Clifford Chance

We were one of the first international law firms to open an office in São Paulo and are among the most prominent in Brazil. For nearly four decades, our Firm has been advising clients on Brazilian inbound and outbound investments and other significant transactions, drawing upon expertise across multiple practice areas.

We have several top-tier practices and advise global clients active in the region in the following areas:

• Corporate/M&A: strategic planning and structuring advice, public and private M&A, joint ventures, financial advisor representation and complex cross-border transactions
• Banking & Finance: broad capabilities include project finance and bonds, corporate finance and syndicated lending – with strong experience in the energy, infrastructure and telecommunications sectors
• Capital Markets: strong reputation for innovation in securitizations, structured products and derivatives – with expertise in both debt and equity offerings
• Restructuring and Liability Management: multidisciplinary, business-minded approach with cross-border expertise in finance, commercial transactions and litigation
• Investigations and Litigation: significant experience across Latin America in regulatory compliance and investigations as well as complex commercial litigation

Our lawyers in São Paulo, New York, Washington, DC, Houston and across the globe work closely with clients on matters in Brazil and throughout the region. With a diversified team on the ground in São Paulo, we are able to react quickly to the needs of our clients and the dynamic Brazilian market.

Having advised on a wide array of transactions over many years, our stable and committed team has developed important relationships and a thorough understanding of the Brazilian market. We are deeply familiar with the business, legal and regulatory landscape, not just in Brazil but throughout Latin America.

An impressive number of top rankings from elite independent sources recognize our groundbreaking work on significant transactions; innovative, market-driven solutions; and longstanding commitment to clients around the world conducting transactions in Brazil.

A small sample of our work includes advising:

• Clifford Chance assisted Eletrobras with the issuance and international offering and placement of its common shares outside Brazil, including a registered offering of American depositary shares in the US.
• Clifford Chance advised Sabesp on two separate loans from multinational lenders IFC and IDB Invest in the total amount of BRL1.2 billion.
• Clifford Chance advised Iberdrola on the sale of 50% of its shares of Neoenergia to Warrington Investment.
• Clifford Chance advised multilateral development institutions and an investment bank in connection with two multi-tranche financings to Águas do Rio SPE 1 and Águas do Rio SPE 4 for the development of water and sewage treatment systems in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
• Clifford Chance has advised the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IDB Invest) and Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Coopération Economique (Proparco) as lender and guarantor, respectively, in connection with the financing by IDB Invest of a long-term local currency loan package for up to R$1,500 million (~US$300 million) to Águas do Rio 1 and Águas do Rio 4 (together, Águas do Rio). Águas do Rio are concessions of Aegea Group, Brazil's largest private sanitation company.

Our Americas team of nearly 300 lawyers in collaboration with thousands of lawyers across the Clifford Chance global network – has established us as a go-to firm for international legal work flowing into and out of Brazil.