França Ribeiro Advocacia is a Brazilian firm with 36 lawyers, located in São Paulo, and founded in 1951 by Luiz de França Ribeiro. The firm’s success over the past half century is attributed to its commitment to comprehensive, long-term, personal client service.

Since its founding, França Ribeiro Advocacia has focused its practice primarily in corporate law, providing legal assistance in several areas of law affecting Brazilian clients and foreign clients with interests in Brazil. The majority of the firm’s clients are based in Europe, and North America. In addition, the firm has established relationships with attorneys throughout Brazil and with law firms within the Mercosur.

Most França Ribeiro Advocacia attorneys work in several foreign languages.

Capabilities

Corporate Law—França Ribeiro Advocacia has an active corporate law practice, assisting clients in:

Mergers and acquisitions
Spin-offs and takeovers
Shareholders’ agreements
Legal audits prior to acquisitions

The firm has the capabilities to handle the registration and filing of business documentation as well as client defense before official Brazilian agencies, including the Administrative Council of the Economic Defense (CADE), with regard to antitrust legislation.

Commercial Law—The firm has substantial experience in negotiating and drafting the full range of commercial agreements including:

International purchase and sale agreements
Joint venture agreements
Credit guarantees
Distributor and agency agreements
Licensing agreements for the use of trademarks
Technology agreements
Concession agreements in public bid
Leasing and loan agreements

Foreign Investment—The firm plays a prominent role in advising clients regarding structuring business activities in Brazil. França Ribeiro Advocacia attorneys are experienced in implementing the organization of corporate structures, the registration of initial capital, and structuring financial arrangements provided for in Brazilian legislation.
Real Estate—The firm assists clients in a variety of real estate matters, including the purchase and sale of industrial and commercial areas, as well as the formation of condominiums and real estate developments.
Tax Law—The firm’s tax attorneys are particularly attuned to the opportunities created by tax legislation in a constant state of flux. We combine common sense and practical approaches with sophisticated tax planning concepts to meet client objectives. In addition, França Ribeiro Advocacia has experienced tax litigation attorneys who regularly appear before administrative proceedings and judicial claims, whether federal, state or local, in matters involving taxes, levies and charges.
Litigation—The firm’s litigators have handled a significant number of commercial cases and civil litigation. França Ribeiro Advocacia’s approach is to communicate with clients throughout the litigation to meet clients’ financial and legal objectives.
The firm also is experienced in handling litigation related to consumer rights, bankruptcy and debt restructuring as well as lease agreements, termination of agreements, writs of mandamus and the full range of preliminary injunctions.
Labor Law—França Ribeiro Advocacia attorneys work with clients’ Human Resources departments to avoid labor conflicts and to assist in the development of employee profit-sharing plans. In addition to advising clients on current developments in labor legislation, the firm also handles individual labor disputes.
Family and Estate Law—The firm handles trust and estate planning, probate proceedings, and divorce and legal separation suits.
Intellectual and Industrial Property—The França Ribeiro Advocacia intellectual and industrial property practice assists clients in the protection of trademarks, trade names, patents and copyrights, as well as unfair competition, promotion and advertising. The firm has represented clients before the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) in agreements involving technology transfer, licensing of trademarks and patents to Brazilian companies active in the local market, negotiations of franchise agreements and infringement litigation.
Environmental Law—The firm assists clients in negotiations with government agencies responsible for environmental protection, also handling litigation if necessary.

United States contact
Stephen J. Petras, Jr.
International Team Leader
T (216) 861-7862