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Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão is particularly active in mergers and acquisitions, representing both Brazilian and international clients. The firm assists in developing the best corporate and tax structure for the client's transaction, participates in negotiations either directly or in an advisory role, conducts due diligence to international standards and advises on regulatory and other approvals for the transaction. With special emphasis on publicly-held companies, the firm advises on takeovers (both unsolicited and friendly), acquisitions of minority stakes and joint ventures involving both strategic and financial investors. The firm's wide-ranging experience in this area facilitates the client's decision-making process, whether the client is the seller, purchaser, or other party to the transaction.

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Increasing competitive pressures and dramatic changes in the marketplace have compelled many companies to restructure and reorganize. Restructurings and reorganizations are complex and delicate transactions and, from a legal point of view, call for innovative solutions. Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão provides complete legal support for such transactions, addressing both short-term issues and long-term structural planning, in addition to paying particular attention to related tax issues. One of the firm's leading areas, restructurings and reorganizations highlights Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão's business law expertise. The firm's wide range of services includes development of strategies for business revitalization, redefinition of shareholder control, restructuring and renegotiation of debt and, especially, reorganizations of business groups. The firm represents restructuring companies as well as lenders.

Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão is also especially active in the development and implementation of corporate executive and employee share option and other benefit plans.

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Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão provides legal services in matters under the jurisdiction of the Central Bank of Brazil (BACEN) and the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM), including advice on the constantly changing regulations of the sector and representation of clients in regulatory proceedings. Specialized attorneys orient clients on compliance with regulations issued by the National Monetary Council, CVM and BACEN, as well as providing legal opinions on the application and interpretation of capital market legislation.

The firm's services in this area also include amendment of company bylaws in connection with public offerings of shares, cancellation of registration on stock exchanges and over-the-counter markets, and representation at shareholders' and debenture holders' meetings. The firm also provides legal support for equity, debt and convertible issues, public offerings and private place of securities in Brazilian and international markets, as well as registration of foreign institutional investors.

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Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão advises bidders in the privatization process, structuring consortia and investment and shareholder agreements, and providing support in the creation of jointly-managed partnerships between the public and private sectors. The firm also acts on behalf of the state in privatizations, providing consulting services in modeling and implementing divestitures.

Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão assists clients with the bidding process and the development of plans for the concession of public works, as well as the administration of public service concessions, such as ports, railroads, airports and highways. These services include the negotiation and drafting of agreements and other documents related to the acquisition and to project financing, as well as advising clients on compliance with regulatory requirements.

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Real estate is an area that is currently experiencing rapid growth the world over. Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão provides the legal foundation for real estate projects and investments, and uses innovative techniques to refine their structure and economics. The firm has extensive experience with sophisticated investment vehicles such as real estate investment funds, mortgage companies and income funds. The services provided by the firm include support in negotiating and drafting purchase, sale, construction and financing agreements, as well as modeling the legal structure for residential, industrial and commercial real estate projects such as shopping centers, theme parks, commercial centers and hotels.

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Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão gives special attention to the constant advances in financial markets and their regulation. The firm represents brokers, dealers, pension funds, investment and real estate funds, investment advisors and other agents.

The firm assists clients in transactions that cover the whole spectrum of financial activity, such as debenture issues, subscription bonuses, creation of investment funds, share pledges, commercial paper, commodities, interest rate and currency swaps, securitization of receivables in the Brazilian and international markets and other derivative products based on financial and commercial assets. In conjunction with international law firms, we also advise on the formation and management of investment companies operating in Brazil and internationally.

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Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão provides a full range of tax services, advising clients, including corporations, partnerships and individuals, resident in Brazil or abroad, in devising tax strategies that generate the most favorable tax treatment for their activities and projects. The firm's lawyers have the experience and expertise necessary to analyze the tax implications of acquisitions, corporate restructurings, financings, investments and other transactions and to present innovative alternatives that achieve maximum tax benefits. We also represent clients in administrative and judicial proceedings on tax matters.

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Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão has extensive experience in creating the legal structure for a wide range of operations involving the entry or exit of capital in various sectors of the Brazilian economy, whether through investment, reinvestment of profits, repatriation of profits and dividends, or return of capital. The firm advises Brazil-based corporations on their international transactions, and provides legal services to foreign companies investing in Brazil. We also assist foreign investors in obtaining registration and required authorizations from the Central Bank of Brazil. The firm regularly provides support to foreign law firms involved in transactions in Brazil.

Working with financial institutions in Brazil and abroad, the firm is also involved in the issue and international placement of Depositary Receipts, as well as providing legal support in the capture of resources through the issue of securities for placement in foreign markets.

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Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão's employment law specialists have extensive experience in dealing with employment and pension matters in a business context.  The firm advises clients on labor and employee benefit issues related to mergers and acquisitions, privatizations, corporate restructurings and other transactions. The firm is also active in employment and social security litigation, representing clients in both individual and collective disputes, as well as in labor standards and social security administrative proceedings.

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Litigation involving complex commercial and administrative questions requires a team approach, combining the expertise of specialists in the legal issues involved in the dispute with the skills of experienced litigators

The firm provides support to clients involved in commercial disputes and domestic and international arbitrations and other dispute resolution proceedings. The firm also represents clients in lawsuits involving tax and corporate issues, and in administrative proceedings before tax authorities, securities commissions and other agencies regulating the capital markets.

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Our economic law department offers support to our clients on issues related to economic and trade law, mainly those concerning competition (antitrust) law, international trade (dumping) and industry regulation (mainly telecommunications, oil & gas, and electric energy).

Our team has experience in transactions engineering and in acting before the Brazilian antitrust authorities in national and international merger review proceedings derived from mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other transactions, as well as in administrative proceedings involving anticompetitive behavior (mainly cartel charges), besides acting as a consultant in antitrust and regulatory matters. Our department is also experienced in representing foreign companies in Brazilian antidumping investigation and duties review proceedings, as well as in assisting national companies with representations before DECOM.

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There has been a significant increase in concern for the environment in Brazil and in the level of environmental regulation. Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão advises clients on environmental issues ranging from the identification of environmental liabilities in the course of due diligence to compliance with environmental laws and regulations. The firm also provides support to clients in their dealings with environmental regulatory agencies, assisting in the submission of requests for licenses and approvals and the performance of environmental impact studies.

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Today, intangible property is considered to be a major business assets, and, therefore, it is now essential to develop intellectual property. In this context, the BM&A endeavors to be proactive in seeking strategic policies, offering a number of services relating to intellectual property, such as trademark assessment and registration, copyright consulting services, entertainment law, franchising, electronic commerce, drafting of license and assignment agreements, software protection, internet and information technology law.

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Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão Advogados participated actively in the liberalization of the Brazilian economy and the reform of the public administration. The firm provided legal advice in privatizations and concessions of public services in a wide variety of economic sectors, such as telecommunications, electrical energy, gas, public sanitation and transportation. In the wake of the privatizations and concessions, the firm has acquired expertise in regulatory law, advising and representing clients before state and federal regulatory agencies such as the National Association of Economic Research - ANP, the National Telecommunications Agency - ANATEL, the National Electrical Energy Agency - ANEEL, the National Health Agency - ANS, the National Water Agency - ANA, the National Public Sanitation Agency - ANVISA, the National Waterways Transportation Agency - ANTAQ and Regulatory Agency for Public Service Concessions- ASEP.

The firm also provides legal support in bids and proceedings under the authority of administrative agencies and state-owned companies, at all levels of government, including calls for bids and contracts with government.

The firm's team of attorneys specialized in administrative law and government contracts assists clients in partnerships with the state, advising them in identifying and evaluating the risks and benefits involved in transactions with government.

In addition, Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão Advogados has a specialized team of administrative litigators to defend clients' interests both before the courts and in administrative proceedings, including disciplinary cases, with extensive experience in proceedings before the Brazilian Central Bank - BACEN, the Brazilian Securities Commission - CVM and the National Financial System Appeals Council - CRSFN.

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Companies today endeavor to act in a socially responsible manner, creating associations and/or foundations, or promoting projects with public and private partners. The third sector, as it is called, represents an organized civil society, which develops with the support of the business sector and the State. Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão Advogados has skilled professionals, who provide consulting services to promote such partnerships and projects. These include creating and maintaining foundations and institutes, obtaining certificates and securities, using tax incentive laws to set up projects, and helping in negotiations between public and private sectors.

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Fast and cost efficient dispute resolution mechanisms have been gaining support as an alternative to judicial proceedings in Brazil. Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão’s attorneys are members of national and international Arbitration Chambers and have been active in promoting arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism to clients in various economic sectors.

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With the recent expansion of the energy sectors in Brazil, the firm has advised various clients on the legal, tax, regulatory, contractual and commercial issues that arise in these areas. Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão has participated in structured investments in thermoelectric, hydroelectric and wind-generated energy, from the licensing phase to project finance, including preparation of the principal documentation, such as power purchase and gas transportation agreements. The firm also acts on behalf of clients in meeting regulatory and legal requirements and in proceedings before regulatory agencies.