Recognized as a leading attorney in renowned legal publications in Brazil and abroad (Análise 500, Leaders League, The Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal).
President of the Inter-American Bar Association (2011 – 2013).
Leading attorney in the international corporate litigation case against Petrobras in the U.S.A.
Author of the book entitled “A Maior Ação do Mundo: a História da Class Action Contra a Petrobras” ( in english – “The Largest Lawsuit in the World: The History of the Class Action Brought Against Petrobras”).
Co-author of the collective work “Ensaios de Direito Corporativo – Temas Contemporâneos e tendências” (in english – “Corporate Law Essays – Contemporary Issues and Trends”) presented by him and released in October 2023. Author of the chapter “Transparência e proteção dos acionistas minoritários: a construção de um novo ethos corporativo” (in english – “Transparency and protection of minority shareholders: building a new corporate ethos.”)
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Listed below are the most relevant transactions, restructurings, M&As, issuance and negotiation of complex and international debts. For reasons of attorney-client confidentiality, André does not name some clients, although several transactions are public and obvious to recognize the involved parties.
Mergers & Acquisitions – M&A Transactions
1)
Client: Barclays Global Investors UK Holdings Limited (BGI)
Role: Lead counsel conducting M&A work on the acquisition of the companies Global Business Division Barclays Global Investors UK Holdings Limited (BGI) and CVC Capital Partners
Deal Value: USD 4.4 billion
2)
Client: SADIA
Role: Lead counsel conducting M&A work on the debt restructuring and merger with the company Perdigão
Deal Value: USD 5.5 billion
3)
Client: SADIA
Role: Lead counsel conducting M&A work on the acquisition of the companies Finagro Société Par Actions Simplifiée, Agropar Société Par Actions Simplifiée Indefinite Acquisition of Equity Interest Sadia S.A., and Finagro Société Par Actions.
Deal Value: Not disclosed
4)
Client: Sigma Aldrich Corporate
Role: Lead counsel conducting M&A work on the acquisition of the company Vetec – Química Fina Ltda.
Deal Value: USD 160 million
5)
Client: Stericycle Inc.
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work on the acquisition of companies and legal coordination of water and sewage treatment projects in Brazil.
Deal Value: USD 1 billion
6)
Client: Tomra ASA Systems
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work on the acquisition of LATASA Brazil.
Deal Value: USD 200 million
7)
Client: ScanSource Inc.
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work on the acquisition of CDC Brasil S.A. and ScanSource Inc.
Deal Value: BRL 60 million
8)
Client: OH Logistics International Holdings II BV
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work on the merger with the companies OH Logistics International Holdings II BV, Tercex Transportes Multimodal S.A. and Ozburn Hessey Logistics.
Deal Value: Not disclosed
9)
Client: Goldman Sachs, Inc.
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work advising on share acquisition from the company MVNO Spring and in investment capitalization.
Deal Value: USD 200 million (shares) and USD 55 million (capitalization).
10)
Client: Spring Wireless
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work advising on the acquisition of the company OKTO Telco.
Deal Value: USD 40 million
11)
Client: 1500 Limited
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work advising on the acquisition of the company Herculano Mineração Ltda.
Deal Value: USD 800 million
12)
Clients: Companhia Mineradora Serra Azul Ltda., Consórcio Brasileiro de Minerações Ltda., Serra Azul Participações Ltda.
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work advising on the acquisition of the companies Mineração Fernão Dias Ltda., Transvale Transportes Vale do Paraopeba Ltda. and E&C Trading Ltd.
Deal Value: USD 750 million
13)
Client: Getty Images do Brasil Ltda.
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work advising on the acquisition of all the shares from the Brazilian subsidiary of Getty Images, Inc., with the option to buy back by Getty Images, Inc. and Gallo Images Middle East FZ LLC.
Deal Value: Not disclosed
14)
Client: Fulano S.A.
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work advising on the acquisition and sale of equity interest of E-nicial Ventures LP, Fundo Mutuo de Investimento em Empresas Emergentes em Base Tecnológica, Marcelo Pavão Lacerda, Sérgio Pretto and E-nicial Ventures LP.
Deal Value: Not disclosed
15)
Client: Pronto Wash Indefinite
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work advising on the acquisition of CAP Ventures and Pronto Wash CAP Ventures’ individual quotas.
Deal Value: Not disclosed
16)
Client: Prospectors Aerolevantamentos e Sistemas Ltda.
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work advising on the acquisition of the companies Control Aretech Solutions Tecnologia y Soluciones para el Desarrollo Sostenible S.A., I. R. Miranda Planejamentos Ltda., and Aretech Solutions Tecnologia y Soluciones para el Desarrollo Sostenible, S.A. companies.
Deal Value: Not disclosed
17)
Client: Citeluz Serviços de Iluminação S.A.
Role Lead counsel in M&A work advising on the merger with the company Energ Power (SNEF) for participation in a bidding for the concession of public energy services in the municipalities of Teresina and Uberlândia.
Deal Value: BRL 755 million / BRL 640 million
18)
Client: Citeluz Serviços de Iluminação S.A.
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work advising on the merger with Mitsui Japan for participation in a bidding for the concession of public energy services in the municipalities of Porto Alegre and Niteroi.
Deal Value: BRL 741 million / Niteroi BRL 6.8 billion
19)
Clients: Hemoclínica, Hemoserve, Hemomed, Unihemo Clínica
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work advising on the sale of shares for the acquisition of the company H. Hemo – Hemoterapia Brasil S.A.
Deal Value: BRL 55 million
20)
Client: RecifeCo (a Grupo Nagem company)
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work advising on the merger with the company Seaborn, headquartered in the USA, to build, implement and operate a transmission network via submarine cables.
Deal Value: USD 50 million
21)
Client: Edding International GMBH
Role: Lead counsel in M&A and dispute resolution work, advising on the sale of minority interest in Companhia de Canetas Compactor.
Deal Value: BRL 12.2 million
Dispute Resolution Cases
22)
Clients: Petrobras’ minority shareholders
Role: Strategized and brought the Class Action against Petrobras in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff presiding). Settled in 2018, paid to Petrobras ADR holders.
Value: USD 3 billion
23)
Clients: CBF Indústria De Gusa S.A., Da Terra Siderúrgica Ltda., Fergumar Ferro Gusa do Maranhão Ltda., Ferguminas Siderúrgica Ltda., Gusa Nordeste S.A., Sidepar Siderúrgica do Pará S.A., Siderúrgica União S.A.
Role: Lead counsel advising on corporate litigation against Steel Base Trade AG (“SBT”) in the arbitral award’s execution.
Value: USD 100 million
24)
Client: Grupo Ferroeste
Role: Lead counsel (international arbitration litigation) advising in the execution of an arbitral award given by the ICC and currently being executed in New York with the support of the law firm Day Pitney LLP.
Value: BRL 280 million
25)
Client: Edding International
Role: Lead counsel advising on corporate litigation against Companhia de Canetas Compactor.
Value: Not disclosed
26)
Client: José Aurélio Valporto de Sá Júnior
Role: Lead counsel against Odebrecht representing minority shareholders seeking indemnity for violation of their rights in the face of the company´s corruption scandal.
Value: BRL 3.6 billion
Corporate Restructuring Matters
27)
Clients: Pharol – Societé Generale controlling shareholders of Oi Telecomunicações
Role: Lead counsel advising on debt restructuring, representing the shareholders
Value: USD 30 billion
28)
Clients: Farallon and Silver Point
Role: Lead counsel advising the company’s corporate restructuring.
Value: USD 280 million from Brenco
29)
Client: Central Energética Ouro Branco Ltda.
Role: Lead counsel advising the corporate restructuring.
Value: USD 300 million
30)
Clients: AFNT – Serviços de Comunicação e Participações Ltda. and other companies from Grupo Indefinite
Role: Lead counsel advising the corporate restructuring with Enrico Rezende de Angelis and Danilo Mendes shareholders of AFNT – Serviços de Comunicação e Participações Ltda. and other companies of the group.
Value: Not disclosed
31)
Client: Gusa Nordeste S.A.
Role: Lead counsel advising the debt restructuring with Banco do Nordeste.
Value: Not disclosed
32)
Client: FIS Group
Role: Lead counsel advising on the preparation of the corporate restructuring of its Brazilian companies, and in the termination of the merger with bank Bradesco.
Value: BRL 365 million (merger) / BRL 181 million (corporate restructuring)
Corporate Matters
33)
Client: Grupo Los Grobo S.A.
Role: Lead counsel advising in the investment capitalization by Grobocopatel Family and PCP Fundo de Investimentos em Participação Grupo Los Grobo S.A.
Value: USD 1 billion
34)
Client: Humboldt Wedag, Inc.
Role: Lead counsel advising in the project and implementation of a new production line with Empresa de Cimentos Liz S.A & Humboldt Wedag, Inc.
Value: USD 120 million
35)
Clients: G-Tech Transportes e Logística Ltda., GLog Transportes e Logística Ltda., Revitech Revitalização de Equipamentos Ltda.
Role: Lead counsel advising on asset sales to AGV Logística S.A.
Value: USD 400 million
36)
Clients: Navita Tecnologia Ltda., Bertini Comércio e Serviços de Informática Ltda.
Role: Lead counsel advising on investment through subscription of a new class of shares.
Value: Not disclosed
37)
Clients: BHE Empreendimentos Ltda., Vidar Jonskas, Norgroup
Role: Lead counsel advising on the conversion of investments in equity interest.
Value: USD 10 million
38)
Clients: 1500 Limited 4 Agatha, Mineração de Ferro de Transportes Ltda.
Role: Lead counsel advising on the acquisition of infrastructure projects.
Value: USD 310 million
39)
Client: Infoserver S.A.
Role: Lead counsel advising on the capitalization of the company by Intel Capital Corporation.
Value: Not disclosed.
40)
Client: Gafisa S.A.
Role: Lead counsel advising on the increase of the company’s capital stock and the subscription of 26.3 million shares, as well as all strategy and corporate documentation.
Value: BRL 132 million
41)
Client: Mahle Metal Leve S.A.
Role: Lead counsel advising on the corporate negotiation for the acquisition of LSData and ADVEL shares.
Value: BRL 110 million
42)
Client: Grupo Forte
Role: Lead counsel advising on corporate and strategic matters related to the lack of adequate provisioning in the company’s financial statement.
Value: Over BRL 10 billion
43)
Client: Grupo Ferroeste
Role: Lead counsel advising on the acquisition of farms and biological assets for the production of mineral coal to be used in the steel production.
Value: BRL 49 million – BRL 150 million
44)
Client: BMO Harris Bank
Role: Lead counsel advising on corporate matters and the structuring of local guarantees for a reached financing agreement.
Value: BRL 100 million
Confidential Matters
45)
Clients: Large-sized Brazilian company in the civil construction segment – large-sized Brazilian company in the real estate segment.
Role: Lead counsel advising on the arbitration litigation due to a breach of contract during an important project in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Value: Not disclosed
46)
Client: Global firm, leader in private equity, infrastructure, and real estate investments
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work, advising on the acquisition of private equity to become a majority shareholder in one of Brazil´s largest civil construction companies.
Value: BRL 52 million
47)
Client: Large-sized international energy company
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work, advising on the acquisition of the company by an investment fund from one of the company’s founding partners (including subsidiaries in the USA and Portugal).
Value: Not disclosed
48)
Client: Global leader in the development, commercialization and product research for the clinical diagnostics market
Role: Lead counsel advising on corporate and regulatory matters with ANVISA.
Value: Not disclosed
49)
Client: Real Estate Investment Fund
Role: Lead counsel advising on corporate and regulatory matters with the Central Bank to raise foreign investment.
Value: Not disclosed.
50)
Client: Investment company
Role: Lead counsel advising on corporate and litigation matters to recover important assets that had been taken by fraud.
Value: Not disclosed.
51)
Client: Pioneer leading Brazilian cybersecurity company
Role: Lead counsel in M&A work advising on all stages for the acquisition of the company by another.
Value: Not disclosed
André de Almeida is the CEO and Founding Partner at Almeida Advogados, a full-service law firm with offices throughout Brazil.
André is a former professional cyclist who lived and trained in Warsaw, Poland, twice earning the distinction of Brazilian biking champion. He also placed seventh at the Pan-American Championship in Chile. He competed in two world championships (Colorado Springs, U.S.A., and Athens, Greece), and almost went to the Barcelona Olympics, until an accident months earlier that took him out of the running.
Following his time as a professional athlete, he went on to work at large law firms in Brazil and New York, and also served as in-house counsel at the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, D.C.
With great entrepreneurial spirit, André founded his own firm, which has experienced exponential growth. Today, over 250 professionals work at the firm’s offices (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte and Recife).
André's practice areas include corporate law, commercial law, M&A, compliance and competition law.
André sleeps little. He wakes up early, has breakfast with his family, plays sports every day, alternating between swimming, tennis, running and yoga. While he no longer cycles, he arrives early at the office, ready to inspire, lead, and broaden the horizons of a group of talented partners and associate attorneys. He still finds time to serve on the Board of Directors of Globalaw, one of the ten largest worldwide law firm alliances, of which Almeida Advogados is the sole member from Brazil.
On the weekends, he travels to Ibiuna (Brazil) to spend time with friends, music and books.
Bachelor's Degree in Law, Pontifical Catholic University (Minas).
Corporate Law Extension Course at Georgetown University (Washington D.C.) and at the Pontifical Catholic University (São Paulo).
Portuguese, English and Spanish. Basic knowledge of Polish.
Brazilian Bar Association (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Federal District Sections).
President of the Inter-American Bar Association (2011 – 2013).
Legal Advisor to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Brazil.
Member of the São Paulo Lawyers' Institute (IASP) Board.
Chairman of the IASP Permanent Committee on Minority Shareholders’ Rights Studies.
Member of the Commission of International Relations at the Brazilian Bar Association's Federal Council (2012 – 2013).
Director of International Relations at the São Paulo Lawyers' Institute (2013 – 2016).
Member of the Globalaw Board of Directors.
Member of the Board of the Brazilian Chamber of Electronic Commerce (Camara-e.net).
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