Firm Profile > Trench Rossi Watanabe > Sao Paulo, Brazil

Tax Tier 1

The 'strategic experts' at Trench Rossi Watanabe are 'technically well prepared' and 'always look for the newest strategy'. The firm stands out for its ability to handle cross-border matters for a multinational client base; here, its expertise in international taxation combined with its global office network is a major draw. A team utilised this international tax experience to advise Natura on the tax structuring of its high-profile acquisition of The Body Shop; Simone Dias Musa and Reinaldo Ravelli led the advice. On the contentious side, Marcos Vinicius Neder de Lima defended Braskem in a case involving collection of corporate income tax and contributions on profits. The department has seen some departures, including Priscila Faricelli, who joined Demarest Advogados in 2019, and Ana Carolina Utimati, who left for Lefosse Advogados in 2018. However, the firm made several partner promotions in 2018, including Roberta de Lima Romano and Rafael Gregorin from the tax department, and more recently, in November 2019, hired Maria Rita Ferragut as a partner; she had formerly been at her own firm. Clarissa Giannetti Machado is also highly recommended.  

Competition and antitrust Tier 2

Trench Rossi Watanabe fields a highly experienced team of antitrust lawyers, who are instructed by leading companies, many of which have been clients of the firm for over a decade. The firm's full-service offering is of benefit, as is its association with international firm Baker McKenzie, although the standalone antitrust department generates much of its own work. Brasília-based practice head Francisco Todorov and a team advised General Electric on the sale of its transportation business to Wabtec, which was approved by CADE in 2019. Adriana Giannini draws on over 18 years' experience in competition law, including cartel, abuse of dominance and other antitrust investigations. The department has seen some movement at the senior associate level, including the arrival of Ursula Pereira Pinto Bassoukou from Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados and the departure of Paula Farani de Azevedo to join CADE. Lorena Leite Nisiyama is another key senior associate. Further developments since publication have seen the departure of Todorov to Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown and his replacement as practice head by Paulo Casagrande, formerly at Stocche Forbes Advogados.

Corporate and M&A Tier 2

'Widely known law firm' Trench Rossi Watanabe 'provides exceptional services in various legal specialties, providing safe harbour to clients with very sensitive deals'. It regularly advises domestic and international companies on their global expansion, where the Brazil-based team is able to work with colleagues across its worldwide platform. The corporate practice has seen an uptick in work in the healthcare, retail and restaurant sectors, and is also active in the oil-and-gas, agribusiness and tech industries. Highlights on the buy side included representing Yara Brasil Fertilizantes in the purchase of a nitrogen and phosphate industrial complex in Cubatão, where Nazir Takieddine led the advice. Alberto Mori worked as part of a cross-office team to advise a Chinese company on a joint venture with a Brazilian group. In a significant move, Daniel Facó joined the firm from Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados to head the transactional practice. Anna Tavares de Mello is based in Rio de Janeiro and has substantial experience in M&A, private equity and insurance. Monica Castro Pereira Cavalcanti and Mauricio Pacheco receive praise.

Environment Tier 2

At Trench Rossi Watanabe, 12 lawyers in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre handle environmental work. Walter Hellmeister Junior, the ‘professional’ Renata Amaral and senior associate Giovani Tomasoni stand out. The team is particularly strong assisting with issues concerning contaminated sites, while solid waste, forestry and crisis management are further pillars of the practice. Highlights include advising Shell on the licensing of oil platforms, and defending Plastivida against a public civil action concerning a take-back scheme for packaging.

Intellectual property Tier 2

Trench Rossi Watanabe handles the full range of IP work, including portfolio management, technology transfer and licensing transactions as well as contentious cases. The impressive client portfolio includes numerous multinationals. For example, the group handles franchise work for Radisson; advised Unilever and Sony on trade mark matters; and defended Hasbro in a patent infringement complaint filed by Kidsword concerning alleged utility model and design infringements. Marcela Trigo de Souza, Flavia Vasconcelos and Flavia Rebello are recommended practitioners.

Labour and employment Tier 2

Recommended firm Trench Rossi Watanabe covers investigations, class actions, collective bargaining agreements, compensation structures, global mobility, and health and safety, among other areas. Clients include General Electric, Facebook and American Airlines. Tricia Maria Sá de Oliveira and Letícia Ribeiro Crissiuma de Figueiredo are key contacts in the São Paulo office.

Compliance Tier 3

Heloísa Barroso Uelze leads the compliance practice at Trench Rossi Watanabe, which is equipped to handle large and sensitive investigations. Much of its work is cross-border in nature; in one highlight, the team acted for a company in a multi-jurisdictional investigation into potential violations of anti-corruption laws; it continues to assist the client with demands from Brazilian and international enforcement authorities.

Dispute resolution (including White-collar crime) Tier 3

Trench Rossi Watanabe is 'well versed in a wide range of industries and counts on very sophisticated and energetic lawyers'. In addition, clients note that it 'can think strategically' and 'present outstanding petitions'. Its arbitration department in particular is noted for its 'brilliant professionals', including 'standout' lawyer Joaquim de Paiva Muniz. Andrea Brick's 'commitment to her clients combined with her strategic mind contributes to how she successfully handles litigation', and department head Marcio de Souza Polto is considered 'one of the best lawyers in the country'; his 'deep experience in the field inspires trust'. João Augusto Gameiro leads the criminal law practice. However, both Ricardo Quass Duarte  and Mauro Pedroso Gonçalves left the firm in early 2019, moving to Souto Correa Cesa Lummertz & Amaral Advogados and Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown, respectively.

Electricity Tier 3

Trench Rossi Watanabe strikes the right note with its ‘strong knowledge of the market’ and ‘practical experience on big energy projects’. Led by the ‘hands-on and knowledgeable’ José Roberto Martins, the team has robust expertise in all the key segments of the power sector, including thermal, hydro, solar and wind. Recent highlights included advising Canadian Solar on its successful participation in ANEEL’s 2018 auction, which saw the company awarded three utility-scale solar photovoltaic projects. Casa dos Ventos, Brookfield Renewable and Zhejiang Energy International are also on the department’s books.

Hydrocarbons Tier 3

Trench Rossi Watanabe’s oil-and-gas practice brings to bear specialist skill sets across a wide scope of oil-and-gas issues, including constitutional and public law matters, corporate finance transactions, energy regulation and dispute resolution. On the transactional front, the group advised RWE Supply & Trading on its investment into DBO Energy - José Roberto Martins and Danielle Valois led that work. Anna Tavares de Mello is another key contact in a group that also counts BP, Petrobras and Shell Brasil among its clients.

Insurance Tier 3

Multinational and domestic companies, including major insurers, turn to Trench Rossi Watanabe for legal and regulatory advice. In recent work, the team assisted SCOR Brasil Resseguros on its reorganisation and in regulatory proceedings before the Brazilian Superintendence of Private Insurance (SUSEP). The firm's international office network and experience make it well placed to handle multi-jurisdictional matters. Anna Tavares de Mello heads the practice from Rio de Janeiro. Carolina Secches and associate Victor Luis Sigaud Ferraz are key contacts in the São Paulo office.

Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

Trench Rossi Watanabe combines M&A, oil and gas, energy and public law expertise to advise international clients on a regular basis. Since winning Canadian Solar as a client, the group has assisted the company with various power auctions and transactions. Anna Tavares de Mello and José Roberto Martins stand out.

Public law Tier 3

Trench Rossi Watanabe's public law department 'has the right balance of very senior and seasoned professionals, and young and energetic stars with an astonishing work capacity'. The firm is particularly active in the oil-and-gas sector, and also acts for clients in the tech, telecoms and healthcare sectors, among others. Henrique Frizzo is 'very consistent and reliable' and has 'very good technical skills'. Heloísa Barroso Uelze specialises in investigations and disputes involving public entities and regulatory agencies. Environmental lawyer Renata Amaral is also recommended.

Capital markets Tier 4

‘Highly knowledgeable and dedicated’, Trench Rossi Watanabe stands out for its ‘strong senior involvement at all points of transactions’. In particular, Helen Naves is noted for her ‘professional, responsive and detail-oriented’ approach. Naves recently advised seasoned issuer Natura Cosméticos on its R$1.4bn offering of debentures to finance its acquisition of The Body Shop. In a high-profile lateral hire, the team was recently boosted by the arrival of Daniel Facó from Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados.

International trade and customs Tier 4

Alessandra Machado is a key partner at Trench Rossi Watanabe; she handles a range of trade and international customs matters. Tax and customs specialist Paulo Rogério Sehn is another contact.

Real estate Tier 4

The 'very experienced and diverse team of lawyers' at Trench Rossi Watanabe is 'fully committed to meeting their clients' needs'. Former practice head Lúcia Veloso Aragão left in 2018, and the practice now comprises a multidisciplinary group of lawyers who handle real estate litigation and acquisitions. Marcia Calafate is a name to note.

Banking and finance Tier 5

In a major coup, in 2019 Trench Rossi Watanabe bolstered its banking and finance practice with the hire of corporate finance partner Daniel Facó from Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados. He joins a broad group, which routinely advises local and international banks, as well as corporate borrowers and issuers, on transactional and regulatory matters — key clients include Banco Bradesco, Banco do Brasil and BRK Ambiental. The firm had a busy year on the debt capital markets side, which included Helen Naves advising seasoned issuer Natura Cosméticos on its R$1.4bn public offering of debentures. Naves also paired up with Luís Ambrósio to advise Votorantim on its R$550m debenture offering. Other key partners include Carolina Secches and José Augusto Martins. Since publication, Naves has moved to Demarest Advogados, effective February 2020.

TMT

Trench Rossi Watanabe is experienced assisting with IT, ecommerce and outsourcing matters. Practice head Flavia Rebello frequently acts on IP-related issues. WhatsApp is a client.

Latin America: International firms > Banking and finance Tier 4

Baker McKenzie LLP 's ubiquity across Latin America affords it especially strong connections to regional borrowers and lenders. It has a broad product and geographic coverage, ranging from acquisition and aircraft financing to restructuring, project finance and regulatory issues. Clients include Mizuho Bank, Korea Development Bank, Central American Bank for Economic Integration, Banorte, Canadian Imperial Bank and Marriott International. The team advised the mandated lead arrangers on a $1.3bn syndicated credit facility for Petróleos del Peru (Petroperú)  relating to the Talara refinery modernisation project. It also advised a consortium of banks on a $400m unsecured syndicated senior loan to finance Peruvian consumer goods conglomerate Alicorp’s acquisitions of Bolivian companies Industrias de Aceite and ADM SAO. The team is 'solid, capable and experienced in different transactions' and is commended for understanding clients' commercial objectives and 'style of work'. The practice 'knows specifically how banks work and what type of issues are important for them', helping clients to 'anticipate many issues and help transactions to progress'. It 'has unique and multi-disciplinary expertise in international business where thorough and detailed knowledge of the regulations of different countries is needed at the same time' thanks to the presence of 'experienced and business oriented professionals in many countries'. Margarita Oliva Sainz de Aja leads the Latin America finance practice having joined the New York office from Chadbourne & Parke in 2017. Rafael Berckholtz is another prominent name who splits his time between New York and Lima. Other key partners include Juan Carlos de los Heros Echecopar at Peruvian associate firm Estudio Echecopar member firm of Baker McKenzie International in Lima and Helen Naves at Brazilian associate firm Trench Rossi Watanabe in Sao Paulo. Gabriel Gómez Giglio in Buenos Aires and Mexico City's María Casas are 'business oriented professionals' who are 'capable of providing precise advice with short and to-the-point answers'.

Latin America: International firms > Projects and energy Tier 4

Baker McKenzie LLP's unique geographic coverage and broad sector offering makes it a genuine player in the market, most notably in oil, gas, mining and power deals in Mexico and Brazil. Clients include Petrobras, EDF, Shell, Canadian Solar, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and Atacama Pacific Gold. The practice advised French renewables partnership Total-Eren on the acquisition of three solar-power projects with a combined 90MW installed capacity from Spanish group Cobra; the three projects, which include a power substation and transmission lines, are in Dracena, São Paulo. Other matters included assisting Canadian Solar, as a consortium member, on the $136m acquisition of three solar projects in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. The 'strong and experienced team' is praised for its 'full availability'. José Roberto Martins of Brazil associate firm Trench Rossi Watanabe, heads the global firm's Latin America energy, mining and infrastructure group. Mexico City's Benjamin Torres-Barrón is also an experienced figure in the energy sector. Santiago partner Antonio Ortúzar is a key name in mining and Lima's Juan Carlos de los Heros Echecopar is also singled out by clients.