João Agripino Maia

Practice Areas

Tax Law, with focus on corporate taxation, cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions. High-profile tax litigation.

Career

Mr. Maia advises clients on the tax aspects of domestic and cross-border investments and mergers & acquisitions. His practice covers several key industries. Mr. Maia has a strong background in complex tax litigation.

He started his career in the tax litigation group of a “Big Four” in Brasília and later in Rio de Janeiro. His first years in Brasília helped him to gain key knowledge and experience on the unique functioning of the administrative and judicial courts in the Federal District. He further worked for more than 20 years for two prestigious Brazilian law firms, assisting Brazilian and foreign clients in their tax matters.

Mr. Maia handles day-to-day tax consulting for companies in the following industries: telecommunications, petrochemical, civil construction, infrastructure, mining, oil & gas, and retail, among others. Clients value Mr. Maia’s ability to understand their business needs and operations and to provide innovative solutions to their tax matters. He is adept at helping clients navigate through the complexities of Brazilian tax laws and potential risks.

He represents companies in audits, administrative appeals and in Court. He also advises the companies on the best strategy to challenge a tax notice or a new charge. With his accounting background, Mr. Maia assists the clients to navigate the tax notices and to produce the evidence necessary to cancel the charge. He has cancelled several tax notices relating to both direct and indirect taxes.

Mr. Maia has been author and co-author of influential publications on tax and is a frequent speaker on tax conferences in Brazil and abroad.

Professional Memberships

American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Rio de Janeiro, former chairperson of Tax Friday group.

International Fiscal Association (IFA).

British Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Brazil (BRITCHAM).

International Bar Association (IBA), Tax Committee.

Brazilian Association of Financial Law (ABDF).

Brazilian Association of Telecom Companies (ABETEL).

Publications

“Cloning and Fraud under the Levy of ICMS [Brazilian VAT for Telecommunication Services]”, Taxation in Telecommunications, co-author, a joint publication of ABETEL and MP Editora, 2008.

“Current Decisions of the Superior Court of Justice Regarding the Taxation of Communication Services”, Telecommunications Law and Taxation, a joint publication of ABETEL and Quartier Latin Editor, 2006.

“Thoughts on the internal goodwill”, co-author, Analysis of tax cases on goodwill tax deduction, MP Editora, 2016.

Practice Areas

Tax Law, with focus on corporate taxation, cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions. High-profile tax litigation.

Career

Mr. Maia advises clients on the tax aspects of domestic and cross-border investments and mergers & acquisitions. His practice covers several key industries. Mr. Maia has a strong background in complex tax litigation.

He started his career in the tax litigation group of a “Big Four” in Brasília and later in Rio de Janeiro. His first years in Brasília helped him to gain key knowledge and experience on the unique functioning of the administrative and judicial courts in the Federal District. He further worked for more than 20 years for two prestigious Brazilian law firms, assisting Brazilian and foreign clients in their tax matters.

Mr. Maia handles day-to-day tax consulting for companies in the following industries: telecommunications, petrochemical, civil construction, infrastructure, mining, oil & gas, and retail, among others. Clients value Mr. Maia’s ability to understand their business needs and operations and to provide innovative solutions to their tax matters. He is adept at helping clients navigate through the complexities of Brazilian tax laws and potential risks.

He represents companies in audits, administrative appeals and in Court. He also advises the companies on the best strategy to challenge a tax notice or a new charge. With his accounting background, Mr. Maia assists the clients to navigate the tax notices and to produce the evidence necessary to cancel the charge. He has cancelled several tax notices relating to both direct and indirect taxes.

Mr. Maia has been author and co-author of influential publications on tax and is a frequent speaker on tax conferences in Brazil and abroad.

Professional Memberships

American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Rio de Janeiro, former chairperson of Tax Friday group

International Fiscal Association (IFA)

British Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Brazil (BRITCHAM)

International Bar Association (IBA), Tax Committee

Brazilian Association of Financial Law (ABDF)

Brazilian Association of Telecom Companies (ABETEL)

Publications

“Cloning and Fraud under the Levy of ICMS [Brazilian VAT for Telecommunication Services]”, Taxation in Telecommunications, co-author, a joint publication of ABETEL and MP Editora, 2008.

“Current Decisions of the Superior Court of Justice Regarding the Taxation of Communication Services”, Telecommunications Law and Taxation, a joint publication of ABETEL and Quartier Latin Editor, 2006.

“Thoughts on the internal goodwill”, co-author, Analysis of tax cases on goodwill tax deduction, MP Editora, 2016.