’

‘I work with the FreitasLeite Advogados’ capital markets team principally in the establishment and on-going maintenance of offshore funds for Brazilian managers and family offices. Their strength is their attention to detail, their understanding of offshore laws and regulations that they are able to meld with the applicable Brazilian laws and provide the client with a turnkey solution. You feel in very safe hands with FreitasLeite Advogados.’

The two standout individuals are Humberto Isaac and Isabela Nunes. Both are excellent technically, always on top of the latest developments in Brazil and offshore. They are excellent at managing a transaction; and they have a great way with clients, distilling what can sometimes be complex issues into understandable communications, on which the clients can decide and act on.’

Key clients

Avenue Securities

Galápagos Capital

Pravaler

Credit Agricole Brasil

Work highlights

  • Advised SPX Private Equity Gestão de Recursos on the incorporation of local and offshore vehicles (investment funds) managed by the private equity arm of SPX Capital, derived from the local branch of Carlyle Group.
  • Assisted FIDC Zipdin I in its 1st issuance of senior shares and creation of three new classes of subordinated shares for the fund.
  • Assisted Pravaler in the 8th and 9th issuance of senior shares of the Crédito Universitário II FIDC and in the creation of two new classes of subordinated shares for the fund.

Brazil > Corporate and M&A: Mid-market Tier 3

With a strong following among investment funds, banks, private equity firms, publicly traded companies and family offices, FreitasLeite Advogados is well equipped to support clients across the full spectrum of M&A and corporate matters. Rio de Janeiro-based co-head Pedro Afonso Gutierrez Avvad relies on his strong tax and accounting capabilities to structure small to mid-cap M&A and private equity investments. Fellow co-leader Claudio Fabricio Lima, who sits in the São Paulo office, is proficient in M&A involving the financial services, technology and services sectors, and also advises on restructurings and corporate governance issues. In addition to his transactional track record, Joaquim Chacur Mano stands out at the associate level for his involvement in mandates concerning shareholders’ activism and corporate disputes.

Practice head(s):

Pedro Afonso Gutierrez Avvad; Claudio Fabricio Lima

Testimonials

‘Promptness and quality of care.’

‘Pedro Afonso Avvad thinks like an entrepreneur. He provides solid advice.’

Key clients

Avenue Securities

Igah Ventures

Lightrock

Petland

QI Tech

3G Radar

Vinci Partners

Companhias Elétricas Brasileiras (Eletrobras)

BRQ Digital Solutions

Even Construtora e Incorporadora

Melnick Desenvolvimento Imobiliário

Matera Systema

Ser Educacional

Carpa Parners

GTEX

BR Marinas

Work highlights

  • Assisted Avenue Securities and all the subsidiaries of Avenue Securities Group with the sale of an initial stake of Avenue Holding to Itaú Unibanco.
  • Advised the founders of Igah Ventures on the sale of the quotas of Igah to Patria Investments.
  • Advised 3G Radar, SPX Capital, Vinci Partners and Navi Capital on the election of Eletrobras’ new board of directors, a 10-strong group that will set the firm’s post-privatisation strategy.

Tax > Tax advisory Tier 6

FreitasLeite Advogados > Firm Profile

Since 1996, FreitasLeite has significant expertise in providing specialised legal advice on high profile matters. The firm offers a multidisciplinary team of highly qualified and experienced professionals by developing tailor-made solutions for the clients’ needs.

With active presence along with the main market participants and regulators, FreitasLeite followed and actively participated in the evolving regulatory framework governing the financial and capital markets in Brazil in the last decades, being considered an influential and innovative office on proposed solutions.

Over the years, FreitasLeite has broadened its areas of expertise while keeping the ‘boutique’ concept. Every matter handled by the firm is closely followed by a partner and treated in a truly personalised manner.

Main areas of practice
Anti-corruption and compliance: Internal investigations; compliance programs, including codes of ethics and policies; due diligence and background checks; risk assessment; crisis management; advice and settlement in international investigations; negotiation of leniency agreements; board advice; and administrative and judicial defense.
Contact: Leopoldo Pagotto

Antitrust: Cartel and abuse of dominance cases; leniency agreements; risk assessment; merger control; antitrust private claims.
Contact: Leopoldo Pagotto

Financial and capital markets: Set-up of financial institutions, asset managers, investment advisers, research consultants and other regulated participants; set-up of local and offshore investment funds, including in the private equity and real estate sectors; securitisation transactions; planning and implementation of venture capital and private equity investment structures; participation in M&A transactions involving financial institutions, Fintechs and other regulated companies; assistance in issuing and distributing corporate debt instruments, and the relevant secured transactions; client’s defence in administrative proceedings with the Brazilian Central Bank and the Brazilian Securities Commission in regulatory and administrative matters.
Contacts: Cristiano da Cruz Leite and Paolo Calabresi Grimaldi (Domestic) and Humberto de Paula Lima Isaac and Isabela Francisco da Silva Nunes (International)

Fintech: Legal advice on the set up and regulatory accreditation for fintechs operating in various segments of the industry. Full assistance on corporate, tax and regulatory matters. Structuring of financial products and payment services with digital platforms and similar technologies. Active participation in M&A transactions and investment rounds of financial institutions, fintechs and other regulated entities, taking part of legal due diligence and assisting on negotiations of the relevant agreements.
Contacts: Cristiano da Cruz Leite and Paolo Calabresi Grimaldi

Corporate/M&A: Legal advice on mergers, acquisitions and corporate restructuring, as well as guidance on mitigating risks arising from business activities, from the exercise of positions in the board and commercial contracts in general. Set-up of companies, joint ventures, consortiums, associations and foundations, structuring and implementation of corporate reorganisations, representation of clients as shareholders and matters of corporate governance. Legal advice on issues related to foreign investments in Brazil, repatriation of funds and import/export transactions.
Contacts: Claudio Fabricio Lima and Pedro Avvad

Private client and wealth advisory: Legal advice on organising and structuring families’ investment structures that are efficient from corporate, tax and succession law standpoints, including trusts, foundations, proprietary investment funds and other legal devices to consolidate or segregate assets; estate planning, including drafting wills and other instruments governing the division of assets located in Brazil and abroad; acquisition, leasing and selling aircrafts, boats, onshore and offshore real estate properties and other assets and preparation of income tax returns, declaration of capital abroad and ancillary obligations abroad for individuals and family offices.
Contact: Raul de Paula Leite Filho

Real estate: Legal advice in the development of real estate, transactions, construction contracts, consortiums, land incorporation, built-to-suit contracts and sale-lease-back agreements, including legal analysis and issuance of legal opinions and securitisation of receivables and real estate financing operations, including real estate funds and issuance of real estate receivables certificates.
Contacts: Cristiano da Cruz Leite and Fernanda Amaral

Tax: Legal advice for individuals and entities (Brazil or abroad), regarding analysis, structuring and implementation of tax planning solutions; interpretation and application of Brazilian federal state and municipal tax regulations; tax credits and refunds, practice in financial and capital market transactions and on M&A deals. Litigation in the administrative and judicial spheres in all instances and development of legal thesis.
Contacts: Pedro Avvad, Diogo Ferraz and Thiago Marigo

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Capital markets Cristiano Leite
Capital markets Humberto Isaac
Capital markets Isabela Nunes
Capital markets Paolo Grimaldi
Capital markets Alfredo Pacheco
Regulatory Cristiano Leite
Regulatory Humberto Isaac
Regulatory Fernanda Amaral
Regulatory Paolo Grimaldi
Corporate/M&A Pedro Avvad
Corporate/M&A Claudio Lima
Corporate/M&A Joaquim Mano
Tax Pedro Avvad
Tax Diogo Ferraz
Tax Thiago Marigo
Real Estate Fernanda Amaral
Real Estate Cristiano Leite
Real Estate Tatiana Altemari
Wealth Structuring and Estate Planning Raul Leite
Arbitration/Litigation Pedro Avvad
Antitrust Leopoldo Pagotto
Anti-corruption and compliance Leopoldo Pagotto

Staff Figures

Other fee-earners : 47
Total staff : 85

Other

Contacts : 10