Most Highly Regarded Firms: Brazil 2009 - Energy
The lawyers in this chapter predict that energy will be a major growth area in Brazil over the coming years, in spite of downward pressure in the world economy.
Petrobras, Brazil’s state-owned oil company, recently drilled its third well in the Tupi offshore oilfield, confirming its initial predictions of the field’s five to eight billion barrel potential as reported in the Wall Street Journal. Brazil is also the world’s second largest producer of ethanol fuel and leads the world in ethanol exports to the US according to the Renewable Fuels Association. This chapter profiles 22 lawyers whose experience spans the full breadth of this diverse sector, from traditional fossil fuels to alternative energy sources, and from contract negotiation and project finance to dispute resolution.
A natural resources and infrastructure “powerhouse”, Schmidt Valois Miranda Ferreira e Agel Advogados is the strongest firm in this chapter, with all five name partners earning high praise from their peers. Antônio Luís de Miranda Ferreira spent nearly 20 years at Shell Brazil including 10 years as general counsel, and he was described as “fantastic” for downstream and transactional work. The “highly impressive” Sonia Agel has extensive experience in energy litigation and has made numerous contributions to Brazil’s oil and gas regulatory framework. Guilherme Guerra D’Arriaga Schmidt “will go not one, but 10 extra miles for a client” and he demonstrates particular experience in energy-related infrastructure work as well as a considerable tax background, having spent three years as a tax lawyer for Shell. Rogerio Sobral de Miranda is also an alumnus of Shell and earns unanimous praise for his energy infrastructure and transactional work. Completing the firm’s listings is Paulo Valois Pires who focuses his practice on platform and pipeline finance and construction and other oil and gas related infrastructure work.
Veirano Advogados fields three lawyers in this chapter. The “outstanding” Roberto dos Santos Carneiro is a former head of Petrobras’s legal department and has negotiated exploration and production contracts throughout Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Luis Fernando Ayres de Mello Pacheco leads the firm’s oil and gas practice and represents clients in administrative disputes, negotiation of engineering project management contracts and the attainment of environmental licences. The “highly regarded” Alexandre Bittencourt Calmon has advised numerous multinational energy and mining companies in joint ventures, acquisitions and bid rounds in Brazil.
Sources reported “excellent experiences” of working with Leite Tosto e Barros Advogados Associados S/C and two of the firm’s “effective and responsive” lawyers feature in this chapter. Bruna Borges Maia has represented clients in the legal subcommittee the Brazilian Oil Institute and in several bids involving the ANP, Brazil’s national oil, gas and biofuel agency. She is also noted for her banking, finance and M&A practice. Daniella Tavares is also noted for her M&A and joint ventures work, and has experience with project financing and infrastructure law in the power and sanitation sectors.
Thompson & Knight LLP also fields two attorneys in this section and both its São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro offices are represented. The “very able” Alexandre Ribeiro Chequer divides his time between the firm’s São Paulo and Houston offices and focuses his practice on energy project development and M&A as well as arbitration, having represented Sonangol, Encana Corporation and Petrobras in recent proceedings. In Rio, Ivan Tauil is noted for his transactional and litigation work, which encompasses tax and real estate alongside international energy expertise.
Arnoldo Wald is one of Brazil’s best-respected arbitrators, a member of the ICC court of arbitration, and a “huge name” at Wald e Associados Advogados. Wald and his team continue to provide contractual and regulatory advice for Madeira Energia, which recently won the concession for the $5.6 billion San Antonio hydropower plant.
Marcelo Mello of Mello Martins Advogados was described as “a leading light” of the country’s energy bar. Mello’s practice encompasses M&A, construction, project finance and leasing on behalf of energy and petroleum companies and counts Petrobras, where he was formerly employed, among his clients. An “outstanding lawyer”, Isabel Lustosa of Ulhoa Canto Rezende e Guerra ranks prominently in this section and is recognised for her project finance and acquisitions work, with a particular focus on electric power.
Trench Rossi & Watanabe lawyer Eduardo Cerqueira Leite has led several power plant development projects as well as energy-related mergers, privatisations and joint ventures. Cross-border M&A, corporate finance and IPO expert Stephen Hood represents the São Paulo office of Mayer Brown LLP and was described as “excellent”.
José Emilio Nunes Pinto represents his own firm in this chapter and is recognised for his energy-related infrastructure and domestic and international arbitration work. Maria Aparecida Seabra Fagundes focuses her practice on arbitration work at Araujo & Policastro and was described as “great for energy disputes”.
José Virgilio Lopes Enei Machado specialises in energy, infrastructure and project finance issues as well as aeronautical law at Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados. Completing this chapter is the “excellent” Daniela Ribeiro Davila of Ribeiro & Barreto Advogados.