Costa, Albino & Rocha Sociedade de Advogados (CAR) > Sao Paulo, Brazil > Firm Profile

Costa, Albino & Rocha Sociedade de Advogados (CAR)
Edifício New England, Av. Angélica nº 2346
10° andar - Cj. 103/104 Consolação
São Paulo - SP CEP: 01.228-200
Brazil

Brazil > Insurance Tier 1

The combination of two prominent firms with market-leading insurance practices, CAL – Costa & Albino Sociedade de Advogados and DR&A Advogados, which merged in May 2023, Costa, Albino & Rocha Sociedade de Advogados (CAR) forms a significant Brazilian insurance powerhouse made all the more compelling, particularly for international clients, through the ongoing association with HFW. Insurers and reinsurers turn to the firm for assistance in strategic and advisory work, including M&A, business incorporations, regulatory issues and compliance. The group also showcases strong litigation credentials, providing support in high-value D&O and E&O claims, and disputes linked to surety bonds and judicial guarantees. Legacy CAL partner Julio Costa brings a wealth of experience in aviation and marine insurance. Dinir Rios Da Rocha, an ‘expert in the field of insurance’, is another leading figure in the team. Julia Santoro Donato offers ‘deep knowledge’, particularly on the non-contentious side, as does Carolina Oger Affonso De Almeida. Ricardo Ribeiro Da Luz Loew is a strong name on the litigation front.

Practice head(s):

Dinir Salvador Rios da Rocha; Julio Costa

Testimonials

‘A spectacular firm. Super updated, impeccable technical opinions. Very assertive regulatory support. Very involved in ESG issues. Highly qualified professionals.’

‘One of the most knowledgeable firms on the subject of insurance in Brazil. Pragmatic, agile and accessible team. They meet deadlines and are accurate in deliveries.’

‘Dinir Rocha is an expert in the field of insurance. We admire Dinir for his simplicity and genius in his specialty.’

‘Extremely competent team from the junior lawyer to the founding partner.’

‘Dinir Rocha – technique, cordiality, trust and negotiation.’

‘Julia Donato is our contact person. She has a deep knowledge in Brazilian related matters.’

‘They have deep knowledge of the insurance market. They are very flexible in meeting the demands of the client.’

‘The professionals who stand out are: Julia Santoro Donato, Carolina Oger Affonso De Almeida, and Dinir Rocha himself. Everyone is very helpful and always available, which increases the confidence that we can count on their advice and services.’

Key clients

Allianz Seguros

BMG Seguros

Axa Seguros

Fairfax Brasil Seguros Corporativos

Chubb Seguros Brasil

Starr International Brasil Seguradora

Sompo Seguros  and group

Zurich Brasil Companhia de Seguros and Liberty Seguros

AIG Seguros

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Brasil

Justos Seguros

Atradius Credito y Caucion

Fator Seguradora

Avla Seguros Brasil

Marsh McLennan

Work highlights

  • Assisted AVLA in launching its business in Brazil and structuring its innovative credit and surety bond products.
  • Advised Good Winds Corretorra de Seguros on its takeover by Alper Corretora de Seguros.
  • Assisting STARR in negotiations with the payment company Soudi Cartões to establish an insurance distribution channel.

Brazil > Transport: Aviation Tier 2

Following its merger with insurance powerhouse DR&A Advogados in May 2023, Costa, Albino & Rocha Sociedade de Advogados (CAR) is well placed to advise on the full array of liability claims involving the aviation sector. Typical mandates range from assisting lead insurers, reinsurers, airlines, airport companies and private aircraft operators in cases arising from accidents, cargo disputes and passenger lawsuits. Its non-contentious work is also noteworthy; the firm regularly provides advice on regulatory and financing issues, and is also a go-to choice for cross-border matters in light of its cooperation agreement with international firm HFW. The group is led by Julio Costa, and also includes Fernando Albino and senior associate Eduardo Penna.

Work highlights

A group of lawyers acting in the market for almost 20 years and experienced in large and representative law firms in Brazil decided to create DR&A Advogados in 2013. It is a boutique law firm aiming to provide effective, customised and highly qualified legal solutions in insurance, reinsurance and private pension fund practices, as well as civil, commercial and consumer law. Its main target is to exceed the expectations of clients, who it also considers its business partners. It has a multidisciplinary view of insurance law and it intends to get to know the specifications of each of its clients’ businesses in order to maximise their profits and optimise their time and costs.

Main areas of practice
Claims: insurance claim adjustment, including implementation of measures for recovering values; preparation of memoranda and legal opinions related to various types of insurance claims; legal advice to insurers in settling claims and interacting with parent companies located abroad and reinsurers.

Contracts: preparation and negotiation of insurance and reinsurance agreements; preparation and negotiation of co-operation, co-insurance and bancassurance agreements; legal advice on structuring and negotiation of sponsorship and withdrawal projects, merger and demerger of benefit plans managed by pension funds; legal advice on the investment rules set forth by the Brazilian Securities Commission and the National Monetary Council for insurance, reinsurance and private pension companies.

Corporate and M&A: incorporation of insurance, brokerage and health insurance companies; drafting of corporate documents for companies in general; preparation and filing of regulated companies’ corporate acts before regulatory bodies and board of trade; advice on regulatory, tax and exchange issues relating to foreign investments in companies regulated in Brazil; follow-up on incorporation, transfer of corporate control and restructuring procedure of insurance and private pension companies; due diligence on target companies for acquisition; advice on acquisitions, consolidations, mergers, spin-off, joint ventures and divestitures of regulated companies; advice on transfers of insurer’s portfolios.

Insurance, reinsurance and private pension fund: assistance in insurance regulatory issues for insurance companies (mainly subsidiaries of foreign insurers); creating, revision development and negotiation of new insurance products emphasising Financial Lines products such as D&O, E&O, IMI, PFI, performance and completion bonds, among others), reinsurance and private pension products, including follow-up for obtaining the relevant approvals before government agencies; contact with the Brazilian insurance regulatory authority – Susep, Previc, ANS and the Central Bank of Brazil – Bacen; structuring of insurance transactions and loans with surety; in-company training on new products and regulations relating to the insurance, reinsurance and private pension market; legal advice on setting reserves based on lawsuits and administrative proceedings; drafting of memoranda and legal opinions on insurance, reinsurance and private pension-related matters.

Litigation: assistance for insurance and reinsurance companies in complex cases involving different lines of insurance and reinsurance business; defense of insurance and reinsurance companies and its directors and officers in administrative proceedings filed by SUSEP; legal advice on actions for recovery under insurers’ and reinsurers’ subrogation rights (including collateral enforcement); legal assistance in commercial and civil matters in judicial and arbitral disputes related to commercial contracts, civil liability, enforcement of contracts, insurance, reinsurance, consumer law (administrative and judicial proceedings) and administrative law; large experience in class actions and the retail market.

Department Name Email Telephone
Insurance Dinir Salvador Rios da Rocha dinir.rocha@car-law.com.br
Insurance Julia Santoro de Camargo Donato julia.santoro@car-law.com.br
Insurance Danilo Garbin Machado danilo.machado@car-law.com.br
Insurance Ricardo Ribeiro da Luz Loew ricardo.loew@car-law.com.br
Other fee-earners : 24
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