With a ‘very confident and well-grounded’ interdisciplinary team, Cescon Barrieu advises domestic and international mining companies and financial institutions on a variety of regulatory, litigation and transactional matters. Known for its ’highly qualified staff’ and strong regulatory background, the Belo Horizonte-based group has notable expertise in tailing dam issues, including crisis management and regulatory advice on construction, operation and decommissioning. The transactional arm of the practice continues to grow, with notable activity in M&A, joint ventures, and financing deals. The practice is co-led by mining veteran Marcelo Mendo de Souza, whose experience spans regulatory, litigation, environmental and transactional matters, and Paula Azevedo De Castro, a specialist in dam safety regulations and crisis management. Also at the helm of the department, Maurício Pellegrino De Souza focuses on M&A and administrative proceedings, as well as regulatory, environmental and contentious mandates, while Daniel Ribeiro Pettersen handles mining real estate and contractual matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Modern structure and highly qualified staff, with direct involvement of partners in decision-making.'
- 'We worked with the firm in a long negotiation for the lease of mining rights. The professionals involved were very confident and well-grounded in the different disciplines that this process required: corporate, environmental, litigation and tax.'
Key clients
- Vale
- Braskem
- Gerdau Açominas
- LHG Mining
- Anglo American
- AngloGold Ashanti
- Lundin Mining
- Aura Minerals
- Appian Capital Advisory LLP
- Kinross Gold Corp.
- Samarco
- ArcelorMittal Brasil
Work highlights
Serves as primary legal adviser to Vale on all matters related to mining law, regulatory compliance, and tailings dam regulations, with legal support ranging from responding to infringement notices to navigating complex regulatory frameworks and executing major transactions.
Represented Canada-based fertiliser company Brazil Potash in the launch of its $30m IPO on the NYSE American stock exchange.
Assisting Nexa with an M&A transaction involving the sale of one of its zinc mines, advising on mining matters and the negotiation, drafting and review of the transaction documents.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Marcelo Mendo de Souza; Maurício Pellegrino; Paula Azevedo; Daniel Ribeiro Pettersen