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Bruno Soares

Partner
Office Managing Partner, São Paulo
About

Bruno has more than 20 years’ working experience in Latin America and Africa relating to a variety of transactions including banking, projects, M&A and capital markets – particularly on the energy, natural resources, infrastructure, and data/fintech sectors.

Bar admissions / Professional QualificationsNew YorkBrazil

EXPERIENCE

  • Represented clients in the development and US$3.1 billion project financing of an integrated steel mill in the State of Ceará, Brazil, including on its various bridge and equity loans and EPC contracts.
  • Represented clients in the acquisition, financing and refinancing (through a project financing) of an iron ore mine and associated rail and port facilities in Brazil.
  • Represented a number of banks, borrowers and sponsors in over 80 structured financing facilities for Brazilian and Latin American soft commodities, metals and mining, and petrochemicals producers relating to exports of soybeans, cotton lint, corn, beef & poultry, pulp & paper, cotton lint, processed tobacco, alcohol, sugar, ethanol and other commodities.
  • Represented one of the world’s largest iron ore mining companies in the review and re-negotiation with strategic customers of its iron ore and coal supply / sale and purchase agreements.
  • Represented a syndicate of Asian and Western commercial banks in the acquisition, financing and refinancing (through a project financing) of a US$3.1 billion hydroelectric power plant in Peru.
  • Represented a syndicate of banks in the restructuring of the post-delivery long-term financing of an offshore drilling rig, including its security package in the eight jurisdictions involved in the original financing and the final negotiations of the financing payoff.
  • Represented clients in the acquisition and US$500 million financing of a fiber optic submarine cable company and related infrastructure with operations in over 10 jurisdictions within the Americas.
  • Represented the largest Latin American credit and debit card processing company in the contractual framework with a U.S. multinational technology company to launch their payment platform in Brazil and allow for cash payments and transfers to be made via their instant messaging application globally. This transformational transaction marks the first time a payment platform was available in Latin America and cash payments and transfers could be made via an instant messaging application globally, it was also a first-of-its-kind product and platform in Brazil.
  • Represented one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared telecommunications infrastructure in the world by tower count, in the acquisition of a Brazilian-headquartered cell tower infrastructure solutions provider over 2,000 cell towers in operation in Brazil, Peru and Colombia.
  • Represented one of the world’s largest iron ore mining companies in various corporate and M&A transactions globally including acquisitions, business combinations and/or dispositions.
  • Acted for a leading Brazilian beef producer, in its USD565m acquisition of a beef business and its confined cattle feeding ranch in the US.
Languages
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish
  • English
  • German
Education

    AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

    LACCA Approved, 2024

    • Banking & Finance

    Chambers Latin America

    • Band 4, International Counsel Project Finance (2022)
    • Band 4, International Counsel Banking & Finance (2022)
    • Band 3, Brazil Banking & Finance (2017-2018)
    • Band 4, Latin America-wide Banking & Finance (2016-2021)
    • Band 4, Latin America-wide Projects (2016-2020)
    Additional Awards
    • Named, Top 100 Lawyers in Latin America for Banking & Finance and Project Finance, Latinvex (2020-2021)
    • Projects and banking & finance, Chambers Latin America (2018-2019, 2021-2022)
    • Projects and banking & finance, Legal 500 (2017-2019)
    • Ranked, Notable Practitioner, IFLR1000 (2019)

    Pro Bono

    Bruno works with several charities and organizations in Brazil on a regular basis. 

    Media Mentions

    Prior Experience

    • Large AmLaw 100 International Firm, New York, NY, USA and São Paulo, SP, Brazil
      Partner, São Paulo May 2010 to October 2023
      Senior Counsel, São Paulo Jan. 2008 to Apr. 2010
      Associate, New York Jun. 2006 to Dec. 2007
    • Large AmLaw 100 International Firm, USA, New York, USA
      Latin America Counsel Jul. 2005 to May 2006
    • Large AmLaw 100 International Firm, New York, NY, USA
      International Associate Aug. 2003 to Jul. 2005
    • Large Brazilian Firm, São Paulo, Brazil
      Senior Associate Oct. 2001 to Jun. 2002
    • Large Brazilian Firm, São Paulo, Brazil
      Senior Associate Apr. 2001 to Oct. 2001
    • Large Brazilian Conglomerate, São Paulo, Brazil
      In House Counsel Mar. 1997 to Apr. 2001

    *Services in São Paulo are provided by DLA Piper LLP (US) Consultores Em Direito Estrangeiro / Direito Norte-Americano, a Brazilian foreign legal consultancy with a registered office in the in the City of São Paulo.

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