World Services Group (WSG) Congratulates Member Ronaldo Veirano, Founding Partner at Veirano Advogados, on Receiving Latin Lawyer’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award

August, 2019 - United States of America

Ronaldo Veirano, Founding Partner at Veirano Advogados, was recently honored with Latin Lawyer’s prestigious 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award. As an esteemed member of Brazil’s legal community, Mr. Veirano has built the firm he founded into one of the market’s leading institutions, with over 270 lawyers and offices in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and two supporting outposts in Porto Alegre and Brasília.

Mr. Veirano began his law career over 50 years ago in the corporate department of Baker McKenzie’s São Paulo office, where he excelled at handling deals involving U.S. clients in Brazil. After several years in his role with the firm, Mr. Veirano then followed his desire to gain further experience working in the U.S. and accepted a position as international counsel at The Kendall Company, a textile manufacturer headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

During his time at The Kendall Company, Mr. Veirano was given a high level of responsibility where he oversaw the company’s Latin American operations as well as Kendall subsidiaries located in civil law jurisdictions. He also attended night classes at Suffolk University and obtained his Juris Doctor degree.

Mr. Veirano continued to keep in touch with several of his former Baker McKenzie colleagues throughout the years. In 1971, he made the decision to return to private practice and accepted a partner position at Baker McKenzie’s Chicago, Illinois office. Shortly after time spent in this role, he was asked to move back to Brazil in a managing partner role and assist with opening a new office in Rio de Janiero.

Mr. Veirano spent almost 25 years at the Baker McKenzie Rio office, establishing it as a leader in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and foreign direct investments, primarily working with foreign clientele. The firm gradually added litigation, labor, intellectual properties and energy practices to complement its transactional work.

During his time there, Brazil’s military dictatorship ended, and the government began to allow foreign companies to enter the country for oil and gas exploration. This economic boost, in addition to growing rivalry between the Baker McKenzie offices, prompted Mr. Veirano to take a leap of faith and open his own firm in 1996 in Rio de Janiero. A São Paulo office was also opened that same year. These two main offices are supported by two outpost offices -- one in Porto Alegre which opened 1997 and the other in Brasíia which opened in 2000.

The firm continued to thrive and represent large clients such as a Shell subsidiary that discovered an offshore gas field near São Paulo, giving the Veirano Advogados the opportunity to become the go-to firm for contract negotiation, development and exploration contracts for both public and private entities. Later, the firm was hired to negotiate the terms of the multi-billion-dollar Bolivia-Brazil pipeline – the longest pipeline in South America.

“I’m proud of the kind of firm we have created, one that has a positive work environment and is democratic, transparent and distributes profits equitably,” Mr. Veirano said. He also speaks highly of his colleagues and says that he owes many of his accomplishments to them. “I have always surrounded myself with people who are better than myself, and the chance of succeeding is very high when you do that.”

His prolific career extends beyond the legal sphere. Veirano’s other accomplishments include holding an Order of Rio Branco, a decoration that recognizes the achievements of individuals that have significantly contributed to the promotion of Brazil’s relations with the world; and being the Honorary Consul of Australia for Rio de Janeiro since 2000, where he works to facilitate business for Australian companies in Brazil and vice versa.

Mr. Veirano remains chairman of the firm’s board but has recently taken a more hands-off role. While he still practices, his primary role now is bringing in new clients. In speaking about the firm’s retirement policy, an exception was made for Mr. Veirano to continue working, but he said, “I trust that as soon as I stop getting results, they will tell me so.”

Once again, congratulations to Ronaldo Veirano on this momentous occasion and WSG thanks his firm, Veirano Advogados, for exhibiting the highest standard of quality and adding significant value to the organization.

ABOUT WORLD SERVICES GROUP
World Services Group (WSG) is the globally recognized resource for professionals and their clients to receive the highest quality, value and service from legal, investment banking and accounting services. Formed upon a unique approach to legal networks, WSG developed the idea that the premier independent law firm needed a more expansive and efficient global approach within the industry. The integration of knowledge, expertise and client service providers from the investment banking and accounting professions create better opportunities for providers and clients alike. Through innovative access and technology, WSG offers members and clients immediate access to prospects, information and leading experts with a known record of superior quality service.

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