Carlos Motta > Tauil & Chequer Advogados > São Paulo, Brazil > Lawyer Profile

Mayer Brown has an energy and resources focused practice, which is centred in Houston and successfully leverages the firm’s direct presence in Mexico and engagment with Brazil through its associated firm Tauil & Chequer Advogados; the two firms recently combined to advise multinational steel conglomerate ArcelorMittal on its $2.2bn acquisition of the entire capital stock of Brazilian steel company Companhia Siderúrgica do Pecém (CSP). The US-based Latin America team features a number of Latin American natives and others that have deep cultural links to the region. Houston partners Pablo Ferrante and Jose Valera come from Argentina and Peru respectively, and have extensive records in energy-related transactions in Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina and the Dominican Republic; the two continue to work on headline oil-and gas-transactions, along with deals in the broader energy sector. Rebecca Seidl and Gabriel Salinas are also key partners in Houston; the latter joined the firm from Shearman & Sterling (now A&O Shearman), in 2023. Carlos Motta and Alexandre Chequer are prominent figures in the Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro offices, providing further expertise on inbound and outbound Brazil transactions.

A popular choice for both corporate issuers and financial institutions, Tauil & Chequer Advogados is skilled in high-end equity and debt offerings, including IPOs, tender offers, follow-on offerings, debt issuances and securitisations. The department has a strong presence in the infrastructure sector, and has recently advised on prominent debenture issuances and real estate-backed securities. Carlos Motta, a seasoned M&A, corporate compliance, private equity and venture capital practitioner, leads the group. Rodolfo Constantino De Tella is well versed in equity and debt offerings, private placements and securitisation deals. Noted for his ‘pro-business, common-sense approach and indisputable technical background‘, Luis Montes is particularly active in the energy and infrastructure segments. Also part of the core team, Bruno Cerqueira specialises in fixed income transactions, securitisations and investment funds-related mandates.

Public and private entities, as well as investment banks, private equity funds, pension funds and investors regularly turn to Tauil & Chequer Advogados for advice on big-ticket M&A transactions. Benefitting from access to an extensive international workload, the firm is well positioned to handle cross-border deals, with a special focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors. In addition to merger, spin-offs, and consolidations, the group is also skilled in corporate restructurings and governance issues. Carlos Motta, who has handled numerous deals in the infrastructure, energy, education, sports and technology segments, jointly leads the practice with Victor Galante, who brings together experience in M&A and project development, and energy specialist Alexandre Chequer. A key contact for companies, funds and financial institutions, Christian Roschmann ‘is highly accessible, easy to work with and has great experience both in Brazil and abroad‘. Lilian Toscani stands out for her knowledge of the agribusiness space. Associate Stefano Braga’s ‘effective performance and assertive contributions bring great quality to the negotiations carried out‘.