Lautenschlager, Romeiro e Iwamizu Advogados (LRI Advogados) law firm is committed to building a relationship of trust and partnership with its clients, offering quality legal advice to both domestic and foreign companies, based specially in Americas, Europe and Asia. The most valuable asset of LRI Advogados is its long-standing client relationships, which the firm’s Gilberto de Castro Moreira Junior says is based on both trust and cooperation, in a probing interview.Lautenschlager, Romeiro e Iwamizu Advogados (LRI Advogados) law firm is committed to building a relationship of trust and partnership with its clients, offering quality legal advice to both domestic and foreign companies, based specially in Americas, Europe and Asia. The most valuable asset of LRI Advogados is its long-standing client relationships, which the firm’s Gilberto de Castro Moreira Junior says is based on both trust and cooperation, in a probing interview.
First of all, can you tell us about what your company does? Operating primarily in Sao Paulo since 2005, the firm seeks to meet the needs of its clients across the Brazilian states, by establishing associations with professionals that share the same work philosophy. The firm also has a broad network of reliable collaborators, such as professionals who specialise in obtaining visas for foreigners, accountants, auditors, translators, experts, engineers and agronomists.
Our firm provides legal consulting services related to a wide range of areas of law. Concerning tax matters, we offer tax consultancy services, tax planning, instruments for obtaining tax incentives and special taxation treatment, obtaining and consultancy regarding installment payment. We also provide the formal consultation of tax authorities on the interpretation of tax regulations, and follow up of developments in proposed bills of law and tax legislation, analysis, calculation and collection of social security contributions and, finally, administrative dispute and court litigation in general.
Our professionals are also highly prepared to act in a globalised environment, thanks to their international and multicultural experience, which is one of our best advantages. Furthermore, given its optimised structure, our firm is also able to deliver appropriate legal solutions based on an adequate cost arrangement. We deem vital to perfectly know the business and the needs of our client and provide him with all necessary information to ensure the best deals to our clients.
The firm is a member of the Law Exchange International Association, which is an international association of law firms that serve clients doing business in major commercial markets across the globe: it aims at providing a comprehensive and seamless web of legal services to clients. Just as client demands increase worldwide, member response and service will be able to meet these quickly and efficiently, ensuring that the association can support the global marketplace.
What is your own role in the company as an advisor? What areas do you specialise in? I am a managing partner and the head of the tax department of LRI Advogados. My practice is focused on tax law (litigation, advisory and planning). I hold a JD degree from the University of São Paulo and a PhD degree in economic and financial law from the University of São Paulo.
I am also an arbitrator of the EUROCHAMBRES’ Mediation and Arbitration Chamber (CAE), a member of the Tax Litigation Committee of the São Paulo Bar Association, the Brazilian Institute of Tax Law (IBDT), the Scientific Council of the Tax Law Association of São Paulo (APET), the International Association of Tax Judges (IATJ) and I am a sitting member of the Lawyers’ Institute of São Paulo (IASP). I am also the author of the book ‘Bitributação Internacional e Elementos de Conexão’ (International Double Taxation and Connection Elements); coordinator and co-author of the books ‘Direito Tributário Internacional’ (International Tax Law) and ‘PIS e COFINS à luz da jurisprudência do CARF’ (volumes 1, 2 and 3) (PIS and COFINS taxes under the CARF precedents). In total, I have co-authored 21 books and authored several articles addressing tax matters.
What important behind the scenes work do advisors such as yourselves carry out? Brazil is the largest country in Latin America region and has a huge market to be developed. Even if we are used to assist different kinds of investors, it is a big challenge to familiarise their activitiesirst of all, can you tell us about what your company does? Operating primarily in Sao Paulo since 2005, the firm seeks to meet the needs of its clients across the Brazilian states, by establishing associations with professionals that share the same work philosophy. The firm also has a broad network of reliable collaborators, such as professionals who specialise in obtaining visas for foreigners, accountants, auditors, translators, experts, engineers and agronomists.
Our firm provides legal consulting services related to a wide range of areas of law. Concerning tax matters, we offer tax consultancy services, tax planning, instruments for obtaining tax incentives and special taxation treatment, obtaining and consultancy regarding installment payment. We also provide the formal consultation of tax authorities on the interpretation of tax regulations, and follow up of developments in proposed bills of law and tax legislation, analysis, calculation and collection of social security contributions and, finally, administrative dispute and court litigation in general.
Our professionals are also highly prepared to act in a globalised environment, thanks to their international and multicultural experience, which is one of our best advantages. Furthermore, given its optimised structure, our firm is also able to deliver appropriate legal solutions based on an adequate cost arrangement. We deem vital to perfectly know the business and the needs of our client and provide him with all necessary information to ensure the best deals to our clients.
The firm is a member of the Law Exchange International Association, which is an international association of law firms that serve clients doing business in major commercial markets across the globe: it aims at providing a comprehensive and seamless web of legal services to clients. Just as client demands increase worldwide, member response and service will be able to meet these quickly and efficiently, ensuring that the association can support the global marketplace.
What is your own role in the company as an advisor? What areas do you specialise in? I am a managing partner and the head of the tax department of LRI Advogados. My practice is focused on tax law (litigation, advisory and planning). I hold a JD degree from the University of São Paulo and a PhD degree in economic and financial law from the University of São Paulo.
I am also an arbitrator of the EUROCHAMBRES’ Mediation and Arbitration Chamber (CAE), a member of the Tax Litigation Committee of the São Paulo Bar Association, the Brazilian Institute of Tax Law (IBDT), the Scientific Council of the Tax Law Association of São Paulo (APET), the International Association of Tax Judges (IATJ) and I am a sitting member of the Lawyers’ Institute of São Paulo (IASP). I am also the author of the book ‘Bitributação Internacional e Elementos de Conexão’ (International Double Taxation and Connection Elements); coordinator and co-author of the books ‘Direito Tributário Internacional’ (International Tax Law) and ‘PIS e COFINS à luz da jurisprudência do CARF’ (volumes 1, 2 and 3) (PIS and COFINS taxes under the CARF precedents). In total, I have co-authored 21 books and authored several articles addressing tax matters.
What important behind the scenes work do advisors such as yourselves carry out? Brazil is the largest country in Latin America region and has a huge market to be developed. Even if we are used to assist different kinds of investors, it is a big challenge to familiarise their activities to the Brazilian law, because our law system can be really difficult to ascertain. Given our structure, oriented towards international business, we have been involved in various deals and transactions in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) industry that involve due diligences and tax planning. We also support our clients with legal opinions and tax advisory in inbound and outbound matters and, when necessary, in administrative and judicial litigation.
Do you have any plans for the future that you would like to share with our readers? The goal of the firm is always to enhance and improve the service we deliver for our clients. We intend to expand the tax department in the coming years, in addition to qualifying our professionals in new business segments arising from the technological development that the world will experience in the future.
It is important to mention that I was also nominated for the Tax Controversy Leaders (2015 and 2016) of the International Tax Review (England). Such awards prove that our firm is also recognised and capable to conduct not only tax advisory issues, but also tax litigation matters.to the Brazilian law, because our law system can be really difficult to ascertain. Given our structure, oriented towards international business, we have been involved in various deals and transactions in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) industry that involve due diligences and tax planning. We also support our clients with legal opinions and tax advisory in inbound and outbound matters and, when necessary, in administrative and judicial litigation.
Do you have any plans for the future that you would like to share with our readers? The goal of the firm is always to enhance and improve the service we deliver for our clients. We intend to expand the tax department in the coming years, in addition to qualifying our professionals in new business segments arising from the technological development that the world will experience in the future.
It is important to mention that I was also nominated for the Tax Controversy Leaders (2015 and 2016) of the International Tax Review (England). Such awards prove that our firm is also recognised and capable to conduct not only tax advisory issues, but also tax litigation matters.
Company: Lautenschlager, Romeiro e Iwamizu Advogados (LRI Advogados)
Name: Gilberto de Castro Moreira Junior
Email: gcm@lrilaw.com.br
Web: www.lrilaw.com.br
Address: Av. Paulista 1.842 – 22° Andar – Torre Norte, São Paulo – SP 01310-200 Brazil
Phone: +55 11 2126 4600
