With extensive experience in acting for creditors, Pinheiro Guimarães excels in major debt refinancing and restructuring transactions, though it is also skilled in representing a series of actors, including bondholders and claimholders, in judicial reorganisations and insolvency proceedings. The team is jointly led by Gustavo Mota Guedes, who possesses an impressive track record in high-profile bankruptcy and restructuring cases, and the ‘tenacious’ Guilherme Vaz, another name to note for complex litigation in this space. Drawing on his strong background in M&A and private equity, Sérgio Ramos Yoshino handles debt restructuring transactions and distressed deals.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Very hard-working, sophisticated and client focused. Great in cross-border deals and servicing international as well as domestic clients. Able to think creatively about transaction structures and outside-the-box solutions. Strong interdisciplinary teams who can work through insolvency, transactional and litigation issues together.’

  • ‘It is a very strong team but particular praise for Guilherme Vaz who is an up-and-coming leader in the field. Guilherme is tenacious, hard-working, very intelligent and thinks about his clients' objectives. Great to work with on the same side or as opposing counsel.’

  • ‘PGA partners have a business-driven approach that is very helpful for the clients. ’

  • ‘Bruno Lardosa is a super sharp and result-oriented lawyer. ’

Key clients

  • Itaú Unibanco S.A.
  • Andrade Gutierrez
  • Itaú BBA
  • CarVal Investors LLC
  • Guggenheim Partners, LLC
  • Banco Votorantim S.A.
  • Merrill Lynch International
  • Citigroup (Banco Citibank S.A and Citibank N.A.)
  • Empresa de Energia São Manoel S.A.
  • International Finance Corporation
  • Stallone Investments Group S.A.
  • Quadra Gestão de Recursos Ltda.
  • Elera Renováveis
  • Vale S.A.
  • Globo Comunicação e Participações S.A.
  • DEG – Deu Deutsche Investitions – und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH
  • Victoria Capital Partners

Work highlights

  • Represented Itaú Unibanco S.A. in the judicial reorganisation of Lojas Americanas S.A. and others (Americanas Group).
  • Represented Itaú Unibanco S.A. in the judicial reorganisation of Light S.A. and extension of effects to the concessionaires of electric power Light Serviços de Eletricidade S.A. and Light Energia S.A.
  • Acted as counsel to Vale S.A., a shareholder of the debtor (Samarco) and one of its largest creditors, during the Samarco S.A. judicial reorganisation.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Gustavo Mota Guedes, Guilherme Vaz

Other key lawyers

Bruno Lardosa, Sergio Ramos Yoshino, Frederico Mocarzel