11/9/2024
O Latin Lawyer 250, guia que lista os melhores escritórios da América Latina, acaba de divulgar o resultado da pesquisa 2025. L.O. Baptista Advogados figura, mais uma vez, na categoria “Highly Recommended”, com destaque para a atuação nas áreas de Arbitragem, Contencioso, Societário e M&A e Trabalhista.
L O Baptista Advogados
Corporate and arbitration specialists
Established: 1972 | Partners: 20 | Lawyers: 60
This firm is highly recommended for services in the following work areas: Arbitration | Corporate and M&A | Labour | Litigation
L O Baptista Advogados is best known in the market for its advice on complex litigation and arbitration case. The firm stands out from its competitors as a result of its innovative and sophisticated take on legal services.
Alongside its figurehead disputes practice area, LO Baptista has active corporate, trade and labour groups. With more infrastructure projects on the horizon in Brazil, its administrative law team is expected to be busy advising on regulatory aspects of upcoming transactions. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have been another busy area for the firm.
L O Baptista is also keeping its finger on the pulse when it comes to ESG transactions, looking to provide advice to clients as the number of sustainable financings continues to increase in Brazil.
L O Baptista encourages its staff to have a healthy work–life balance, while also offering its lawyers time off for academic pursuits. This is not to the detriment of a high-quality service, as quality over quantity is this firm’s focus. The firm also takes a conservative approach to growth, and its lawyers put personal contact with clients above much else.
Although the practice has faced challenges in recent years in terms of headcount, it constantly strives to boost its offering through different initiatives and strategic moves. Recently, L O Baptista Advogados appointed Maria Elisa Parente as a partner in its Corporate and M&A practice. She will also strengthen the firm’s technology and start-up offerings.
Litigation
Key partners: André Camerlingo Alves has a respected practice that includes corporate and IP disputes. He co-leads this group with André Mendes do Espírito Santo, who is also responsible for the stand-alone fashion law practice. Ulisses Simões da Silva and Silvia Rodrigues Pachikoski are also noteworthy.
Analysis: L O Baptista’s litigation department handles cases with corporate and international trade aspects. Its work often involvescomplex negotiations, such as challenging state authorities in legal disputes concerning infrastructure projects. Over the years, the firm has developed its litigation practice by employing a more comprehensive dispute resolution offering, and now arbitration, litigation and mediation specialists team up to find solutions for clients. Meanwhile, civil class action suits and administrativeproceedings involving environmental litigation, remain core areas for the team. In a recent case, the group has helped e-commerceplatform VTEX in several administrative and judicial claims related to the websites and stores hosted in the client’s domain.
Corporate and M&A
Key partners: Daniela Zaitz comes recommended in LACCA Approved, a survey of in-house counsel, published by the LatinAmerican Corporate Counsel Association, which is affiliated to Latin Lawyer. Marta Rodrigues and Sueli de Freitas Veríssimo also feature: the former is praised by clients, while the latter brings regulatory expertise. Renata Castro Veloso is also active here.
Analysis: L O Baptista’s corporate team built its name by providing top-quality services to its loyal clients. In a recent example ofthe firm’s work with international clients, this team advised Spanish glass company Vidrala in the US$174 million acquisition ofthe remaining shares in Brazilian counterpart Vidroporto. Other recent clients include local energy company Grupo Oxe and Brazilian ethanol producer Bioflex Agroindustrial, a subsidiary of GranBio.
Labour
Key partners: Fábio Chong de Lima fronts this team.
Analysis: This labour practice group provides consultancy and litigation services to clients drawn from the construction, energy and retail sectors, among others. The team continues to represent a global car manufacturer in a public civil action filed against it by the Labour Prosecutor’s Office. Other recent work includes helping a client in a collective dismissal process, which included atermination package and negotiation with unions.
Arbitration
Key partners: Silvia Rodrigues Pachikoski takes the helm here and is supported by a pair of litigators: André Camerlingo Alves and André Mendes do Espírito Santo.
Analysis: L O Baptista’s arbitration group has benefitted from the reputation of founder and legendary arbitrator Luiz OlavoBaptista. The group aims to build on that legacy by evolving with a modern touch. Whilst the firm keeps the details of its arbitration clients under wraps, it regularly advises companies in complex proceedings before several high-ranking courts. Clients come from a range of sectors, including construction and manufacturing.
