24/8/2023
O Latin Lawyer 250, guia que lista os melhores escritórios da América Latina, acaba de divulgar o resultado da pesquisa 2024. L.O. Baptista Advogados figura, mais uma vez, na categoria “Highly Recommended”, com destaque para a atuação nas áreas de Arbitragem, Contencioso, Direito Administrativo (Público/Regulatório), Societário e M&A e Trabalhista.
L O Baptista Advogados
Corporate and arbitration specialists
Established: 1972 | Partners: 21 | Lawyers: 60
Work areas
This firm is highly recommended for services in the following work areas: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW | ARBITRATION | CORPORATE AND M&A | LABOUR | LITIGATION.
L O Baptista Advogados, which celebrated over half a century of history last year, is a powerhouse when it comes to litigation and arbitration. The firm stands out from its close competitors, thanks to its innovative and sophisticated take on legal services.
L O Baptista is one of the few outfits to encourage lawyers to strike a work-life balance that works for them, while also offering them timeoff to pursue their academic goals. This is not to the detriment of a high-quality service, as quality over quantity is this firm’s focus. L OBaptista 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. In 2022 the firm incorporated local boutique Reis Gomes Advogados, strengthening its energy practice.
Alongside its disputes practice, LO Baptista has busy corporate, trade and labour practices. Leaders of the firm have placed their bets on a surge in infrastructure projects too, cases on which its administrative law team will also play a role. Public-private partnerships have been another busy point for L O Baptista, while the group has also focused on growing its environmental, social and governance capabilities, inline with the regional spike in green financings. Clients praise the team for its commitment and attention to their needs.
LITIGATION
Key partners: André Camerlingo Alves, who has a respected practice including corporate and IP disputes, and André Mendes Espírito Santo Modenesi, who also oversees the firm’s stand-alone fashion law practice and oversees risk mitigation for clients, are the co-heads of this team. Ulisses Simões da Silva and Silvia Rodrigues Pachikoski are other key names.
Analysis: L O Baptista’s litigation practice is highly regarded by clients, as well as by rival firms, for its proficiency in dealing with cases with corporate and international trade elements. The team’s track record precedes it in this arena. Often, that work involves complex negotiations, such as challenging state authorities in legal disputes concerning infrastructure projects and other matters. In recent times, the firm has developed its litigation practice by employing a more comprehensive dispute resolution offering, and it nowlinks arbitration, litigation and mediation specialists. Meanwhile, civil class action suits and administrative proceedings involving environmental litigation, remain core areas at the practice. The firm helped Copersucar, the world’s biggest sugar and ethanol producer, win an indemnification under a federal lawsuit, related to the state’s interference in the price of sugar and ethanol during the 1980s.
ADMNISTRATIVE LAW
Key partners: Patricia Agra Araujo, who adds experience from her time at the Administrative Council for Economic Defence (CADE), and Sueli de Freitas Veríssimo are the key names here.
Analysis: Veríssimo is popular among clients, while Araujo brings more than 20 years of experience in competition, compliance andregulatory matters into the department. Both lawyers help build a highly regarded and qualified practice group, competing withlarger firms for big-ticket work.
CORPORATE AND M&A
Key partners: Daniela Zaitz is a high-profile member of the team and comes recommended in LACCA Approved, a survey of in-house counsel, published by the Latin American Corporate Counsel Association, which is affiliated to Latin Lawyer. Marta Rodrigues and Sueli de Freitas Veríssimo also feature, the latter brings regulatory expertise. Other key names include Cássia Monteiro, Esther Jerussalmy Cunha and Renata Castro Veloso.
LABOUR
Key partners: Fábio Chong de Lima fronts this team.
Analysis: L O Baptista’s labour practice group provides consultancy and litigation services to clients drawn from the construction,energy and retail sectors, among others. Although the team is not the largest one at the firm, it has been praised for itsprofessionalism and high quality of service, especially when dealing with cases with sensitive circumstances.
ARBITRATION
Key partners: Silvia Rodrigues Pachikoski is head of the practice group. Litigators André Camerlingo Alves and André Mendes Espírito Santo Modenesi also contribute.
Analysis: L O Baptista’s arbitration group has been hailed as one of Brazil’s best, owing to the work of founder and legendary arbitrator Luiz Olavo Baptista. The group aims to pursue that legacy of success by evolving with a modern touch.
