About this office:
MACHADO ASSOCIADOS started its activities in 1990, as a boutique specializing in tax matters. Aiming at better assisting its clients, other areas of business law have been equally developed. The firm presently relies on a high-qualified team of approximately 110 lawyers and trainees, covering the following main areas of business law:
· Administrative
· Antitrust / Competition
· Contracts
· Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
· Corporate Finance / Capital Markets
· Due Diligence
· Energy / Environmental
· Foreign Investments
· Labor and Social Security
· Real Estate
· Tax
· Tax litigation
MACHADO ASSOCIADOS is based in São Paulo, with branches in Chicago, Brasília, Rio de Janeiro (in cooperation with Vitor Costa Advogados) and correspondent law firms in all other states.
In order to assist its clients in their international deals, the firm works on a permanent basis with leading European and US law firms and heads the "Latin American Tax & Legal Network - Lataxnet", an international non-exclusive alliance of top ranked firms specializing in legal and tax matters, which currently covers 19 countries in Latin America, including the Caribbean.
Our main practice areas are:
Administrative: Full advisory related to compliance with rules of regulatory agencies; assistance in matters related to invitations to bid, administrative contracts, concessions and permits for construction works and public services, and public-private partnerships.
Antitrust / Competition: Representation of clients before the Brazilian antitrust agencies in relation to antitrust violation investigations; negotiation of leniency and settlement agreements; merger control advice; negotiation of divestiture and stand-still agreements; implementation of antitrust compliance programs.
Contracts: Preparation, review and/or negotiation of contracts in general, involving Brazilian and foreign companies in all businesses.
Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions: Incorporation of all types of legal entities; full assistance on matters relating to shareholders rights, corporate governance, corporate disputes, corporate reorganizations, regulatory acts from the Brazilian Securities Commission (CVM); advisory, negotiation and implementation of transactions involving the purchase and sale of companies, assets, establishments and/or lines of business, joint ventures, consortium agreements, silent partnerships, shareholders' agreements, etc.; structuring of family or management holding companies, preparation and review of wills, instruments of donation and usufruct.
Corporate Finance / Capital Markets: Preparation, analysis and negotiation of credit agreements and other documents relating to secured or unsecured corporate finance transactions, and other documents used in capital market transactions.
Due Diligence: Performance of due diligences in all practice areas of our firm.
Energy / Environmental: Full advisory to power, oil and gas companies. Assistance in matters related to environmental legislation and litigation.
Foreign Investments: Assistance in the registration of foreign investments and loans with the Central Bank of Brazil, in matters involving international transfers of funds, and interpretation of regulatory acts from the Central Bank of Brazil.
Labour and Social Security: Full advisory on labour and social security issues, including work permits and visas for foreigners; support in the structuring and implementation of remuneration policies, profit sharing programs, benefit packages and voluntary layoff plans; preparation, analysis and negotiation of employment contracts, service contracts and collective bargaining agreements. Labour and social security litigation, both at the administrative and judicial levels.
Real Estate: Preparation, analysis and negotiation of agreements for the purchase and sale, lease and free loan of real estate, business condominiums, etc.; full assistance relating to real estate collaterals.
Tax - Direct and Indirect Taxes: Full advisory on all taxes levied in Brazil (direct and indirect taxes), involving matters such as transfer pricing rules, M&A transactions, international tax structuring, compliance with main and ancillary tax liabilities.
Tax Litigation: Judicial and administrative tax litigation at all levels and involving all types of tax matters, including defences on tax assessments and filing of lawsuits to challenge tax liabilities or aiming at the recovery of unduly paid taxes.
Awards and Recognitions
· Chambers & Partners - Latin America
2011: Brazil's leading firms in the corporate and tax areas
2010: Brazil's leading firms in the antitrust/competition, corporate and tax areas
2009: Brazil's leading firms in the M&A, corporate and tax areas
· International Tax Review - World Tax directory
2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008: Brazil's leading firms in the tax area
· "Os mais admirados do Direito" Yearbook - An´lise Editorial (Brasil)
2010: one of the most respected law firms in the concessionaire industry
2010, 2009 and 2008: leading firm in the import and export, financial transactions, corporate and tax areas
· Corporate INTL
2010: Tax advisory excellence in Brazil
· Latin Lawyer 250
2010: Brazil's top 40 firms
· Practical Law Company (PLC Which Lawyer?)
2010: one of Brazil's leading firms in the tax, corporate, M&A and antitrust/competition areas
· World Finance Legal
2010: "The Best Tax Firm of the Year" in Brazil