Thais Obrist

Thais Obrist

Senior Associate  |  MLL Legal
JURISDICTION

TOP SPECIALISMS

Charitable Planning and Philanthropy

Immigration

Tax Advisory

Office Location

Switzerland

Short Biography

I am a Brazilian lawyer and Swiss tax adviser member of the Private Clients team at MLL Legal. My practice focuses on tax and wealth planning for Swiss and foreign private clients, in particular for clients from Latin America. Before joining MLL Legal, I worked for a leading law firm in São Paulo.

What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?

Hiltl - the world's oldest vegetarian restaurant

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

To set clear priorities and focus on them

What was your first job?

Babysitter

What is the book you recommend to everyone?

One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez

What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?

I am curious to see the changes that will result from the integration of new technologies into our practice


Robin Rathmell

Robin Rathmell

Partner  |  Kasowitz Benson Torres
JURISDICTION

TOP SPECIALISMS

Dispute Resolution or Arbitration

Reputation and Crisis Management

Trusts: Contentious

Office Location

United States

Short Biography

Robin Rathmell, Co-Chair of Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP’s International Disputes team, is a renowned international litigator representing high-net-worth individuals and institutions in litigation involving allegations of fraud, money laundering and other forms of misconduct. Dual-qualified as an English barrister and U.S. lawyer, Rob formulates offensive and defensive global litigation strategies for international clients, including in relation to civil and criminal asset forfeiture, trusts, commercial and insolvency litigation, INTERPOL, and international sanctions regimes. Rob's engagements always span multiple jurisdictions, legal systems and asset-holding structures. He has acted as counsel in cases involving the world’s key offshore financial centers, as well as Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas. In addition to his regular interface with U.S. regulatory and intelligence agencies, Rob has extensive experience coordinating legal strategies in matters involving actions brought by non-U.S. authorities, requiring sensitive negotiations with government agencies across multiple jurisdictions.

What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?

HaSalon in Tel Aviv

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Follow Mark Twain’s advice: "If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything."

What was your first job?

Gardening

What is the book you recommend to everyone?

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?

Making progress on sanctions remediation as geopolitical trends shift.


Juliana Cavalcanti

Juliana Cavalcanti

Partner  |  Humberto Sanches e Associados
JURISDICTION

TOP SPECIALISMS

Estates: Planning

Family Governance and Business

Relocation and Cross-Border Advisory

Office Location

São Paulo, Brazil

Short Biography

Juliana works primarily in advising individual clients on demands related to wealth and succession planning in Brazil and abroad. With multidisciplinary experience, Juliana works with the creation, organization, and structuring of investments in Brazil and abroad, such as companies, investment funds, and trusts. She also advises clients on various corporate law matters, usually related to family businesses, shareholder agreements, and corporate governance. Given Juliana’s experience in Brazilian and international private law claims, she also assists clients when they want to relocate from Brazil to other countries, as well as when they wish to establish a new tax residence in Brazil. Juliana also has experience in structuring family offices, business agreements, and Central Bank regulations. Juliana graduated in Law from the University of Sao Paulo (USP). After graduating, Juliana has a Master in Economics and Finance at Insper and, in 2016, she completed her LL.M. at Columbia Law School.

What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?

Bottega Bernaca - A cozy italian restaurant nearby the firm.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

To do what is right, not what is easy.

What was your first job?

Trainee in a law firm.

What is the book you recommend to everyone?

An invincible memory by João Ubaldo Ribeiro.

What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?

Income tax reform.


Humberto Sanches

Humberto Sanches

Managing Partner  |  Humberto Sanches e Associados
JURISDICTION

TOP SPECIALISMS

Estates: Planning

Family and Matrimonial

Tax Advisory

Office Location

Brazil

Short Biography

Humberto Sanches is a partner of Humberto Sanches e Associados, a private client boutique law firm based in São Paulo, Brazil. He has a J.D. from PUC/SP and an MBA in Finance from Insper (São Paulo). He was a foreign associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in NY (2000-2001) and is frequently high ranked in international publications, including Chambers High Net Worth, Latin Lawyer 250, Leaders League, Who's Who Legal, The Legal 500 e Private Client Global Elite. He is a member of the São Paulo Chapter of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB/SP), STEP, the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel (ACTEC), the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law and The International Family Offices Editorial Board. He frequently speaks at conferences around the world on themes involving tax and wealth planning, family, matrimonial and succession law.

What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?

Osaka in São Paulo

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

"Without the method of learning, you're like a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest. It's just not going to work very well." Charlie Munger

What was your first job?

Trainee at a mining company

What is the book you recommend to everyone?

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?

The more frequent use of technology and more complexity in what we do.


Alessandro Amadeu da Fonseca

Alessandro Amadeu da Fonseca

PARTNER  |  Mattos Filho
JURISDICTION

TOP SPECIALISMS

Estates: Planning

Family Governance and Business

Tax Advisory

Office Location

Brazil

Short Biography

Alessandro is a partner at Mattos Filho and chair of IBRAPP (Brazilian Institute of Wealth and Sucession Planning) and advises high net-worth individuals, family controlled business and family offices on restructuring matters and efficient tax structures in line with Brazilian law and international treaties. He has more than 25 years of experience in corporate governance, estate and succession planning as well as tax, corporate and family law advice. Family Disputes Resolution and Complex International Structures are frequently in his day by day activities. Alessandro is a professor in Brazil and speaker in national and international conferences. He is also recognized as one of the most prominent lawyers in Brazil in tax and private wealth law by national and international publications and directories.

What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?

D.O.M. is one of the best places in São Paulo. The amazing food of The renowned chef Alex Atala and the high quality of service turns this restaurant in a perfect place to be, not only with clients!

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Life is short! Live it intensely and remember that tomorrow is just an uncertain perspective, so it is never too early to start and never too late to try

What was your first job?

I started my carrer as a trainee in law.

What is the book you recommend to everyone?

Sapiens, from Yuval Harari

What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?

Particularly in Brazil, lots of reforms are on going and there are significativa impacts for wealth families. Global citizenship and re domiciling are expected to increase as well as international planning and elaboration of complex structures on the best interest of clients.