Firm Profile > CGM Advogados > Sao Paulo, Brazil

CGM Advogados > Firm Profile

CGM was founded by an experienced group of partners who have been working together for more than two decades, and were joined by other partners coming from reputable law firms.

CGM enjoys strong client and market recognition as acknowledged in important international publications and rankings. The firm’s service model focuses on solving its clients’ issues in a responsive, efficient and business-oriented manner, combining technical expertise and creativity.

With a team of professionals graduated from reputable Brazilian law schools, many of the firm’s lawyers have also obtained Master’s degrees and other qualifications abroad, and have worked outside of Brazil.

CGM has a tight-knit network of partnerships, which allows it to provide services throughout Brazil and coordinate multijurisdictional projects in Latin America. The team works at a very fast pace and has in-depth knowledge of the law and business environment of the region.

CGM positions itself as a “client-service firm”, which means it is prepared to assist its clients from the most sophisticated transactions to the management of their daily legal routine. CGM is keen on spotting issues but equally committed to addressing them. The firm’s team eagerly pursues solutions to help clients do business and achieve their goals. In addition, the firm’s professionals’ long-term experience working with international clients results in the ability to explain the Brazilian legal system to foreigners in a very practical way and in being sensitive to the cultural differences of doing business in Brazil and elsewhere.

CGM assists domestic and foreign clients from various industries, with strong expertise in agribusiness, automotive, banking, chemicals, construction, defence, e-commerce, energy, healthcare, heavy industry, hospitality and leisure, information technology, infrastructure, real estate, insurance, logistics, pharmaceutical, medical, professional and regulated services, retail, wholesale and transportation.

Main areas of practice
Corporate and M&A: CGM provides full assistance to clients’ business in Brazil, handling all the work involved both in their day-to-day needs as well as in complex transactions, such as cross-border joint-ventures, mergers and acquisitions. The firm’s professionals have been involved in several M&A deals for high-profile clients in the last years, thus earning domestic and international recognition in this area.

Labour and employment: CGM represents clients in all aspects of labour and employment laws in Brazil. The services include, among others, advice and planning on the hiring of employees (including foreigners who will work in Brazil and Brazilians who will work abroad), incentive plans (such as stock options, restricted stock units and phantom shares), diversity at work, drafting and negotiation of labour and services agreements, preparation and negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, assistance in union reclassification matters and negotiations with unions in general, and representation of companies in labour litigation of various levels of complexity.

Tax: The firm’s services involve tax and estate planning, tax structuring for corporate and M&A operations, tax consultancy (covering the several Brazilian taxes, double taxation treaties, transfer pricing, ancillary obligations, special customs regimes), obtaining and management of tax benefits and special tax regimes, and assistance in tax assessments and administrative and judicial litigation.

Antitrust: CGM assists clients vis-à-vis the Brazilian antitrust authorities, including merger filings before the Brazilian Competition Commission (CADE), representing companies and individuals in investigations on anticompetitive conducts, and structuring and negotiation of leniency agreements with CADE, general consultancy on competition laws and assistance to clients as interested parties in notices to third parties (challenges and other interventions).

Administrative and regulatory: The administrative and regulatory group has been assisting clients from various highly regulated industries, including healthcare, banking, insurance, defence, chemicals, telecom, ports and logistics in connection with regulatory matters in Brazil. The firm represents clients in public bids carried in all spheres of government and agencies using all procurement methods (competition, invitation, price taking and reverse auctions), and also provides assistance in bidding procedures involving public-private partnerships (PPPs), administrative concessions and differential government procurement regime (RDCs).

Litigation and arbitration: The firm’s litigation and arbitration practice accumulates successful cases in judicial proceedings in state and federal courts, in arbitration and mediation involving clients from a wide variety of sectors. CGM’s professionals are experienced in the enforcement of foreign decisions in Brazil, and in restructuring and bankruptcy proceedings.

Real estate: The real estate team provides full assistance to clients in the area, including structuring and development of real estate ventures, such as shopping malls, hotels, commercial and residential buildings and distribution centres, drafting and negotiation of lease agreements (commercial, residential, shopping malls), built to suit agreements, deeds of purchase and sale of real estate properties, construction, turn-key and other agreements, and structuring of rem guarantees (fiduciary transfers, mortgages).

Intellectual property: The firm’s intellectual property practice provides assistance with respect to the protection of IP rights, including software, trademarks, copyrights, licensing agreements, trade secrets, transfer of technology and specialised services, including due diligence of IP rights.

Life sciences: CGM has developed a solid client portfolio in the life sciences industry. Companies’ sectors cover pharmaceutical, medical devices, food, health services and software, cosmetics and animal health. The firm handles complex transactions, strategic and operational matters with an interdisciplinary approach, considering all legal and business perspectives in services such as contracts, regulatory, corporate and compliance matters.

Privacy and data protection: The firm provides advice on Brazilian privacy and data protection regulations, and assists clients with respect to the preparation and review of privacy policies, data protection agreements and statements, and consent forms.

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