Francisco José Pinheiro Guimarães > Pinheiro Guimarães > Sao Paulo, Brazil > Lawyer Profile

Roundly praised by clients for its ‘vast knowledge and experience’ in the M&A space, Pinheiro Guimarães handles domestic and multijurisdictional transactions for a diversity of clients, including buyers, sellers, investors and target companies. Best known for its presence in the banking and finance sector, the firm stands out for its experience in M&A deals involving financial industry players, ranging from investment banks to hedge funds. Advising on the structuring and negotiation of private equity investments is another area of strength for the group, which further showcases in-depth knowledge of public M&A and related regulatory issues. ‘Leader and born negotiator’ Plinio Pinheiro Guimarães N. is recommended for his experience in domestic and cross-border matters; he heads up the Rio de Janeiro-based team, which also features René Mostardeiro Brunet, a contact for transactions involving financial institutions, listed companies and private equity funds, and the ‘excellent’ Bernardo Bulhões, who is skilled in corporate deals and disputes. The practice in São Paulo is led by Francisco José Pinheiro Guimarães and Marcelo Lamy Rego, the latter of whom possesses an impressive track record in large-cap M&A in a multitude of industries, with a special emphasis on banking, healthcare, energy and consumer goods. In the same office, Rodrigo Marcilio assists private equity funds and major corporations in strategic deals; Maria Amélia Lisbão Senra specialises in M&A, and banking and finance; and Bernardo Romano Teixeira leverages his expertise in securities regulation to advise on complex M&A transactions.

Pinheiro Guimarães acts for an impressive mix of major borrowers and lenders, including banks, development agencies, corporates and state entities. Showcasing a varied transactional expertise that covers domestic and cross-border acquisition financings, structured products, syndicated loans, refinancings and trade financings, the multifaceted practice is also singled out for its strong track record in project and asset finance. Ivie Moura Alves is a strong performer in mandates involving syndicated loans and debt capital markets. Fábio Yanitchkis Couto is a key contact for distressed debt and structured finance. The latter is a core area of practice for Paula Beatriz Carneiro Pessôa, while Roberta Giamattey Pimentel Fonseca Kelley is especially recommended for project finance. The team is led respectively out of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo by Francisco José Pinheiro Guimarães and Plinio Pinheiro Guimarães Neto, both of whom are references in the banking and finance market. Up-and-coming partner Marcela Taquette Vaz is developing a good reputation for cross-border loans and bond offerings.

Pinheiro Guimarães provides top-notch expertise in high-profile debt and equity capital markets deals. Major listed companies, financial institutions, and investment funds routinely turn to the practice for support in their most significant listings. With extensive experience in acting for both issuers and underwriters, the group’s ‘deep knowledge’ and broad service offering covers cross-border IPOs, secondary offerings, private placements, as well as real estate and agribusiness certificates. The team is led by highly esteemed banking, M&A and capital markets specialists Plinio Pinheiro Guimarães and Francisco José Pinheiro Guimarães, who are based in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo respectively. Senior partner Cristina Tomiyama combines comprehensive knowledge of capital markets regulations with a strong track record in ECM transactions, including IPOs, follow-ons and dual listings. The ‘extremely diligent and assertive’ Ivie Moura Alves is particularly skilled in debt offerings, while Bruno Lardosa maintains a broad practice acting for financial institutions, investors, multilaterals, asset managers and large corporations in ECM and DCM deals. The ‘excellent’ Mariana Silveira Martins Jost and the ‘very technical‘ Carolina Testoni Alonso Camargo, who excels in asset-backed capital markets transactions, are also part of the core team.