Latin Lawyer – 15 December 2017
Schmidt, Valois, Miranda, Ferreira & Agel has hired a new partner to lead its corporate and M&A practice, optimistic that the firm will see an increase in oil and gas deals next year.
Eduardo Cirne Lima, 54, joined the firm on 1 December. He becomes the firm’s sixth partner in the practice.
He focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, and initial public offerings.
Rogério Miranda, managing partner of the firm, says an increase in M&A and structured financing work coming from funds investing in energy and natural resources spurred on the hire. “Eduardo’s extensive experience with industry-focused private equity funds will bring extra strength to the team. We believe his arrival is very timely as the workload is expected to grow this coming year,” says Miranda.
Lima was previously managing partner at corporate boutique Azeredo Santos & Cirne Lima Advogados, and also had an in-house role at Graphus investment bank.
Claudia de Azeredo Santos says Lima left on amicable terms, and that the firm will not be looking for a replacement. The firm will now operate under the name Azeredo Santos & Ugatti Peres Advogados.
Schmidt Valois has a strong focus on natural resources and energy. The firm recently helped ExxonMobil purchase a 33% interest in Carcará oil block for US$1.3 billion.
