Team size: 61

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

Gerdau, through Gerdau Next, created a joint venture called New Wave Energia with the New Wave/XP Investment Fund to raise funds and explore a wind and solar energy project in Minas Gerais. The business is worth around R$1.5bn.

Our legal team supported the sale of Gerdau’s stake in a Joint Venture in Colombia and the Dominican Republic to the INICIA Group for US$325mn.

In the tax area, Gerdau Legal, together with other partners, led the strategy to obtain victory in the legal discussion of premiums related to corporate reorganisation in the Federal Regional Court of the 2nd and 4th Regions, relevant precedents in the country.

What would you say are the unique qualities required to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?

The unique qualities are differentiated legal qualifications, refined team spirit, ethics, focus and strategic vision of the business and the sector.

How have you fostered a closer collaboration between the legal department and your business counterparts?

At legal, we have an operating principle that is based on “client centrality”, that is, we must understand the demands and needs of clients in the short, medium and long term, be a protagonist with the client in formulating strategies and heightened sense of urgency. The technical quality of legal work is a constant parameter.

Do you have a cause, business-related or otherwise, that you are passionate about?

The safety of our operations, business sustainability and diversity are the great motivation in our daily lives. The tireless search for the best technologies applicable to the legal area as well. Artificial Intelligence attracts attention in the legal world and is just beginning and we believe it will be a powerful ally for in-house lawyers.