Thomaz Bastos, Waisberg and Kurzweil Advogados‘ restructuring and insolvency team is composed of ’highly qualified and ethical professionals’, who are proficient in representing debtors, creditors and investors in highly complex and sophisticated mandates, including both in-court and extrajudicial reorganisations. With a strong following of both local and international clients, most notably from the financial services, agribusiness, energy and retail sectors, the department routinely operates in multi-stage, cross-jurisdictional mandates requiring expertise in debt recovery, negotiation and liquidation proceedings, distressed M&A and funding transactions. The practice is currently led by several of its most experienced partners, who are noted for being ‘very complementary in handling the cases’. Joel Luís Thomaz Bastos is highly experienced in debt restructurings, requiring both judicial and extrajudicial negotiation. The ’reliable and direct’ Ivo Waisberg is proficient in contentious insolvency matters, as well as in the acquisition and divestment of insolvent companies and distressed assets. Bruno Kurzweil de Oliveira handles domestic and international corporate reorganisations and debt restructurings, while Gilberto Gornati is noted for his experience in bankruptcy cases, distressed deals, and corporate restructurings. Also recommended are the ‘super proactive’ Herbert Morgenstern Kugler and Adriana Dias de Oliveira, praised for her ’great technical knowledge’. Lucas Rodrigues do Carmo is especially active in the drafting of complex debt restructuring plans and negotiations with creditors.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘TWK is a firm with a lot of technical knowledge, well above average.’

  • ‘Herbert Kugler is super proactive and gives his clients a lot of peace of mind. Bruno Kurzweil de Oliveira is very technical and has knowledge well above average.'

  • ‘The quality of its processes, specific knowledge of the sector and the speed of its services are excellent. They have a diverse team that communicates efficiently, accurately and always with a pro-business mindset.’

  • ‘Ivo Waisberg is respected, reliable and direct. Lucas Rodrigues do Carmo is an intelligent, attentive lawyer, always available and very qualified. Can handle a wide variety of topics simultaneously.'

  • ‘From my perspective, TWK stands out as a restructuring and insolvency firm due to the technical quality of its lawyers and, even with the growth of the team in recent years, it still operates with the "boutique" model that enables the participation of partners and senior lawyers in all transactions.'

  • ‘The partners Ivo, Bruno and Joel are excellent and very complementary in handling the cases, setting themselves apart from all other firms. Regarding the team, I highlight Adriana Dias de Oliveira for her great technical knowledge, both on the debtor and the investor's side, which adds a lot in my case to assess the risk and make an investment decision.'

  • ‘TWK is a firm with highly qualified and ethical professionals. The partners take direct care of client relationships, with availability and attention. A holistic view of the problem of debt restructuring, with broad-spectrum, creative and ethically impeccable solutions.’

Key clients

  • Gocil Segurança
  • BTG Pactual
  • Beontag
  • 123 Milhas
  • M. Officer
  • Itau Asset Management
  • Metha SA
  • Southrock
  • Geneseas
  • Santaconstancia
  • Prisma Capital
  • Gol Linhas Aéreas
  • Quadra Capital
  • Stemac
  • Paquetá Calçados
  • Concessionária SPMAR
  • Aralco
  • BPS Capital
  • Brinox
  • Sotran

Work highlights

  • Represented Itaú Asset Management and the investment funds it manages in the context of Lojas Americanas’ filing for court restructuring.
  • Advised the 123Milhas Group and related companies on their court restructuring, which involves Banco do Brasil and other creditors.
  • Advised the Handz Group on court restructuring proceedings.

Lawyers

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Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Joel Luís Thomaz Bastos, Ivo Waisberg, Bruno Kurzweil de Oliveira

Other key lawyers

Gilberto Gornati, Herbert Morgenstern Kugler, Adriana Dias de Oliveira, Lucas Rodrigues do Carmo, Laís Nicole Luizetti