Established in 1997, our São Paulo office is staffed with an experienced team of US lawyers. Each is fluent in Portuguese and has substantial experience working on the New York/international law aspects of some of the largest and most complex high-profile debt and equity capital markets offerings, corporate, structured and project financings, and acquisition and joint venture transactions in Brazil and abroad.
Our long-term investment in Brazil has allowed us to become embedded in the local market—resulting in an unmatched capacity to deliver solutions built upon intimate knowledge of the Brazilian market, trends and key Brazilian counsel and other local players.
Unrivaled Breadth of Experience
In the last few years, we have advised Brazilian issuers and underwriters on nearly one-third of all international equity offerings by Brazilian issuers, including one-half of all IPOs launched on the São Paulo Stock Exchange (BM&FBOVESPA). We have also represented key players in nearly one-third of all cross-border debt capital markets offerings by Brazilian issuers, including representing QGEP S.A. in Brazil's largest IPO of 2011, and the arrangers in the triple award-winning US$1.5 billion project bond issuance by a subsidiary of Odebrecht Óleo e Gás S.A. in late 2010.
We have recently represented clients from China, Russia and the Middle East investing in Brazil, and Brazilian companies in project and other financings in Africa, throughout Latin America and the United States.
We represented Fibria Celulose S.A. in its award-winning take-out of its comprehensive export-backed debt facility, which we negotiated as part of its US$2.7 billion, 14-creditor restructuring (on behalf of its predecessor company Aracruz Celulose S.A.), through two Rule 144A/Regulation S cross-border bond offerings, an exchange offer and three syndicated, secured pre-export financing facilities.
Leading the Market
Knowledge of the business environment in Brazil drives our leading position in innovative finance and capital markets transactions. Chambers & Partners ranks international Brazil-based law firms in three Corporate Finance categories: Capital Markets (Locally based International Counsel), Banking & Finance (Locally based International Counsel) and Corporate (International Counsel). We are the only international law firm ranked Tier 1 in all three categories.
Clients turn to us for our expertise and our longstanding relationships with Brazilian business leaders and financial institutions active in the market to provide the highest level of counsel across a gamut of industries and jurisdictions. We have long-term, close working relationships with Brazil's leading law firms and coordinate all Brazilian law matters with the best-matched local counsel.
Our São Paulo team is enhanced by lawyers in our New York, Miami, Washington, DC and London offices, who are devoted to working on matters involving Brazil, and by a cadre of Firm lawyers in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East who help to orchestrate complex multi-party deals and can work to resolve international arbitration issues on behalf of Brazilian clients worldwide. Our global reach allows us to be where our clients need us.
Recent Recognitions and Awards
Tier 1 Capital Markets: Locally based International Capital Markets – Brazil: "Impressive international experience and vast knowledge of the local market - a special team and a truly top-tier firm."
Chambers Latin America 2012, 2011
Tier 1 Banking & Finance: Locally based International Counsel – Brazil: "This firm truly understands how business is done in Brazil and provides excellent support for our international transactions."
Chambers Latin America 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
Tier 1 Projects: Latin America-wide: "The breadth of the team is excellent; it has strong knowledge of the region and brilliant resources for tight timelines."
Chambers Latin America 2012, 2011, 2010
Tier 1 International Arbitration Latin America-wide: "A powerhouse at the forefront of Latin American international arbitration."
Chambers Latin America 2012
Tier 1 Corporate: International Counsel: Brazil
Chambers Global 2011
# 1 Legal Advisor by Number of Issuances: Equity
# 1 Legal Advisor by Number of Issuances: Debt
Data from Thomson - International Law Firms - Brazil (2011, 2010)
# 1 Borrower Legal Advisor by Number of Transactions
# 1 Borrower Legal Advisor by Total Proceeds Amount
# 1 Lender Legal Advisor by Number of Transactions
# 1 Lender Legal Advisor by Total Proceeds Amount
Data from Thomson - International Law Firms – Brazil (2011)
Best Corporate High-Yield Bond: OGX US$2.563 Billion 2018
LatinFinance: Deal of the Year 2011
Best Latin America Loan: Vale S.A. US$3 Billion Revolver
International Financing Review (IFR): Deal of the Year 2011
Embraport Financing
Project Finance International: Americas Transport Deal of the Year 2011
Project Finance: Latin American Transport Deal of the Year 2011
OSX-2 FPSO US$850 million Financing
Project Finance International: Americas Oil & Gas Deal of the Year 2011
Project Finance: Latin American Oil & Gas Deal of the Year
Best Infrastructure Law Firm (Latin America) of the Year 2011
LatinFinance 2012
Best Corporate Liability Management: Braskem S.A.
LatinFinance: Deal of the Year 2011
Best Quasi-Sovereign Bond: BNDES €750 Million 2017
LatinFinance: Deal of the Year 2010
Best Corporate Liability Management: Fibria Celulose S.A.
LatinFinance: Deal of the Year 2010
Odebrecht Norbe US$1.5 Billion VIII/IX Project Bond
International Financing Review (IFR): Latin America Bond of the Year 2010
Project Finance: Latin America Bond of the Year 2010
LatinFinance: Best Project Financing Deal of the Year 2011
US FT Innovative Lawyer Awards: "Stand-out" 2011
Best Corporate Finance: OGX S.A. US$4.1 Billion IPO
LatinFinance – Deal of the Year Award 2008
Infrastructure Law Firm (Latin America) of the Year 2010
Infrastructure Investor 2011
Norbe VIII and IX Drillship Financing: 2009 Deal of the Year Awards
LatinFinance: Best Project Finance
Project Finance: Best Latin American Upstream Oil & Gas
Project Finance International: Americas Deal of the Year
Fibria Celulose S.A. US$1.75 billion Pre-Export Financing
Trade Finance: Deal of the Year 2009
Global Trade Review: Best Deal of 2009