Barbosa Müssnich & Aragão

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Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão (BM&A) is an institution of 234 lawyers sharing the traditional characteristics of all large corporate law firms but with an innovative and original style. The practice of law at BM&A is characterised by rigorous legal analysis coupled with creative solutions and a full-service approach to transactions.

Corporate: BM&A’s cornerstone is the corporate law area. Over the years, it has participated in structuring dozens of landmark transactions in the Brazilian market. BM&A acts in mergers and acquisitions, sales of control and minority stakes and assists business owners in structuring new companies with investors and operating partners.

BM&A’s corporate services extend to revising corporate instruments in preparation for initial public offerings, acting in going-private transactions and representing clients at shareholders’ and debenture holders’ meetings.

Recovery of distressed businesses: BM&A has a specific practice area dedicated to bankruptcies and judicial and extra-judicial recovery of businesses, with attorneys who have extensive experience in civil litigation. BM&A currently advises debtors, creditors, controlling shareholders and investors.

Finance and capital markets: BM&A advises clients in credit transactions in general, both domestic and international, as well as in debt restructuring, securitisation and project finance. The firm advises Brazilian and foreign investors in currency exchange transactions and investments in the capital and financial markets, including transactions involving derivatives, swap contracts, options and futures and other transactions on the stock exchange, commodities exchange and over-the-counter market.

Tax: BM&A advises on tax matters and represents clients in tax litigation. To maximise tax savings in both specific transactions and clients’ routine activities, BM&A’s tax attorneys are involved in acquisitions and sales, corporate restructurings and investments, as well as acting for clients in administrative and judicial tax proceedings and constitutional challenges to tax legislation and regulations.

Litigation and conflict resolution: BM&A provides assistance in both litigation and pre-litigation scenarios. Composed of professionals specialised in conflicts prevention and resolution, with broad experience in judicial, extrajudicial and administrative proceedings for the resolution of corporate and civil disputes, BM&A’s litigation group also acts in negotiations, mediations and arbitrations. BM&A’s litigation practice extends to both the state and the federal courts, with emphasis on tax and corporate matters and cases before Brazil’s supreme courts.

Real estate: In response to the growth of the real estate market, BM&A assists in laying the logistical foundations for real estate enterprises, contributing to improved structures and organisation, with specific experience in sophisticated investment vehicles such as real estate funds, mortgage companies, real estate financial systems and income funds. BM&A’s services include assistance in purchase, sale, construction and financing agreements and legal structuring of residential, industrial and commercial developments.

Employment, labour and pension law: BM&A’s approach to employment and labour issues goes beyond the traditional labour law practice. Specialised professionals provide advice on employment and pension matters in connection with mergers, acquisitions, privatisations and other corporate restructuring transactions. BM&A is also active in labour and employment risk management, assisting clients to identify critical issues and design human resources policies.

Competition and trade protection: BM&A offers legal support in competition law, economic regulation and trade protection matters. Its practice extends to legal advice and representation in administrative proceedings, involving approval of Acts of Concentration in connection with mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and associations, investigations into anti-competitive conduct, especially cartels, transfer of regulatory authorisations, and compensating measures, antidumping and subsidies. BM&A’s competition specialists also assist in preparing and implementing compliance programmes.

Environmental law: With its business focus, this practice is directed to finding practical solutions to environmental issues and creating secure interactions with environmental agencies, assisting clients to avoid and overcome obstacles to their business objectives, from the planning and legal due diligence stage to management of environmental liabilities at the administrative and judicial levels.

Administrative law and concessions: BM&A has advised in privatisation transactions and concessions of public services in the most diverse economic sectors, such as telecommunications, electricity, natural gas distribution, sewage systems and public transport. During Brazil’s intense period of privatisations and public concessions, BM&A developed expertise in regulatory law.

Intellectual property: BM&A’s intellectual property area works in conjunction with the firm’s other practice areas, advising business clients on trade and service marks, trade secrets, technology transfers, entertainment industry matters, copyright, comparative advertising, software protection and information technology law.

www.bmalaw.com.br