Wald e Associados Advogados

Formed in 1954, Wald e Associados Advogados is an established major Brazilian firm, providing legal services to clients in Brazil and abroad. The firm is headquartered in São Paulo, has offices in Rio de Janeiro and Brasília, and has correspondents in major Brazilian and foreign cities. Although Wald e Associados is widely praised for its considerable experience and expertise in dispute resolution, the firm is also very active in negotiating and putting together relevant infrastructure projects, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and financing transactions. Many lawyers at the firm have published scholarly work in Brazil, as well as abroad. In numerous instances, such works have influenced the development of Brazilian legislation and case law. Some such works have been cited or quoted in decisions of Brazilian higher courts, and in several cases have influenced decisions rendered by the Supreme Court and the Superior Court of Justice in such areas as regulation of monetary correction, leasing, banking, and arbitration.

Banking and finance: Wald e Associados provides counsel to both companies and financial institutions in transactions of varied nature, including lending, acquisition financing and financing of exports, among others. The firm advises clients in both medium-size and large, complex, project financing and infrastructure development transactions.

Corporate and M&A: Wald e Associados has been active in both domestic and cross-border M&A transactions and private equity practice, representing foreign and multinational corporations, financial institutions and other organisations on a full range of specialised services in this area. The firm works in close cooperation with foreign major law firms on cross-border transactions. The firm’s clients include some of the largest and most successful domestic and foreign privately held and public corporations. For two consecutive years (2008 and 2009), Wald e Associados was one of the winners of the Latin Lawyer Deal of the Year Award in the M&A category for its role in two significant transactions.

Debt restructuring and bankruptcy: Wald e Associados has vast experience in advising and representing debtors and creditors in out-of-court and judicial reorganisations. The firm has functioned as legal counsel in some of Brazil’s most significant cases in the area in recent years, and was a recipient of the Latin Lawyer Deal of the Year Award in the Restructuring category (2010).

International arbitration and ADR: The firm participated in the long process of encouraging and promoting alternative means of dispute resolution in Brazil. Such commitment to the development of this area results in frequent participation in arbitrations, either as counsel or as panel participant. Wald e Associados is often called upon to take part in, or to advise clients on mediation and conciliation procedures. The firm represents clients in numerous national and international arbitration proceedings under the rules of the ICC, AAA, ICDR, UNCITRAL and of various Brazilian arbitral institutions. Wald e Associados also has extensive experience in lawsuits before the Brazilian courts in disputes involving the enforceability of arbitration clauses, the validity of arbitral awards, the suspension of arbitration proceedings and the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. The firm obtained landmark rulings from Brazil’s Superior Court, one establishing that disputes concerning companies in liquidation are suitable for arbitration and another confirming the arbitrability of disputes involving state-owned companies. In the last 12 months, the firm has been involved in domestic and international arbitrations amounting to approximately US$ 10 billion.

Administrative, regulatory and infrastructure: The firm’s practice covers regulated industries such as energy, telecommunications, gas, oil, airlines, toll road concessions and pharmaceuticals. Having assisted both domestic and international clients throughout the privatisation process and relying on extensive practice and experienced lawyers, the firm has a comprehensive understanding of complex issues emerging in these industries. The firm represents some of the largest telecommunications and energy clients, both in litigation and transactions involving highly specialised and nationwide issues.

Litigation: Wald e Associados has been consistently ranked as Brazil’s premier litigation firm by several specialised publications for many years. The firm’s litigation department has represented clients in a number of complex disputes in various areas of law and has a significant amount of experience in cross-border litigation cases.

Languages: Portuguese, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Av Brigadeiro Faria Lima

3729 - 7th Floor

Itaim Bibi

São Paulo, SP 04538-133

Brazil

Tel: +55 11 3074 6000

Fax: +55 11 3074 6048

Av Almirante Barroso

52 - 8th Floor Centro

Rio de Janeiro 20031-000

Brazil

Tel: +55 21 2272 9300

Fax: +55 21 2220 8789 / 2220 8313

SCN QD 04 Bloco B, No. 100

Pétala D Unidade 702-B

Centro Empresarial Varig

Brasília, DF 70710-500

Brazil

Tel: +55 61 3328 6510

Fax: +55 61 3328 0790

www.wald.com.br