Freitas Ferraz Advogados

Firm Details:

Managing Partner: Bernardo Freitas

Senior Partners: Bernardo Freitas, Adriano Ferraz, Guilherme Capuruço, Thiago Braichi, Thiago Riccio

Number of partners: 5

Number of other lawyers: 38

Firm Overview:

Freitas Ferraz was founded by a group of partners who have been working together for almost ten years. Freitas Ferraz assists clients with complex matters as well as with crucial day-to-day issues of business activities. With a team of highly qualified professionals and unrivaled hands-on experience, the firm combines technical excellence, experience, and innovation. Its mission is to demystify the traditional legal work complexity, focusing its services on tailor-made and creative solutions for clients. Freitas Ferraz’s experience derives from high-profile M&A transactions, corporate litigation, investment structuring, tax planning, corporate restructuring, capital market transactions, and advice on infrastructure and real estate development projects.

Main Areas of Practice:

Corporate & M&A:

Freitas Ferraz is widely known for successfully handling corporate/M&A matters, representing domestic and foreign clients. The department has been particularly active in the energy, mining, technology, financial services and capital markets, and real estate sectors. The team undertakes the full range of corporate matters, contemplating mergers & acquisitions, corporate and equity restructuring, and commercial contracts. It is a one-stop shop for high-quality corporate work delivered by a team of experts working with a multidisciplinary approach.

Tax:

The firm’s tax practice has substantial experience with complex transactions and litigation matters, advising sophisticated local and international clients and deals. The team is skilled at developing tax structures for mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructurings. In the last years, we have gained ground in the market, frequently competing head-to-head with traditional Brazilian law firms (currently mentioned in the ranking), differentiating ourselves by more innovative legal practice and a unique new approach to the business environment locally. It advises clients from various industries, including fintech, energy, real estate, and food and beverage companies.

Dispute Resolution:

Freitas Ferraz’s dispute resolution department stands out for its constant work on strategic high-complex corporate disputes, representing domestic and foreign clients. The team is comprised of highly skilled lawyers who are well-equipped to act on both litigation and arbitration cases regarding a variety of matters such as shareholder lawsuits, M&A agreements, partial dissolution of companies, annulment of general meetings and corporate resolutions, judicial intervention on company’s management and affairs, among others. The firm’s assistance also covers pre-trial strategies and negotiations, litigation-related due diligence and risk assessments, court litigations, appeals, and enforcement of awards.

Public Law & Regulatory:

The firm’s public law and regulatory practice has distinguished itself with its work on energy and mining-related transactions. It has a solid background in hydroelectric power plant acquisitions and mining asset acquisitions. The department is also notably recognized for tackling energy and mining-related compliance and litigation matters and has closely worked with leading local and international companies on ground-breaking issues.

Real Estate:

The real estate department is known for its ability to present legal solutions to complex real estate structures. The team provides complete assistance in all matters related to the real estate industry, including built-to-suit transactions, sale and lease back, buy, and lease and real estate developments.

Startup & Fintech:

Keeping up with the disruptive innovation brought out by startups, the firm has assembled a multidisciplinary team to meet the growing demand of technology companies and fintech. Focusing on a long-lasting client relationship, the firm’s professionals work as genuine strategic partners throughout the startup’s stages. From bootstrapping to IPO, and from MVP to final product, the goal is to provide speedy and effective counseling to ensure legal conditions for business development.

Contacts:

Corporate/M&A: Bernardo Freitas, Adriano Ferraz

Tax: Thiago Braichi

Dispute Resolution: Guilherme Capuruço

Public Law & Regulatory: Thiago Riccio

Capital Markets: Bernardo Freitas, Adriano Ferraz

Real Estate: Thiago Riccio

Startup & Fintech: Bernardo Freitas, Adriano Ferraz

International Work:

Freitas Ferraz assists foreign clients in their entry into Brazil, and supports the clients’ strategy to increase their presence in the local market.

Languages: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish

Clients:

Freitas Ferraz assists domestic and foreign clients from a wide variety of economic sectors and industries, including energy, mining, steel, oil & gas, technology, telecommunication, financial services, fintech, education, healthcare and life sciences, real estate, construction, automotive, private security and surveillance, transport and logistics, food & beverage and insurance.

Offices:

Belo Horizonte Office

Rua Santa Rita Durão 1143, 5° e 7º andares

Savassi

Belo Horizonte - MG

Brazil 30140-118

www.freitasferraz.com.br

[email protected]

+55 31 4141 0308

São Paulo Office

Rua Olimpíadas 200, 3º andar

Vila Olímpia

São Paulo - SP

Brazil 04551-000

+55 11 4200 7905