Noted tax team with corporate forays
Established: 1993
Partners: 12
Total lawyers: 40
Velloza & Girotto Advogados started life as a tax firm, and it remains the foundation of its practice, with a notable reputation and client list in the field. More recent moves into the corporate and finance spheres had been successful, although last year those achievements saw a real setback as both its noted corporate partner and banking partner moved in-house. Although it is no bad thing to have excellent contacts at Vinci Partners, where Alexandre Lindenbojm now works, nor at Goldman Sachs, the new home of Ricardo Mourão, their decisions have left the firm’s corporate capacity notably weakened. However, work certainly continues for the existing high-profile client base, and moreover, the firm has already built a noted corporate team once, so a safe bet might be that they can do it again.
people & practices
TAX
The firm is now heavily tax-oriented, with nine of the partners exclusively focusing on the practice and 11 involved in the field; of course, that, means it has a deep bench to call on for clients’ complex and varied problems. Name partners Rubens Jose Velloza and Luiz Girotto are prominent names here, with the latter leading on tax litigation and with a good reputation in the field. Also notable is Andrea Nogueira, who brings useful experience from a top five audit firm, and Jose Vergueiro, who has 20 years experience in-house in the tax field, at banks and industrial companies. The firm has advised Marítima Seguros since day one, and the in-house counsel there confirms that the firm “is specialised in financial institutions, especially in corporate questions, tax litigation and tax planning. It has a good network in the main courts of Brazil and good relationship with this company.” In 2011, the firm promoted two more tax lawyers:Fernanda Junqueira Calazans, who focuses on direct tax, and Leonardo Augusto Andrade, a specialist in tax litigation.
BANKING & FINANCE
Cesar Amendolara has a broad corporate and finance practice, and is notable for continuing relations with some of the firm’s big-ticket clients despite significant upheavals. Two stand-out deals for him were helping BTG Pactual negotiate investment agreements with asset manager Quest Investimentos, and advising Banco do Brasil subsidiary BB Seguros win regulatory approval for its acquisition of a stake in Brasilcap. He also advised the controlling shareholders of Brazilian shoe retailer Arezzo, the Birman family, in floating the company on Bovespa, and raising US$340 million in the process; and was retained by private education company pH group as it was bought by a subsidiary of Abril.
OFFICES
The firm has bases in the three main Brazilian cities for legal work, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília.
PRO BONO
Velloza & Girotto gives about 10 hours per lawyer per year to pro bono work, with clients including Laramara, a philanthropic association for the visually impaired, Toca Das Hortencias, which promotes public health, and Instituto Bacuri, which supports projects in education, sport and the environment. LL
