Azevedo Sette Advogados > Belo Horizonte, Brazil > Firm Profile

Azevedo Sette Advogados > The Legal 500 Rankings

City focus - Belo Horizonte > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Azevedo Sette Advogados’ commercial, corporate, and M&A group is a powerhouse in the Minas Gerais market. The locally established firm has a full-service offering, which covers M&A, joint venture agreements, and equity sales of local, national and international scale. The practice is capable of handling transactional matters on behalf of clients from a variety of industry sectors, such as mining, real estate, and energy. Leading the team are Fernando Azevedo Sette, a key name for mining, construction, and engineering clients, Luis Ricardo Miraglia, noted for his expertise in the mining and energy sectors, and Ana Paula Terra Caldeira, who is especially active in the mining and technology segments. All three practice heads are renowned for their deep expertise in complex M&A deals, commercial and financial contracts, succession planning, and foreign investments. Other key names in the group include Frederico Bopp Dieterich, who focuses on the financing and development of infrastructure projects, and Roberto Ribas Wilson, who is recognised for his work on M&A, contracts, and corporate matters. The team also benefits from the knowledge of Bruna Bouissou who concentrates on concessions, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and privatisations.

City focus - Belo Horizonte > Dispute resolution Tier 1

The dispute resolution team at Azevedo Sette Advogados is adept at handling litigation matters before judicial, administrative, and regulatory bodies, including the superior courts. Singled out for its 'unique blend of expertise, innovation, and client-centred approach', the group has an impressive client base which spans a wide range of industry sectors, such as telecoms, mining, and consumer goods. Co-leading the practice are João Capanema, Leonardo Farinha Goulart, Marcos Augusto Leonardo Ribeiro, and Felipe Moraes. Capanema has a breadth of expertise including litigating and arbitrating matters related to civil, competition, and IP disputes, while Goulart is noted for his deep knowledge of the energy and natural resources sector, frequently representing mining and metals companies in contentious issues. Moraes concentrates on arbitration and mediation involving infrastructure, concession contracts, and corporate disputes, and Ribeiro is recognised for his proficiency in restructuring and insolvency mandates.

City focus - Belo Horizonte > Labour Tier 1

With a strong presence in the Minas Gerais market, Azevedo Sette Advogados‘ labour and employment practice has a full-service offering, covering judicial and administrative litigation alongside consulting matters. The group is well placed to handle class actions, collective labour disputes, and injunctive relief applications. On the consulting side, the team has expertise in advising on HR practices, due diligence, and contractual issues. The breadth and aptitude of the practice make it capable of handling complex and high-value cases, often involving cross-border issues. Its prowess has amassed a strong client base made up of multinational companies from various industry sectors, which continues to expand. Co-leading the group are Leila Azevedo Sette, Luanna Vieira de Lima Costa, and Gustavo Magalhães Assis, all of whom have deep experience assisting clients in labour lawsuits, indemnity actions, union negotiations, and administrative proceedings.

City focus - Belo Horizonte > Natural resources and regulation Tier 1

Azevedo Sette Advogados’ mining practice is a powerhouse in the Belo Horizonte market, with a strong local presence and an impressive client roster. The group has a broad scope of expertise including, but not limited to, environmental settlement agreements, lawsuits before judicial and environmental regulatory bodies such as the Federal Environmental Agency, and mining agreements. On the consultancy front, the team is engaged in advisory work pertaining to compliance with mining and environmental regulations, mineral rights, and project development. The practice is capable of handling complex work involving multinational companies and foreign jurisdictions. Leonardo Pereira Lamego and recently promoted partner Gabriela Salazar Silva Pinto co-head the group, and both have extensive experience in complex transactions requiring environmental permits, auditing, compliance, and due diligence. Ana Paula Terra Caldeira is a specialist in foreign investments in the mining, construction, and engineering industries. The practice also benefits from the expertise of Leonardo Farinha Goulart, who is regarded for his track record in arbitration related to mining, environmental, and real estate disputes.

City focus - Belo Horizonte > Tax Tier 2

City focus - Brasilia > Tax Tier 2

Azevedo Sette Advogados’s tax practice is adept at handling consulting and litigation matters, with particular expertise in tax planning. The group represents clients from the energy, construction, and telecoms sectors in cases regarding tax credit recoveries, infrastructure projects, and regulatory compliance. It is also engaged in due diligence, contract negotiations, and underpayment lawsuits. Practice head Maíra Konrad De Brito specialises in tax transactions and disputes. The practice also benefits from the knowledge of Bruna Mylena Nogueira, who similarly concentrates on advising clients on the tax aspects of transactions. Former department leader Rodrigo Badaró De Castro left the firm in October 2023.

Brazil > Compliance Tier 2

With a main focus on anti-corruption and money laundering matters, the compliance team at Azevedo Sette Advogados handles risk assessments, due diligence and internal investigations. The team continues to count large corporate names operating in a variety of sectors among its client roster. The highly regarded Isabel Franco oversees the department alongside Glaucia Ferreira and Luiz Eduardo Salles. Franco excels in investigations, risk assessments and whistleblower-related mandates; Ferreira is the name to note for possible violations of anti-corruption legislation; and Salles brings expertise in competition and antitrust-related issues. At the associate level, Viviane Prospero Joao and Lucas Mandelbaum Bianchini are both notable individuals for anti-corruption and anti-bribery due diligence.

Brazil > Corporate and M&A: Mid-market Tier 2

Azevedo Sette Advogados fields a ‘highly qualified team‘ that is split between São Paulo and Belo Horizonte, and recognised for assisting domestic and international companies, family offices, and individuals with corporate and M&A matters across a variety of sectors, including banking, agribusiness, retail, energy, telecoms and technology, among others. Belo Horizonte-based Fernando Azevedo Sette boasts over 25 years of experience in complex commercial agreements, M&A, foreign investments and succession planning, with a special emphasis on the mining, construction and engineering industries. He heads the department with Luiz Augusto Azevedo Sette in São Paulo. André de Godoy Fernandes is another name to note in the São Paulo office, who is particularly active in the agribusiness, healthcare and technology segments.

Brazil > International trade Tier 2

At Azevedo Sette Advogados, a key focus for the international trade practice is its anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations work; other areas of activity include matters related to import tariff changes, litigation and advocacy before government agencies. Practice head Luiz Eduardo Salles has significant experience in assisting international organisations, government multinationals and trade associations in high-profile international trade mandates. The recently promoted Lucas Bianchini now forms part of the team’s partner offering specialising in trade remedies investigations. At associate level, Ana Clara Appolinário de Almeida and Marco Chung are both highly regarded for their capabilities in international trade, WTO, and antitrust matters. Ingrid Bandeira Santos is another name to note in the team.

Tax > Customs Tier 2

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 3

Brazil > Public law Tier 3

A key destination for construction, mining, telecoms, and financial companies, Azevedo Sette Advogados' public law department is sought out for its extensive experience in public tenders, concessions, privatisations, regulatory issues and PPPs. Water, sanitation, energy and transport are core sectors of focus for the team, which is under the joint leadership of Frederico Bopp Dieterich, whose broad practice encompasses regulatory and administrative law, infrastructure projects and corporate transactions, and Leonardo Moreira Costa De Souza, a reference for PPPs and proceedings before regulatory agencies. Bruna Bouissou is another name to note for concessions, PPPs and privatisations.

Brazil > Wealth and succession planning Tier 3

Azevedo Sette Advogados‘ wealth planning practice is praised by clients for being ‘a go-to team for corporate and private wealth matters in Brazil and the wider Americas’. Highly regarded Fernando Azevedo Sette has significant experience in succession planning matters. Sette jointly heads up the team with Rafael Bassoli, who regularly advises high-net-worth clients on estate and succession planning, as well as international taxation issues. Active members of the practice include tax experts Leandra Guimarães and Mauricio Pernambuco Salin.

Brazil > Environment Tier 4

Large national and international companies operating within the mining, energy, infrastructure, sanitation, agriculture and forestry sectors are prime beneficiaries of Azevedo Sette Advogados’ expertise in environmental regulatory obligations, risks, and responsibilities, as well as administrative proceedings and litigation. Leonardo Pereira Lamego takes on the leadership mantle in Belo Horizonte, leveraging a wealth of experience in mining to assist with permits, audits, compliance, due diligence, civil investigations, litigation, and negotiations with the Public Prosecutor’s Office. From the senior associate ranks, Svetlana Maria de Miranda stands out for ESG and M&A support, Cynthia de Souza Cardoso excels in navigating environmental elements of complex transactions, and Thabata Luanda dos Santos e Silva, who joined the firm in June 2023 from Ricardo Carneiro Advogados Associados, is well-versed in compliance and regulatory matters.

Brazil > Real estate Tier 4

Domestic and foreign companies and investors turn to the team at Azevedo Sette Advogados for assistance with due diligence, purchase and sale transactions, construction contracts, regularisation, and registry issues concerning commercial, industrial and residential assets. Alessandra Ganz in São Paulo focuses on real estate transactions and contracts, while Henrique Antonelli in Belo Horizonte advises on due diligence and project development.

Brazil > TMT: Cybersecurity and data privacy Tier 4

Brazil > TMT: Tech, innovation and digital business Tier 4

Brazil > Projects and infrastructure Tier 5

Focused on administrative, regulatory and infrastructure matters, Azevedo Sette Advogados is well placed to advise on a wide range of projects issues, from project finance to concessions, PPPs, administrative contracts and privatisations. The group, which possesses particular experience in the urban mobility, water and sanitation sectors, is under the joint leadership of Frederico Bopp Dieterich, a key contact for infrastructure projects, administrative law and PPPs, and Leonardo Moreira Costa De Souza, a name to note for project finance, M&A and PPPs.

Tax > Tax advisory Tier 5

A key choice for clients seeking advice on tax planning, due diligence, tax incentives and special regimes, Azevedo Sette Advogados maintains a strong offering in non-contentious tax matters. Working across offices in Belo Horizonte and São Paulo, the team is adept in the tax implications of business transactions and in the recovery of tax credits. Mauricio Pernambuco Salin and Clarissa Cerqueira Viana Pereira are references for tax planning and litigation.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Litigation Tier 6