News
Lecture Guilherme Calmon Nogueira da Gama - São Paulo, June 23, 2010 - 23/06/2010
“The social function arose in the ambit of property, considered as a fundamental right”. “The latest conception of the social function is the superposition of a structure based on the right-duty relationship on the holder of this legal power in which the social function is configured”. “Challenge – We can identify how jurisprudence will act in the final materialization of the company”. These are among the assertions made on June 23, 2010 when Souza Cescon had the honor of receiving the noted judge and professor, Guilherme Calmon Nogueira da Gama, who spoke on The social function of the company: notion, configuration and practical effects. Dr. Guilherme Calmon Nogueria da Gama is a judge of the Federal Court of Appeal for the Second Region as well as an assistant professor at Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ) and professor in the postgraduate program in law at Gama Filho University in Rio de Janeiro.
Souza Cescon received an important award for its M&A practice. - 09/06/2010
The firm was chosen by Intl Corporate Magazine as "Large-Tier Mergers & Acquisitions Firm of the Year in Brazil". For more information about the award, please visit www.awards.corp-intl.com.
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Souza Cescon leads Thomson Reuters’ ranking in Mergers & Acquisitions for Latin America in 2009-2010 - 12/04/2010
The firm leads the Mergers & Acquisitions ranking published by Thomson Reuters for Brazilian law firms, with transactions involving a total volume of US$ 23.0 billion (R$ 41.4 billion) in the 12 month period ending in March 2010. During this period, the firm participated in 36 M&A reported transactions. Among the most significant are our advice to the Pão de Açúcar Group in the acquisition of Ponto Frio, to Vivendi in the acquisition of GVT, to Shell in the joint venture with Cosan and to Bunge in the sale of its fertilizer division to Vale.
Lecture Celso Lafer - São Paulo, March 26, 2010 - 26/03/2010
"In the OMC, conflicts of interest are easier to deal with than controversies."; "The Doha Round continues to face various difficulties. The OMC needs to be restructured so as to allow the creation of a multilateral trade system for the 21st Century."; and "Foreign policy faces two risks: if underestimated, it can be paralyzing, but if overestimated, it can lead to disaster." On March 26, 2010, Souza Cescon was privileged to welcome Professor Celso Lafer to speak on "the role of the Chair in the multilateral trading system". Prof. Lafer is an attorney and full professor of the Philosophy of Law Department at the University of São Paulo. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Literature, occupying Chair nr. 14. He presides the Research Support Foundation of the State of São Paulo and is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences. He was twice former foreign minister and a former commerce minister. His experience will be of the utmost value in his mission as Chair of the Multilateral Trading System.
Lecture Rolf Madaleno - São Paulo, March 25, 2010 - 25/03/2010
"Disregard for the Separate Legal Personality (piercing the corporate veil) – Engaging in fraud attempts to impinge upon third party rights". On March 25, 2010, Souza Cescon had the pleasure of welcoming Professor Rolf Madaleno to speak on Succession Planning – Disregard for the Separate Legal Personality (piercing the corporate veil). Prof. Madaleno is an attorney and professor of family and succession law. He currently teaches the graduation and post-graduation courses at the law school of the Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUC/RS). His speech addressed the challenges of succession planning under the corporate veil hypothesis and its effects, where fraud can be committed in the organization of succession planning.
Lecture Octavio de Barros - São Paulo December 16, 2009 - 16/12/2009
"Demand in Brazil is a non-problem" and "In the capital market sector, Brazil will face an unprecedented scenario next year, and will witness more private bonds than government bonds". Souza Cescon was priviledged to receive Octavio de Barros and hear these and other phrases during his speech on December 16, 2009 entitled Post crisis Brazil: Learning to deal with success. Octavio de Barros earned his master's degree in economics from the University of Paris I - Sorbonne and a doctoral in economics from the same university in Nanterre. He was a professor at the University of Campinas for eight years and is a former director of economics at FEBRABAN, the Brazilian Federation of Banks. Octavio de Barros is a member of the high committee on economics of FIESP - Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo and chairman of the economics committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in São Paulo. Octavio de Barros presently heads the macroeconomic research area of Banco Bradesco S.A., as chief economist. He has published innumerous articles in Brazil and abroad and has authored "Brasil Globalizado" and the more recent "Brasil Pós-crise: agenda para a próxima década", this last co-authored with Fabio Giambiagi. Octavio de Barros received an additional and well deserved ovation at Souza, Cescon Advogados for having contributed his speech fee to the philantropic entity Associação Civil ANIMA for children.
Souza Cescon tops Thomson Reuters ranking - 07/12/2009
With mergers again the buzz word in Brazil due to the high profile sale of Casas Bahia, Brazilian leadership appears in the ranking of Thomson Reuters of leading law firms in mergers and acquisitions in Latin America up to October. Souza Cescon shone in first place overall, alongside three international offices. The Brazilian law firms acted in transactions equivalent to US$ 2.731 billion in the period. Among the transactions under the responsibility of Souza Cescon, are France's Vivendi acquisition of GVT and CEMIG’s acquisition of energy holding Terna. Read more.
Maria Cristina Cescon is highlighted in the ranking of the Análise Advocacia 2009. - 25/11/2009
A special publication that evaluates the performance of lawyers and offices in several categories, taking into account the work done in 2008.
There is only one woman in the top ten most admired lawyers in Brazil, according to a survey in the 2008-2009 edition of the annual "Análise Advocacia" which will be published later this month. The lawyer most cited in 2865 by industry professionals interviewed in the research was Arnold Wald (from the firm Wald Associados e Advogados). On average, the honorees have 53 years old and carry a career for 27 years. Maria Cristina Cescon (from Souza, Cescon, Barrieu &Flesch) got the 5th place and gives a hint to other professionals who wish to follow his path: "The secret is to have determination and willingness to work. Everything is a question of placing one self - do not feel different to not be treated differently". In her opinion, is only a matter of time before women occupy many important positions as men. "In colleges, is almost equal proportion of males and females, and they already appear as a majority in some areas of law such as corporate."
Lecture Dr. Euclides de Oliveira - October 22, 2009 - 22/10/2009
On October 22, 2009, Souza Cescon was privileged to receive Dr. Euclides de Oliveira who will be speaking on Current Issues of Family and Succession Law: Significant Changes. Dr. Euclides de Oliveira is a specialist and authority on family and succession law. He is a retired judge of the high court of São Paulo and holds a doctor of laws degree from the Law School of the University of São Paulo (USP). He presides the Brazilian Institute of Family and Succession Law (IBDFAM-SP). Dr. Oliveira’s presentation explored the significant changes in family and succession law that have occurred in the period between the introduction of the 1988 Constitution and the new Civil Code that require a restudy of fundamental aspects of this field of law with an unveiled legal effect on equity and in civil and commercial corporations.
Lecture Dr. Sérgio Fausto - São Paulo September 23, 2009 - 23/09/2009
On September 23, 2009, Souza Cescon was priviledged to welcome Sérgio Fausto to speak on Regional Leadership and Global Integration: Challenges for Brazil’s foreign policy. Sérgio Fausto is a foreign affairs specialist and coordinator of studies and debates at the Fernando Henrique Cardoso Institute (iFHC). He is a member of the Group of International Affairs (GACINT-USP) of the University of São Paulo and a columnist of the O Estado de São Paulo newspaper. Sérgio Fausto’s presentation examined current aspects of Latin American and global geopolitics as well as Brazil’s prospects as a market for international investors and as a key global player.
Lecture Dr. Judith Martins-Costa - São Paulo April 23, 2009 - 23/04/2009
“There can’t be contracts without risks. The amount of information is linked to a variation of issues” and “The scope of the crisis was revealed in August 2007. The crisis was not unforecastable; it was published over a spread of five years in the daily news”. These words were those of Prof. Judith Martins-Costa as she delivered her speech on Rights of Contracts and the Economic Crisis on April 23 at the São Paulo office of Souza Cescon. Judith Martins-Costa is an associate professor at the Law School of the Rio Grande do Sul State University and in 2003 received her habilitation degree (livre docente) from the Law of the São Paulo Catholic University (USP). During her speech, Prof. Martins-Costa covered various aspects of rights of contracts and the economic crisis such as derivative contracts, the risks and review or judicial resolution due to excessive supervening impediment or increased burdens. Prof. Martins-Costa was applauded by all at Souza Cescon for her decision to donate her speech fee to the philanthropic society Associação Civil ANIMA. School
Professor Gustavo Tepedino’s lecture on The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis - 20/03/2009
"The crisis has initiated a trend toward more flexible and tailored contractual obligations"and "Contractual review targets personal autonomy more than contractual resolution itself. " These are some of the conclusions taken from Professor Gustavo Tepedino’s lecture on The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis in Contractual Relationships, which took place on March 20 at the Rio de Janeiro office of Souza Cescon. Aspects such as the resolution of excessively burdensome contracts, material adverse change clause, rebus sic stantibus, renegotiation of financing, among others were discussed. Professor Tepedino is the founding partner at Gustavo Tepedino Advogados, a consultant and writer of legal opinions on private law issues. He is the president of the Instituto de Direito Civil, the civil law institute, and is a director of the Revista Trimestral de Direito Civil, a quarterly journal on civil law. Professor Tepedino was also the director of the law school of the University of Rio de Janeiro and was the regional Attorney-General of Brazil. After his lecture, Professor Gustavo Tepedino was paid compliments at Souza, Cescon for having donated his speech fee to the Solar Meninos da Luz charity.
Roberto Abdenur Brazilian Ambassador - 12/03/2009
“Brazil is not party to the crisis, it is a part of the solution. Ethanol and petroleum are decisive points for the country.” His Excellency Mr. Roberto Adbenur made these and other observations during his presentation on March 12 at Souza Cescon. One of the most outstanding names in Brazil’s diplomatic corps, Roberto Abdenur was Brazilian Ambassador in Quito, Beijing, Berlin, Vienna and Washington, DC. He was also the Secretary-General for External Relations (Vice-Foreign Minister) from 1993 to 1995 and in charge of economic and trade matters at the Staff of the Minister of External Relations from 1979 to 1984. He returned to an academic career and is currently a member of the Business Council for Economic Policies at the Commercial Association of Rio de Janeiro. He is also a member of CEBRI, the center for international relations studies and a member of the Consulting Council of CNC, the national commercial confederation. After its lecture, Embaixador Abdenur was paid compliments at Souza Cescon for having donated his speech fee to the Associação Civil Anima.
Souza Cescon participates in a UN-led effort to identify whether and how national corporate law principles and practices currently foster corporate cultures respectful of human rights - 28/01/2009
Souza Cescon participates in a UN-led effort to identify whether and how national corporate law principles and practices currently foster corporate cultures respectful of human rights.
For more information click here.
"Souza Cescon contributes to An Investor - 30/12/2008
In this first publication of its kind, you will find a succinct and objective presentation of the main securities used in the Brazilian structured finance market, including data and market statistics for each one and an exclusive chapter prepared by Souza, Cescon addressing the legal characteristics common to these securities.
