Standing out for its wealth of experience in cross-border financing transactions, Pinheiro Guimarães is a popular choice for private and institutional creditors, multilateral organisations and borrowers. The team is well versed in syndicated lending, refinancings, and trade finance, and is also skilled at assisting with the financing of energy projects, financial leases and securitisations. The group is under the leadership of a highly regarded trio: Plinio Pinheiro Guimarães N. (head of the Rio office) has a strong track record in finance, capital markets and M&A transactions; Francisco José Pinheiro Guimarães (leader of the São Paulo office) possesses similar expertise, with additional strength in debt restructuring and distressed deals; Ivie Moura Alves focuses on financing transactions involving capital markets instruments such as domestic debentures and debt issuances. Fábio Yanitchkis Couto excels in structured finance and debt restructuring.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Their work is of exceptional quality. In addition to the technique, it is well formatted, with clear language and no need for proofreading.'

  • ‘Fábio Couto stands out for his exceptional commitment, ethics and professionalism.'

  • ‘The team delivers impeccable work, in addition to having ownership over all aspects of the transaction.'

  • ‘In-depth knowledge with practical sense/relevant pragmatism.'

Key clients

  • Citibank
  • Itaú BBA
  • Credit Suisse
  • BTG Pactual
  • International Finance Corporation (IFC)
  • JP Morgan
  • Santader
  • HSBC
  • Banco Votorantim
  • Bradesco
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Klabin
  • General Motors
  • XP Investimentos
  • Saxo Bank
  • Itaú Unibanco
  • Ioschpe
  • B3 – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão
  • Suzano Papel e Celulose
  • Globo Group
  • Andrade Gutierrez
  • Enel
  • Moneda Asset Management
  • Redwood Capital Management, LLC
  • Rimrock Capital Management LLC
  • Rede D'Or
  • EDF Energies Nouvelles
  • Vale S.A.
  • Banco Safra

Work highlights

  • Acted as Brazilian counsel to BMO Capital Markets Corp., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. as representatives to the several underwriters in the offering of notes by Vale Overseas Limited, guaranteed by Vale S.A., in the amount of $1.5bn.
  • Acted as local counsel to the Dealer Managers Exchange Offer by Azul of any and all of the outstanding 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 for the 11.500% Senior Secured Second Out Notes due 2029, and any and all of its outstanding 7.250% Senior Notes due 2026 for the 10.875% Senior Secured Second Out Notes due 2030.
  • Advised Inter-American Investment Corporation(IDB Invest), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and SERV Swiss Export Risk Insurance on the refinancing of the LNG-to-power project developed by CELSE - Centrais Elétricas de Sergipe S.A., by means of the second issuance of unsecured debentures by CELSE in R$5bn.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Plinio Pinheiro Guimarães N., Francisco José Pinheiro Guimarães, Ivie Moura Alves

Other key lawyers

Fábio Yanitchkis Couto, Sérgio Ramos Yoshino, Luiza Furtado