Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP announced today that corporate lawyer J. Mathias von Bernuth has joined the firm as a partner in its São Paulo office.
Mr. von Bernuth joins Skadden from another global law firm, where he was a corporate partner in São Paulo. He focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets matters, providing New York law advice to clients in connection with cross-border deals as well as registered and private securities and financing transactions. He has extensive experience across a broad range of industries, including energy, oil and gas, telecommunications, financial services, real estate, manufacturing and retail.
In 2012, among other matters, Mr. von Bernuth represented Equatorial Energia S.A. on the international aspects of its acquisition out of bankruptcy of a majority interest in Centrais Elétricas do Pará-CELPA from Rede Energia S.A. He also represented the underwriters in the $2 billion IPO of BTG Pactual S.A., the first IPO by a Brazil-based investment bank.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mathias to our Latin American team,” said Paul T. Schnell, chair of Skadden’s Latin America practice. “Latin America has a great future and we remain committed as a firm to our long-standing strategic plan of expanding in the region.”
Richard S. Aldrich, Jr., head of the firm’s São Paulo office, added, “Paul and I, along with two other members of our Brazil team, Michael Civale and Filipe Areno, have gotten to know Mathias well from our experience working with him. Mathias’ M&A and capital markets experience is a perfect complement to our existing capabilities in Latin America. Mathias will be a tremendous on-the-ground resource for our clients as we continue to expand our work in the region.”
Skadden has had a dedicated Latin America practice for more than 20 years and was one of the first international firms to open an office in São Paulo. For the past two years, Skadden has led the M&A league tables for Latin America. Skadden also was named Corporate/M&A Firm of the Year for International Counsel in Latin America at the ChambersLatin America Awards for Excellence in 2011.
In addition to its M&A and capital markets work, Skadden has established leading practices throughout the region in a wide range of areas, including private equity, bank finance, project finance, arbitration, litigation and governmental proceedings and investigations.
“Skadden’s reputation for handling the most high-profile and complex transactions throughout Latin America is unmatched,” said Mr. von Bernuth. “The firm has tremendous capabilities around the globe and I am excited about the opportunity to work with such a talented group of lawyers.”
Mr. von Bernuth, who is a native German and English speaker and is fluent in Portuguese, began his career at a leading German law firm, then went on to work at a prestigious global law firm in New York. An LL.M. graduate of Columbia University School of Law, Mr. von Bernuth also holds a Dr. jur. from the University of Munich.
