Paulo Cezar Aragão wins Latin Lawyer’s Lifetime Achievement Award

A life dedicated to the law, highlighted by complex transactions that marked an era in the Brazilian business world. Our partner Paulo Cezar Aragão will receive a Latin Lawyer Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes legal practitioners for their contribution to the profession over the course of their career. The honor is given only to the best and most respected lawyers in Latin America. The announcement was made last Wednesday, February 26th, as part of the 14th edition of the Charity Awards.

Over the course of his career, which included a term as General Counsel at Brazil's securities regulator, the CVM, Paulo Aragão has acted in some of the largest and most significant transactions in Brazil, such as the privatization of Telebrás, Brazil's biggest privatization to date, valued at USD 19.2 billion. Among many other transactions, he advised on the merger of the Brahma and Antarctica breweries, which resulted in AmBev, the company that controls more than half the Brazilian market, and the subsequent international association of AmBev with the Belgian Interbrew to create InBev, and the association between Sadia and Perdigão, creating BRF. He also acted in the demutualization of the São Paulo Stock Exchange, with the incorporation of Bovespa Holding S.A., the creation of BM&FBovespa, resulting from the association of Bovespa Holding and BM&F, and the subsequent creation of B3, arising out of the association between BM&FBovespa and CETIP, the Brazilian OTC clearing house. Two of his more recent notable transactions are the hostile takeover bid for Eletropaulo, where he advised that company, and Embraer's business combination with Boeing, in which he acted for Embraer.

In more than four decades of legal practice, Paulo Cezar Aragão's work has not been limited to advising clients on business law. Our partner is a published author, a frequent lecturer, and shares his experience with law students and other legal professionals.

Paulo Cezar Aragão is Chair of the Advisory Board of Antonio and Helena Zerrerner Foundation – National Charitable Institution, and a member of the Board of the OSESP Foundation – São Paulo Symphonic Orchestra, Endeavor Brasil (a non‑profit organization promoting entrepreneurship in Brazil), and the Estudar Foundation (a non-profit organization promoting education and leadership for young people).

Paulo is frequently recommended in the Corporate, M&A and Capital Markets sections of publications like IFLR 1000 (Highly Regarded), Who's Who Legal (Thought Leader), The Legal 500 (Leading Individual), LACCA Approved (Thought Leader), and Best Lawyers, of which he is member of the Advisory Board.

Paulo stands out for being the only lawyer who, for almost ten years, has been named as a "Star Individual" in Corporate/M&A in Brazil by Chambers Global and Chambers Latin.

 The Latin Lawyer Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony will be held on May 7th, at Hotel Unique in São Paulo.

Click here to read the announcement of the award.

Click here to find out more about our partner, his story and the recognition he has achieved.