Dias Carneiro Advogados

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Regarded as one of the most respected corporate law firms in Brazil, Dias Carneiro Advogados is a full-service law firm based in São Paulo. Founded in 2002, Dias Carneiro has carved out a solid reputation based on its outstanding client service, focused legal advice and sound technical skills. It is particularly well-known for its specialised legal advice to local and international companies on Brazilian law in connection with cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate and project finance, banking, corporate law, commercial contracts and antitrust, as well as tax, labour law, real estate investments and environmental law.

True to its commitment to excel in all of its practice areas, Dias Carneiro makes significant investments in the technical and business skills of its lawyers, supported by a comprehensive knowledge management service.

Dias Carneiro’s team is available to advise international investors wishing to enter the Brazilian market and pursue business opportunities in the country. The majority of the firm’s clients are large corporations from Europe, the US, Asia and Brazil. Its diverse roster of clients includes companies from sectors including banking and finance, industry, infrastructure, telecommunications, energy and entertainment, as well as private equity funds, investment funds, media companies, content providers, computer hardware and software companies.

Its main international practices areas include:

Corporate: Dias Carneiro Advogados boasts a strong track record in domestic and international M&A transactions, advising buyers and sellers from a variety of sectors on the sale and purchase of assets, mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs and the design and implementation of complex corporate structures.

Financing and capital markets: Dias Carneiro Advogados works closely with financial entities, multilateral organisations, credit agencies and developers in matters relating to Brazilian banking and finance law. The firm provides advice to local and international financial institutions and to syndicates of banks on loans and on corporate, project, acquisition and export financing transactions. The firm advises financial institutions and issuers on the structuring and implementation of transactions involving securities and financial instruments.

Infrastructure: The firm has extensive experience in project finance and PPP in all infrastructure sectors. The quality of the firm’s work in this area has been recognised in recent years, having participated in six transactions which have been acclaimed as Deal of the Year by several publications.

Regulatory: The firm often advises on the requirements imposed by public bodies and regulatory agencies. This work includes advice on public tenders, PPPs, negotiations with public authorities, the design of financing structures and the management of public contracts. The firm has extensive experience in energy and telecommunications matters.

Labour law: Dias Carneiro Advogados has extensive experience advising companies on labour and social security law. This includes subcontracting procedures, employment contracts and service agreements, the implementation of variable remuneration schemes and compensation schemes. The firm often conducts due diligence exercises on the labour aspects of a transaction, and proposes changes to internal policies in compliance with the applicable laws. It also advises on trade union relations, particularly in connection to the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements and strikes.

Tax: In the domestic market, the firm assists clients in formulating solutions relating to their day-to-day operations and to specific transactions involving municipal, state and federal taxes under Brazilian regulations. The firm has broad experience in advising clients on personal and corporate income tax, including the taxation of expatriates, corporate reorganisations, setting up consortia, SPCs and the special taxation regime (STR) which applies to specific real estate entities. The firm is also experienced in providing advice on tax matters with a view to designing optimal tax structures for foreign companies and groups that wish to establish themselves and operate in Brazil, as well as to Brazilian companies and groups expanding their operations abroad.

Real estate: The firm assists clients in a wide variety of property and property-related transactions, including the drafting and negotiation of lease agreements for residential and commercial purposes. The firm’s expertise includes the acquisition of real estate for residential, commercial or industrial uses, structuring resort projects, undertaking due diligence exercises and the drafting and negotiation of terms and conditions of real estate related contracts.

Arbitration: The firm represents Brazilian and foreign clients from a wide variety of sectors in domestic and international arbitration proceedings. We also advise on the drafting of dispute resolution clauses, submission agreements and pre-arbitration strategies. Our lawyers take part in negotiations, mediation and other alternative methods of resolving disputes.

Competition: We advise entities, trade associations, domestic and multinational companies from various sectors. We have experience in all areas of Brazilian competition law, ranging from preventive advice to representing and defending clients in administrative proceedings, appeals, claims and merger control proceedings before the Brazilian competition authorities.

www.dcadv.com.br