Pedro Freitas is the Firm's Managing Partner. Mr. Freitas has extensive expertise advising clients on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions and infrastructure issues with exceptional industry knowledge in mining, construction, project finance, energy and natural resources gained from his years as in-house counsel.

Mr. Freitas began his legal career at Veirano Advogados in the Corporate Law practice group. He enhanced his experience working on debt moratoriums and corporate reorganizations in several Latin American countries while working for two years in Chicago at one of the largest global law firms. Shortly thereafter, he was recruited to work at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Washington, D.C. where he advised on project finance, corporate restructuring, and negotiating equity investments around the globe for countries as diverse as Brazil, Kenya, Mexico, South Korea and Hungary. During his tenure at the IFC, Mr. Freitas developed a unique insight into international project finance from the financier's perspective - a perspective that is highly valued by his clients today.

Enticed to return to Brazil, Mr. Freitas brought his significant global experience in project finance and restructuring to the Brazilian market. He served as general counsel at some of Latin America's most recognized companies - Vale, Brazil Telecom and Odebrecht.

Mr. Freitas joined Odebrecht as General Counsel of their construction business where he was involved with regulatory law, public contracts, corporate finance, litigation strategic litigation and criminal law. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Portuguese and German subsidiaries of the company's construction businesses. After six years, Mr. Freitas moved to the public concessions division of Odebrecht in charge pf public private partnerships where he worked as legal counsel for the project developer and served as Director for project companies., deepening his knowledge of deal financing.

Brazil Telecomm recruited Mr. Freitas to serve as their General Counsel just as the Brazilian telecomm industry was undergoing privatization and consolidating nine state entities into one national company. He was responsible for innovations to the legal department for the new organization, establishing legal policies, developing a consumer practice and overseeing regulatory issues. For a brief period (6 months) Mr. Freitas also served as the company's Human Resources Director. Mr. Freitas served as Secretary to the Board and worked in a number of acquisitions, gaining significant experience with challenges that in-house counsel face daily - a perspective that he employs when advising current clients.

Joining Vale as Global General Counsel, Mr. Freitas also served as Secretary to the Board. He managed a legal department of more than 120 international lawyers and quickly became an expert in mining law, including the transportation of raw materials. He also served as Director for related companies While at Vale, Mr. Freitas oversaw several acquisitions in Brazil, Australia and Canada, and the establishment of a subsidiary in the Middle East. He was also closely involved with the company's investments in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Columbia and Mozambique.

Returning to Veirano Advogados in 2009, Mr. Freitas continues to provide counsel to many of Brazil's top companies and major global corporations. He is a highly sought-after international expert, bringing a global view of doing business in Brazil and a solution-based focus that is highly valued by in-house counsel, senior corporate executives and their boards due to his knowledge of the reality of life in corporate legal departments and the challenges faced by corporations with stakeholders.

Mr. Freitas is a founding member, Vice-Chairman and President of Instituto Innovare, a non-political organization dedicated to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the Brazilian judicial system. He recently addressed the UK House of Lords on behalf of Innovare on the occasion of the launch of an International Bar Association publication focused on the reformation of the Brazilian legal system entitled Another System is Possible: Reforming Brazilian Justice, edited by Conor Foley, November 2012.

Education
MBA in Telecommunications
Thunderbird

Course on Financial Transactions
London Business School

Post Graduation in Corporate Law (Strictu Sensu)
FGV-Rio de Janeiro and Loyola University (Chicago)

LL.B (1979)
University of the State of Rio de Janeiro Law School

Significant Accomplishments
Speaker at several different International Bar Association conferences (topics associated with mining, construction, company acquisition and management of legal departments and contracts); Union Internationale des Avocats (topics related to Public-Private Partnerships); International Chamber of Commerce (arbitration).

Professional Associations

• International Bar Association
  

Chambers of Commerce and Associations
- valAmerican Chamber of Commerce (Amcham-RJ) - Arbitration;
- British Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Brazil (Britcham) - Mining;
- Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce - Mining;
- Brazil-China Business Council - Director;
- Board member of CESA - Centro de Estudos de Sociedades de Advogados-RJ;
- International Bar Association (IBA): African Regional Forum, Asia Pacific Regional Forum, Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, HRI - Human Rights Institute, IBAHRI Charitable Trust, International Construction Projects Committee, Latin American Regional Forum, Mining Law Committee, Corporate Counsel Forum;
- Vice-Chairman and President of Instituto Innovare, a non-political organization dedicated to promote a more speedy and efficient Judiciary in Brazil;
- Member of Board of Directors of American School of Rio de Janeiro;
- Member of the Board of Directors of Renuka S/A
- Member of The Board of Directors of Vale do Ivai s/a; and
- Deutsch-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK).

Seminars/ Presentation
Speaker at several different International Bar Association conferences (topics associated with mining, construction, company acquisition and management of legal departments and contracts); Union Internationale des Avocats (topics related to Public-Private Partnerships); International Chamber of Commerce (arbitration).

Pedro Freitas is co-author of the article TheSporting Chance, published in the Brazil chapter of The 2010 guide to Energy and Project Finance, a supplement to the International Financial Law Review. The article provides an overview of investment opportunities in Brazil in the areas of energy and infrastructure with the advent of the Olympics and World Cup. To read the full article, click here.