TozziniFreire

TozziniFreire TozziniFreire is a Brazilian full-service law firm headquartered in São Paulo, founded in 1975 by Luiz Tozzini and Flávio Freire, with a presence in major markets including Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, New York City, and London. The firm advises multinational corporations, state-owned enterprises, financial institutions, and technology companies across sectors such as energy, banking, telecommunications, and pharmaceuticals. TozziniFreire's work spans corporate transactions, dispute resolution, regulatory matters, and intellectual property, servicing clients involved with entities like Petrobras, Itaú Unibanco, Vale S.A., and multinational firms from the United States, United Kingdom, Portugal, and China.

History

TozziniFreire traces its origins to São Paulo in 1975 during a period of expansion for Brazilian professional services alongside institutions such as Banco do Brasil, BNDES, and regulatory reforms following the 1970s energy crisis. Early growth saw the firm advising on cross-border transactions involving partners from United States firms and European houses linked to London Stock Exchange listings and New York Stock Exchange offerings. Through the 1990s and 2000s TozziniFreire expanded its transactional work during privatizations associated with administrations influenced by policies from Fernando Henrique Cardoso and later engaged with infrastructure projects tied to the Pan American Games and 2014 FIFA World Cup. The firm’s internationalization included alliances and secondments with firms in New York City, Lisbon, Madrid, and Beijing, reflecting Brazil’s trade relationships with the European Union, China, and United States.

Organization and Practice Areas

TozziniFreire operates with a partner-led structure common to major firms such as Mattos Filho, Pinheiro Neto Advogados, Lefosse Advogados, and global firms like Clifford Chance and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Its practice groups include Corporate/M&A, Banking & Finance, Litigation & Arbitration, Tax, Competition & Antitrust, IP & Technology, Employment & Labor, Energy & Natural Resources, and Real Estate, providing services comparable to teams at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Baker McKenzie, Linklaters, and White & Case. The firm maintains specialized desks for sectors including Oil & Gas with links to Petrobras projects, Mining aligned with Vale S.A., Renewable Energy tied to Eletrobras, and Health & Life Sciences collaborating with multinational players such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Novartis. Administrative leadership has included managing partners and executive committees interacting with regulatory bodies like the Brazilian Bar Association and courts including the Supremo Tribunal Federal.

Notable Cases and Clients

TozziniFreire has represented major clients in high-profile matters similar to representations by firms that advised on deals for Petrobras, Vale S.A., Itaú Unibanco, Banco Santander Brasil, Ambev, Grupo Globo, and multinationals including Microsoft, Amazon, and Siemens. Notable mandates have covered cross-border M&A, project finance for infrastructure projects tied to the Ministry of Infrastructure (Brazil), restructuring in bankruptcy processes under legal frameworks influenced by the Brazilian Bankruptcy Law, and arbitration proceedings before institutions such as the Brazilian Arbitration Act tribunals and the International Chamber of Commerce. The firm has acted in disputes and regulatory matters involving agencies like the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL), and the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), and has represented clients in commercial litigation before state courts and appellate panels related to contracts with state-owned entities.

Rankings and Recognition

TozziniFreire is regularly ranked by international directories and publications akin to Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, and IFLR1000, receiving accolades in practice areas such as M&A, Banking & Finance, Tax, and Litigation. The firm’s partners have been recognized individually in listings produced by Latin Lawyer, Bloomberg, and Chambers Global and have participated in panels alongside judges from the STF and arbitrators affiliated with institutions like the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. Awards and nominations have referenced performance on transactions relating to infrastructure privatization, renewable projects with ties to BNDES financing, and cross-border listings on the B3.

Corporate Responsibility and Pro Bono Activities

TozziniFreire maintains pro bono and corporate social responsibility initiatives comparable to programs at major firms such as White & Case and Clifford Chance, partnering with non-governmental organizations, legal aid clinics at universities like University of São Paulo and Fundação Getulio Vargas, and human rights groups engaged with entities such as Amnesty International and Conectas. Activities include pro bono representation for civil society organizations, support for social entrepreneurship projects linked to municipal programs in São Paulo, legal outreach tied to public health campaigns involving Ministry of Health (Brazil), and sustainability efforts aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and multilateral finance bodies including World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank projects.

Category:Law firms of Brazil