Region Area

Lawyers

Pedro Freitas

Pedro Freitas

Work Department

Corporate & Mergers and Acquisitions, Infrastructure & Projects, Mining, Power, Corporate Compliance & Investigations, China Desk and German Desk

Position

Partner

Career

Pedro Freitas has extensive expertise advising clients on corporate governance and integrity, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions and infrastructure issues with exceptional industry knowledge in mining, construction, project finance, energy and natural resources gained from his years as in-house counsel.

Mr. Freitas began his legal career at Veirano Advogados in the Corporate Law practice group. He enhanced his experience working on debt moratoriums and corporate reorganizations in several Latin American countries while working for two years in Chicago at one of the largest global law firms. Shortly thereafter, he was recruited to work in 1985 at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Washington, D.C. where he advised on project finance, corporate restructuring, and negotiating equity investments around the globe for countries as diverse as Brazil, Kenya, Mexico, South Korea and Hungary. During his tenure at the IFC, Mr. Freitas developed a unique insight into international project finance from the financier’s perspective – a perspective that is highly valued by his clients today.

Enticed to return to Brazil, Mr. Freitas brought his significant global experience in project finance and restructuring to the Brazilian market. He served as general counsel at some of Latin America’s most recognized companies in the fields of Mining, Logistics, Telecommunications, Construction and Projects Development on Energy, Transportation, Airports and Ports.

Mr. Freitas was Managing Partner for 4 years (2012-2015) and also a Member of its Board of Directors. He is a founding member, Vice-President of Instituto Innovare, a non-political organization dedicated to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the Brazilian judicial system and was elected for the Board of Renova Foundation in 2017, responsible for the recovery of areas impacted by the Samarco Dam accident in Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo states.

Languages

Portuguese, English and Spanish

Memberships

Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), Infrastructure Committee American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Rio de Janeiro, Arbitration Committee Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce, Mining Committee Brazil-China Business Council (CEBC), Director British Chamber of Commerce (BRITCHAM), Mining Committee Centro de Estudos de Sociedades de Advogados (CESA), Executive Director Instituto Innovare, Founding Member, Vice-Chairman and Vice-President International Bar Association (IBA), Mining Committee, Co-chair (2017-18) World Services Group (WSG), Member of the Board of Directors Bimbo Group, Advisory Council Member, Mexico, 2012

Education

Leadership in Law Firm program, Harvard Law School, Boston, MA, 2012 MBA in Telecommunications, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona, 2001 Financial Transactions, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK, 1989 Corporate Law, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, 1983 Corporate Law, Fundação Getulio Vargas, Rio de Janeiro, 1980 LL.B, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), 1979