Silvia Fazio
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright US Consultores em Direito Estrangeiro
Norton Rose Fulbright US Consultores em Direito Estrangeiro
Related services and key industries
Biography
Silvia Fazio is a partner in the firm´s São Paulo office and head of the firm´s Brazil Desk in our London office. Ms Fazio specializes in cross-border investments with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and financings. She brings almost 20 years of cross-border corporate and finance experience to the firm, acting regularly for major Brazilian corporations. She represents financial institutions, public and private companies, and private equity funds in a broad range of corporate transactions.
She has published extensively on harmonization of corporate and finance standards. She recently ideated and edited a book on investments in Brazil, "Brazilian Commercial Law: A Practical Guide", (2013), (2015, second ed.)Wolters Kluwer. Written by 37 leading Brazilian practitioners, the book is the first of its kind in English language. Silvia co-authored the chapter on Private Equity, Venture Capital and Investment Funds in Brazil. Ms. Fazio has been recognized as a leading lawyer in several industry publications, including Chambers Global and Legal 500. Chambers wrote, "Silvia Fazio plays a central role in international work....advising on an array of cross-border transactions. She is admitted to practice in Brazil and attracts mandates from leading clients such as Banco do Brazil and Latam Airlines." Prior to joining us, Ms. Fazio was a partner at a UK law firm where as head of International (Legal), she established its Brazilian and Italian desks.
Ms Fazio is founder and chairperson of leading non-profit organization Women in Leadership in Latin America (WILL).
Professional experience
Collapse allPh.D, International Corporate and Financial Law, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, 2006
Master's in European Union Law and Conflicts Law, University of Bologna, Italy, 1998
LLM, first class honors, University of Heidelberg, Germany, 1996
LLB, first class honors, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 1994
- Brazil Bar
- Milan Bar
- Portuguese Bar
- Law Society of England and Wales
- Advised Equatorial Energia SA in a successful bid to purchase the entire issued share capital of one of the largest renewable energy companies in Brazil Echoenergia Participações SA from Ipiranga Fundo de Investimento em Participações Multiestratégia, a fund owned by Actis LLP (value of the transaction US$1.8 Billion)
- Advised Bemobi Tech S.A. on its agreement to purchase Zonamovil Inc (Tiaxa) business in Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Philippines and Hong Kong. (value of the transaction US$38 Million)
- Acted for insurers Liberty GTS, the seller´s W&I insurers on the sale of Oro Agro Brazilian and Portuguese operations to European Crops Products 2 SARL
- Advised Louis Dreyfus Company (leading the Brazilian team) on the sale of a 45 percent stake in the group to Abu Dhabi state-owned holding company ADQ
- Advised Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited (leading the LATAM team) on its agreement to purchase Nufarm Limited´s crop protection business in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile. The deal is valued AUD$1.118 billion (on a net debt, net cash basis) and includes a two year supply agreement and a transitional services agreement.
- Acted for Energizer (leading the Brazil team) on the acquisition of the global battery business of Sprectrum brands. Value of the transaction aprox. US$ 2billion.
- Acted for Vale in the sale of its 90% stake in Sociedad Contractual Minera Tres Valles (Tres Valles) - a copper mine to inversiones Porto San Giorgio S.A (ISG) – a company controlled by the Chilean group Vecchiola S.A Value of the transaction: US$25MM.
- Acted for insurers Euclid International Ltd, the buyer´s W&I insurers on the acquisition of Cell site Solutions Cessão de Infrastructures S.A. from Goldman Sachs, Gamma Leonis LLC.
- Acted for Phenom Capital on the acquisition of a majority stake at Fasano Hotel and Villas Trancoso. Value of transactions US$ 20 million.
- Advised Banco do Brasil S.A. in relation to a US$ 75 Million export finance guarantee and counterguarantee regarding export of producs and services of Avibras Industria Aerospacial S.A. to The Government of the Republic of Indonesia
- Advised BB Securities Ltd on the review of a US$45 million custody agreement and drafting of indemnity agreement for transfer of custody of Notes held for IRB – Brasil Resseguros S.A
- Advised Banco do Brasil S.A., London Branch in its capacity of account bank in relation to a proposed US$ 150 million note programme to finance Asgaard Navegação S/A, a Brazilian navigation company.
- Advised BB Securities Ltd ("BB Securities"), a UK subsidiary of Banco do Brasil S.A. on an agreement and general terms for sharing US$100 million collateral between BB Securities and Banco do Brasil S.A. (Grand Cayman branch) in relation to a collateral agreement signed between Euroclear Bank SA/NV (formerly Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York) and Banco do Brasil S.A. (Grand Cayman branch).
- Represented Banco do Brasil S.A. Grand Cayman (as the borrower) in relation to a R$500 million bilateral facility provided by Goldman Sachs Bank USA (as lender, sole arranger and administrative agent) and Goldman Sachs do Brasil Banco Multiplo S.A., as collateral agent.
- Advised Banco do Brasil S.A. in respect of the acquisition of a secondary facility agreement valued at USD750 million in favor of a leading Brazilian mobile telecom company.
- Advised Banco do Brasil S.A. in respect of the acquisition of a secondary facility agreement valued at USD140 million in favor of a leading Indian steel manufacturer.
- Advised Banco do Brasil, London branch in connection with the purchase of debt in the secondary market under two Term and Revolving Facilities Agreements for US$1,2 billion and US$875 million respectively, where the borrowers were Trafigura Beheer B.V. and Trafigura Pte Ltd.
- Advised Banco do Brasil, London branch in connection with the purchase of debt in the secondary market under a Term and Revolving Facilities Agreement up to EUR2,3 billion where the borrower was PPF Arena 2 B.V.
- Advised Brazilian Development Bank ('BNDES") on and investment of £50 million year floating rate Credit-Linked Notes (linked to Vale S.A.), issued by Goldman Sachs
- Advised a major Eastern European steel manufacturer in a €50 million financing arrangement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
- Chambers Latin America, Brazil: Banking and Finance, Chambers & Partners, 2017 – 2019
- Chambers Global, Leading expert for Corporate/M&A - Publication commented, "She is praised for providing a key to the Brazilian Market," Chambers & Partners, 2012 – 2018
- One of the "Top 100 Female Lawyers in Latin America," Latinvex, 2016 – 2022
- Leading lawyer, Citywealth Leaders List, 2011 and 2012
- Law Society's Excellence Award for International Legal Services, 2011
- Legal 500 Latin America M&A 2022 - recommended lawyer
- Legal 500 Latin America, Recommended lawyer, International firms: Corporate and M&A, The Legal 500, 2023
- Legal 500 Latin America, Recommended Lawyer, International firms: Banking and Finance, The Legal 500, 2007 – 2022
- The publication commented: "Silvia Fazio merits praise for her international corporate insight."
- The Best Lawyers in Brazil, Corporate and M&A Law, Best Lawyers, 2020 – 2023
Ms. Fazio, in addition to writing and contributing to a number of publications, has also recently edited a major new publication with contributions from all of the leading Brazilian law firms.
- "Encouraging firms to seek out black female talent in Brazil," The Banker, September 30, 2020
- "Road to Riches: Banking Services for Women," The Banker, June 2014
- "Latin America: The Challenges for Female Lawyers," Latinvex, July 2014
- "Top Female Lawyers: Q&A On Challenges," Latinvex, July 2014
- Editor, "Brazilian Commercial Law- A Practical Guide," Kluwer Law International, 2013
- "Corporate Governance Standards in Brazil: Is the Country Winning the Confidence of International Investors?," Corporate Practice NewsWire, April 2013
- "International Issues for Brazilian Clients," Westlaw, P.B.C.,178-180 pp., 2012
- "Public procurement in Brazil: the next best thing?," Newsletter of the International Bar Association Legal Practice Division No. 29, June 2012
- "Corporate Governance, Accountability and Emerging Economies," The Company Lawyer, Vol. 29, No.4, Sweet & Maxwell, 2008
- "The Harmonization of International Commercial Law," Kluwer Law International, January 2007
- "International Commercial Agreements in the EU and Mercosul," LTR, 1998
- "Fusões e aquisições no contexto internacional - A prática brasileira nas operações transfronteiriças," Revista do Advogado, No. 158, Julho 2023
- "Women and Corporate Equality Strategies," Consejo Empresarial de America Latina, São Paulo, Brazil, July 31, 2014
- "Wealth Protection Roundtable – Tax, Trust and Estate Planning: How can intermediaries in the legal, accounting and trust and estate planning world most effectively protect and preserve private wealth in Brazil?”," Private Wealth Brazil Forum, São Paulo - SP, Brazil, May 13, 2014
- "WILL Brazil Launch," São Paulo, Brazil, April 10, 2014
- "Corporate Matters: Getting the Deal Done - Understanding Your Commercial Partner," HKIAC in the Americas - Series 2: Demystifying Asia: Making Deals and Managing Risks, São Paulo, Brazil, June 21, 2013
- "Global Asset Management Strategies," Brazil Private Wealth Forum 2013, São Paulo, Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil, June 11, 2013
- "Brazilian Commercial Law: A Practical Guide Launch Tour in São Paulo," São Paulo, Brazil, March 11, 2013
- "Brazilian Commercial Law: A Practical Guide Launch Tour in New York," New York, NY, March 7, 2013
- "Brazilian Commercial Law: A Practical Guide Launch Tour in London," London, UK, March 5, 2013
- "Corporate Governance in Brazil," 22nd Cambridge Symposium on Economic Crime, Cambridge, England, September 2007
- French
- German
- Italian
- Portuguese
- Spanish
Insights
Doing Business in Brazil: Guidelines for foreign investment
Publication | April 08, 2024
Construction Law Insights
Publication | 2022
The DOJ establishes a tip line for Central America's Northern Triangle
Publication | October 20, 2021