The Firm Souto, Correa, Cesa, Lummertz & Amaral Advogados - Souto Correa comprises experienced lawyers who share common principles and values. The firm has qualified experts with outstanding professional and academic backgrounds, many of whom hold PhDs and Masters degrees and are recommended in national and international rankings that evaluate professional competence and reliability, such as Chambers and Partners, Who s Who Legal, Legal 500, IFLR1000, LACCA Approved List and Análise Advocacia. Mission To build a solid and long-term institution composed of united and motivated people, capable of generating competitive advantages, while fully committed to its clients and the community. Clients The firm represents national and international clients in various sectors of the economy, such as agribusiness, food, automotive, aviation, communication, construction, education, energy, entertainment, equity, pharmaceutical, hospital, hotel, metallurgical and naval industries, chemical industry, financial Institutions, logistics and transportation, mining, oil and gas, paper and cellulose, petrochemical, private, insurance, technology, retail, tobacco, among other sectors.
Practice Areas Administrative and Regulatory The firm has expertise in handling consulting and litigation matters stemming from the relationship between individuals or private companies and Public Authorities (procurement and government contracts, concessions, permissions and authorizations, expropriation and administrative easements, administrative sanctioning proceedings, administrative misconduct actions, anticorruption law etc.). The firm also represents clients in infrastructure-related matters, particularly regarding energy, oil and gas, sanitation, harbors and airports, railways and mining. The team often works with national regulatory agencies, such as the National Agency of Electric Power ANEEL, the Brazilian Oil Agency ANP, the National Agency of Civil Aviation - ANAC, the National Agency of Waterway Transport ANTAQ, the National Agency of Land Transportation - ANTT, the Chamber of Commerce of Electric Power - CCEE and the National System Operator - ONS. Arbitration and Mediation The firm s multidisciplinary team handles domestic and international arbitrations, as well as mediations. It represents clients in domestic and international arbitrations and correlated procedures, such as arbitral letters, the challenge and annulment of arbitral awards, as well as in the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. The firm also advises clients in the negotiation and drafting of arbitral clauses. Team members also act as arbitrators and mediators.
Environment and Sustainability The firm provides consultancy services regarding compliance with environmental legislation, the seizing of opportunities arising from legal benefits, and the identification of the best solutions to conflicts involving environmental matters. The team also assists with environmental administrative and legal proceedings, including monitoring civil inquiries and public civil actions, negotiating settlements with public authorities, and providing assistance with licensing. Compliance The compliance team provides assistance in the development and implementation of compliance programs to respect national and international requirements. Some of the activities the team develops are: providing support to companies in the creation of ethics and conduct committees; the preparation of legal risk evaluations and mapping, along with the corresponding action plans; the creation and management of channels to report potential non-conformities; offering virtual and face-to-face training and communication, monitoring self-assessment and remediation projects, participating in inquiries and/or assessing non-conformity cases. Consumer and Product Liability The firm manages strategic lawsuits involving consumer rights, such as public civil actions and collective actions. The team s experience includes handling public civil inquiries and strategic administrative cases filed by state and federal consumer protection and defense authorities. The team also handles product liability lawsuits and has experience guiding and coordinating product recall campaigns. The area also advises clients on their internal policies, such as those concerning customer services and electronic commerce. Corporate Criminal Law Working in line with the other practice areas of the firm in advisory and litigation matters, this area covers corporate criminal issues from a truly multidisciplinary angle. The team assists natural and legal persons regarding criminal matters during criminal investigations and in lawsuits before federal and state courts. This area s deep involvement in each case and the technical knowledge of the team guarantee quick responses and efficient solutions in all stages of the criminal process (from police investigation to trial).
Intellectual Property and Entertainment The firm advises clients on issues related to trademarks, brands, franchises, copyright law, domain names, industrial design, know-how, business secrets, software and the internet, unfair competition, e-commerce, corporate name disputes, trade-dress, biotechnology, cultivation, genetic patrimony access (CGen), and all related areas, including applications and protective measures for those intangible assets. It represents clients in judicial and extrajudicial disputes, contracts, licensing and partnerships and all related negotiations, and assists them in matters related to the recording and audiovisual industry, events, online content providers, TV broadcasters, advertising agencies, and recording and editing studios. The team also provides assistance in activities that demand multidisciplinary expertise involving copyrights, image and voice rights, sponsorships, advertisements and branded entertainment. Finally, it assists advertising agencies in branding and naming projects, while also encompassing full legal advice in their negotiations and contracts. Restructuring and Insolvency The firm regularly assists and represents debtors and creditors involved in judicial and extrajudicial restructuring, bankruptcies and in the extrajudicial liquidation of companies (cooperatives, among others). It also acts in the restructuring of debts, negotiating with debtors and creditors (such as financial institutions, suppliers and unions), as well as in the sale or acquisition of companies and/or distressed assets. Dispute Resolution The firm has experience in the prevention and resolution of complex litigation in the administrative and judicial spheres, representing clients before all courts. It also cooperates with clients in the definition of strategies to reduce litigation, and advises them in accordance with the needs of their businesses. The firm is specialized in procedures involving the most diverse sectors of the economy and it takes into account the importance of bringing the corporate reality of each industry to the judicial and administrative spheres. Corporate The firm handles all matters related to a company s day-to-day corporate and governance routines. The attorneys take part in several transactions including mergers and acquisitions, shareholder agreements, and due diligence procedures. On the contractual side, the professionals regularly negotiate and draft commercial agreements, especially those related to construction projects as well as distribution and agency agreements. The corporate team works closely with related practice areas, such as restructuring and bankruptcy, as well as real estate, timberland investment and agribusiness.
Labor The firm acts in both administrative and judicial labor litigation cases and in consultancy. The team s experience includes managing the relationship with union entities and negotiating collective agreements. The team also advises clients regarding due diligences and the management of financial liabilities, and reviews Human Resources proceedings to adapt them to existing legislation. Also in its purview is the drafting of contracts, internal policies and codes of conduct, and conducting in-company training sessions on labor-related matters. Tax The firm offers a wide range of tax consultancy and litigation services at the federal, state and municipal levels, including issues such as social security contributions, operation restructuring, tax benefits, mergers and acquisitions, tax replacements, transfer pricing and due diligences. The team is recognized for its solid experience in administrative and judicial litigation before all Brazilian courts, as well as for its expertise in Customs Law, analyzing foreign trade taxation, tax classifications, among others. www.soutocorrea.com.br Brasília DF SHIS, QL 08, Conjunto 02, Casa 01 Lago Sul, CEP 71620-225 Fone + 55 61 3574 7808 Porto Alegre RS Av. Carlos Gomes, 700, 13º andar Ed. Platinum Tower, CEP 90480-000 Fone + 55 51 3018 0500 Rio de Janeiro RJ Rua Visconde de Pirajá, 250, 7º andar Ipanema, CEP 22410-000 Fone + 55 21 3590 6901 São Paulo SP Av. Pres. Juscelino Kubitschek, 2041 Torre D, 8º andar, Complexo JK, CEP 04543-011 Fone + 55 11 3530 8400