Real Estate
Pioneering Ideas, Exploring Possibilities

International interest and fresh capital are revitalizing Brazil’s real estate industry. Local developers are getting listed in the Bovespa and New York exchanges and expanding nationally. Better financing for the housing sector has increased demand.

While the industry is surging forward, the law is still catching up. Other markets provide title insurance, encourage limiting indemnities in agent relationships and outline specific regulations on retail space leasing. Under Brazilian law, certain terms of cross-border agreements are restricted, and some real estate activities are not contemplated at all. 

At Trench, Rossi e Watanabe, we can help you apply more sophisticated methods of owning, exploiting and developing real estate assets within Brazil’s legal framework. Through our Baker & McKenzie network, we transfer knowledge and best practice between our more than 230 lawyers who focus on real estate. We can structure your agreements in ways that preserve and promote your rights and decrease your liabilities.

How We Can Help

• Acquisitions, dispositions and exchanges – We help you buy and sell commercial property across the country and register your assets with the relevant Brazilian Real Estate Registry.
• Commercial leasing – We represent both landlords and tenants in lease negotiations and commercial activity.
• Development and construction law – We advise on the construction and development of all types of projects and see them through to completion.
• Disputes – We can represent you in complex litigation and arbitration involving real estate, creditors’ rights and environmental and permitting matters in federal and state courts throughout Brazil.
• Environmental counseling – We help you assess environmental risks, comply with Brazil’s National Environmental Policy and obtain applicable permits for your real estate project.
• Hotels, resorts and shopping malls – We advise on the development and management of hotels, resorts, shopping malls, theme parks and timeshare projects in Brazil.
• Mortgage-backed securities – We represent issuers, underwriters, sellers, banks and rating agencies in the securitization of various types of real estate assets.
• Public and private funds – We counsel on the formation and operation of public and private funds investing in Brazilian real estate.
• Tax – We structure  corporate and asset acquisitions, disposals and reconstructions to minimize tax exposure at both the state and federal levels.