Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados > São Paulo, Brazil > Firm Profile

Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados > The Legal 500 Rankings

Brazil > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados continues to attract top-end M&A mandates, regularly acting on behalf of numerous household names in the healthcare, retail, energy, financial services, and media and entertainment industries, to name a few. Its strategic alliance with Dentons makes it a popular choice for clients, including private equity and financial services players, engaged in high-value, cross-border transactions with ties to Brazil. As a result of this association, the firm has implemented a global strategic business plan based on four main pillars (grow, protect, operate and finance), through which it has already adopted numerous cybersecurity measures and technological tools to address clients’ most pressing needs. Corporate partner Bruna Gobbi serves as co-head of the firm’s D&I committee and WomenLEAD In Brazil, a programme centred around gender equality in the legal profession. The corporate and M&A group is under the joint leadership of founding partners Frederico Buosi and Rodrigo Vilardo Vella, both of whom possess decades of experience in corporate transactions, including joint ventures and private equity investments. Denise Chachamovitz Leão de Salles specialises in M&A and compliance matters; Gabriella Maranesi Najjar is a key figure in the group, with a particular focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors; and recently promoted partner Fernanda Le Tassinari is singled out for her track record in the life sciences space. Fernando Henrique Lopes, who was also welcomed to the partnership, ‘is an invaluable advisor‘ in the areas of corporate law and compliance.

Tax > Tax litigation Tier 3

Brazil > Capital markets Tier 4

The experienced capital markets team at Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados is especially active on the debt side. The team can regularly be found advising real estate companies and investment funds on CRI issuances, and it also has good expertise assisting clients in the energy and financial services sectors. The lawyers also advise on capital markets in the context of broader issues, including restructurings and M&A, while the firm’s strategic alliance with Dentons helps in cross-border matters. Gabriella Maranesi Najjar leads the team, with Daniel Lopes Coelho often involved in real estate offerings.

Brazil > Compliance Tier 4

Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados‘ compliance department is led by corporate and compliance expert Denise Chachamovitz Leão de Salles, who acts for Brazilian and international companies in internal investigations, background checks, compliance due diligence and contract reviews, among other matters. The team has seen an uptick in corporate investigations involving cyber fraud, as well as issues around moral harassment, where it combines its knowledge of compliance, employment and data privacy to assist clients. The firm’s association with global powerhouse Dentons is also of benefit, particularly in cross-border matters. Fernando Henrique Lopes has been actively involved in many of the department’s recent mandates.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Litigation Tier 4

Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados ‘is present in several strategic and complex cases', ranging from disputes against the government to lawsuits involving financial products, transactions and contractual issues. The department – which is a popular choice for clients in the agribusiness, energy and real estate sectors – is particularly seasoned in shareholder and corporate disputes, as well as class actions filed against banks, and those involving environmental issues. Antonio Celso Pugliese ‘is an excellent lawyer', who ‘leads the cases brilliantly'. Recent instructions demonstrate his strength in handling litigation involving capital markets, construction and corporate matters. Another key lawyer, Carolina Mansur is noted for restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy-related cases, where she has substantial experience representing financial institutions and investment funds. Nahima Müller focuses on commercial disputes on behalf of renewable energy, technology and petrochemical clients. Recently promoted partner Erik Sernik is a name to note for both litigation and arbitration proceedings.

Brazil > Public law Tier 4

Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados is singled out for its in-depth knowledge of public bidding procedures and regulated industries, including oil and gas, basic sanitation, gas distribution and airports. The public law, infrastructure and regulatory group has experienced substantial growth under the joint leadership of Fernando Villela de Andrade Vianna, with several new clients and instructions related to administrative proceedings, public hearings carried out by regulatory agencies, public contracts and concessions. Vianna stands out for his extensive knowledge of matters concerning the airport infrastructure sector. Renato Otto Kloss, who has a relevant background in public administration and regulatory agencies, is a go-to counsel to sanitation clients in new concessions and PPP agreements.

Tax > Tax advisory Tier 4

The team at Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados is ‘committed to meeting client needs, seeking operational and technical excellence, while communicating assertively both with tax and judicial authorities‘. The firm has a significant international base of clients which rely on it to ‘navigate the complex tax regimes in Brazil‘ and distil ‘complex concepts into actionable advice‘.  This applies to direct and indirect tax-related litigation and consulting work. Partners such as practice head Antonio Carlos Guidoni Filho and Helena Vicentini de Assis, both experienced litigators, combine ‘great technical knowledge with practice in the sector‘. André Lemes is noted for his ‘technical knowledge’, while Carlos Eduardo de Biasi is a ‘trusted advisor‘ for non-contentious issues.

Brazil > Banking and finance Tier 5

Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados represents a broad selection of domestic and international borrowers and lenders. The firm regularly advises on acquisition and project financings, as well as syndicated loans and sector-related corporate work. The team also has an increased focus on regulatory matters for fintech companies, including advice on payment products, credit cards, joint venture agreements and banking services. Corporate finance partners Gabriella Maranesi Najjar, Denise Chachamovitz Leão de Salles and Rodrigo Vilardo Vella each have a good track record in this area. The firm’s alliance with Dentons gives it an edge in cross-border matters.

Brazil > Environment Tier 5

Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados is highlighted for its 'excellent services' and 'differentiated business vision'. The practice has seen recent growth in work related to the management of environmental impacts and liabilities of transactions. The practice provides both advisory and ligation services, demonstrating a strong track record in public civil actions, environmental licensing and contamination matters. Antonio Celso Pugliese jointly leads the environment group with recently promoted partner Anderson Moura, who is noted for his experience in environmental compliance and litigation.

Brazil > Labour and employment Tier 5

Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados is a ‘trusted advisor‘ on labour law issues. The firm regularly assists employers with individual and collective dismissal claims. Multinational clients particularly appreciate the firm’s ability to help ‘navigate country entry and ongoing issues and questions‘, through lawyers who are ‘great at distilling local requirements and laws in a way that a business team can implement‘. Team head Marcos Renato dos Santos  is backed by a strong bench of associates, including Carolina Vassilas Grigorini  and Isadora Prata , who are noted for their ‘sound and pragmatic advice‘.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Arbitration