Article published by Latin Lawyer on december 20th de 2023
Brazil’s Azevedo Sette Advogados has added firepower to its corporate and M&A, mining and tax offerings by promoting three lawyers to partner.
The Highly Recommended firm announced on 18 December that Gabriela Salazar, Natália Meirelles and João Paulo Santarosa de Araújo Ayres had joined the senior rank on 1 December.
Following the promotion, the firm counts a total of 48 partners.
Promoted in mining practice, Salazar has worked at the firm since 2011 advising clients on issues relating to regulatory and environmental law, as well as contracts and litigation.
With over 10 years of experience in corporate and M&A, Meirelles first joined the firm as a senior associate in 2021. She helps national and international companies structure M&A deals and represents businesses in legal audits. The newly minted partner also assists in the acquisition of equity, asset reorganisations and succession planning.
Before joining Azevedo Sette, Meirelles worked in the corporate and M&A departments of a range of Brazilian firms, including Fialho Salles Advogados.
Rising the ranks within the firm’s tax practice, Ayres provides tax litigation and consulting advice to clients across a breadth of markets, including food and beverage, agribusiness, automotive and pharmaceuticals. He also has experience representing clients on tax-related proceedings in Brazil’s superior courts.
Ayres joined Azevedo Sette as a senior associate in 2019, prior to which he worked at Recommended firm William Freire Advogados Associados and Highly Recommended outfits Rolim Goulart Cardoso and Martinelli Advogados.
Commenting on the promotions, Luiz Sette, senior partner and head of the firm’s corporate M&A practice, says: “The new partners embody our DNA at Azevedo Sette Advogados, which consists in serving our clients closely and well, while committing to find innovative solutions for the most complex matters with ethics and competence.”
Azevedo Sette is one of Brazil’s largest law firms and is renowned for its work in several practice areas, including corporate and M&A, tax, mining and metals, labour and litigation. Back in May, Latin Lawyer granted the firm’s founding partner - Ordélio Azevedo Sette – with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his successful career endeavours.
The firm has also been involved in several important deals this year. In October, it guided Swiss wealth manager Brainvest on a merger with Brazilian multi-family office Enso Gestão de Recursos. This came just one month after it helped Brazil’s Clube Atlético Mineiro secure US$186 million in investment – subsequently transforming the football club into the country’s largest SAF to date. Back in June, the outfit advised local brokerage group Toro as Santander acquired a stake in the company.