CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre Mercosur has a renowned General Corporate Practice Group that services major international and domestic companies, as well as small and medium sized firms and individuals.

The Corporate Department offers all-inclusive legal and tax services to foreign investors, based or represented in the Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), as well as local companies. It has an extensive knowledge of the commercial realities of doing business, and of the corresponding business law framework, in various jurisdictions within and beyond the Mercosur and is at the forefront of foreign investment by international companies in the Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay).

We have also built up a speciality in relation to providing advice on the legislation and regulation governing the free trade zones in the Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) and the repercussions on domestic and foreign commercial activity of operating in such areas.

The General Corporate Practice Group also advises on immigration/migration, customs, intellectual property and technology matters, and other factors inherent to setting up a business in the Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay).

“The Group is supported by other specialised Practice Groups, in the context of complex corporate transactions of a regional or an international order, such as the Tax, Employment, Real Estate & Construction, Insolvency & Corporate Restructuring, Banking, Finance & Capital Markets Practice Groups.

Our Corporate Practice also encompasses specialised Joint Venture and Mergers & Acquisitions Practices.”

Our Approach

The General Corporate Department assists with the following in the Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay):

• Advice on doing business;
• Assistance with setting up a legal presence;
• Counsel in relation to foreign investment, including applicable tax, customs, employment, real estate and immigration/migration issues;
• Specialist assistance with respect to day-to-day company activity and strategy;
• Company secretarial and representation;
• Carrying out filings before the relevant Trade and Companies Registry (e.g. Inspección General de Justicia, Dirección de Personas Jurídicas, Junta Commercial of Sao Paulo, Auditoria General de la Nación, etc.);
• Assistance with shareholders’ and directors’ meetings and drafting of necessary documentation, including proxies, notices and minutes.