The energy sector plays a crucial role in Brazil’s socioeconomic development. With a diversified energy matrix, it includes sources such as hydroelectric, wind, solar and biomass. The country is a world leader in renewable energy, with increasing installed capacity in wind and solar plants. Hydroelectric energy remains predominant, however, the expansion of alternative sources has registered significant growth, with investments in new plants and advanced technologies. Projections indicate a continued increase in investments, driven by favorable public policies and government incentives for clean energy projects.

Sion Advogados has extensive experience in all segments of the area – such as generation, transmission, distribution and commercialization – and in transactions and regulatory matters before government agencies, such as the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL), the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), the National System Operator (ONS), the Electric Energy Trading Chamber (CCEE), and the Energy Research Company (EPE). The firm provides legal and technical consultancy on electricity sector contracts, tenders, requisitions, compliance and dispute resolution, offering effective solutions throughout the energy sector, as well as advice to sector agents to face the frequent legislative and regulatory changes that impact the dynamic regulated service, assessing, from a legal-regulatory perspective, the risks, opportunities and consequences for stakeholders.

This economic area has been gaining increasing prominence on the national scene, especially with the expectation generated by the discovery of the “Pre-Salt Reserves”. Mainly linked to the production of oil and natural gas, the sector demands strategic and globalized action, with a focus on planning, results and high-risk control. Heavy Construction encompasses the execution of works ranging from houses to highways, airports and other infrastructure projects. In 2010, the construction sector achieved its best performance in the last 24 years, with a growth rate of 11.6%. After a year of retraction, the construction sector is expected to have, in 2021, the highest growth for the sector in 8 years.

Sion Advogados offers a comprehensive range of specialized services in the Heavy Construction sector, ensuring that our clients operate with legal certainty and efficiency. The main activities and procedures we carry out include:

• Consulting on Engineering and Construction Contracts: drafting, reviewing and negotiating highly complex contracts, such as EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction), ensuring that all phases of the project are executed within the established legal and contractual parameters.
• Advice on Land Acquisition: comprehensive legal guidance during the land purchase and sale process, including analysis of land and environmental regularity, to ensure that projects can be carried out without legal impediments.
• Construction Litigation and Arbitration: representation in disputes related to contractual disputes, construction delays, price reviews and other conflicts typical of the sector, including participation in national and international arbitrations.
• Due Diligence and Risk Assessment: conducting legal audits and risk assessments, allowing our clients to make informed decisions in their construction projects, minimizing exposure to future liabilities.
• Compliance and Sustainability Consulting: implementation of compliance programs and advice on sustainable practices, ensuring that Heavy Construction projects comply with the best environmental and regulatory practices, in addition to promoting corporate social responsibility.

The sector is one of the pillars that support the Brazilian economy. It is responsible for 22.7% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The industry has a direct interface with Brazil and other countries, since the largest industrial park in South America is located in Brazil. According to sector estimates, the industrial GDP will grow by 4.3% in 2021, driven by the manufacturing industry, with an expected increase of 5.7%. The extractive industry will grow by 2% and the construction industry is expected to grow by 4%.

Sion Advogados offers specialized services for the industrial sector, meeting the complexities and demands of this essential segment. Some of the main activities developed by the firm involve (i) advisory services in mergers and acquisitions, consisting of legal assistance in merger, acquisition and corporate reorganization processes, including due diligence, business structuring and contract negotiation, ensuring legal certainty and tax optimization; (ii) intellectual property and innovation consultancy, which includes the protection and management of intellectual property assets, such as patents, trademarks and copyrights, as well as advice on technology and innovation contracts, ensuring the development and competitiveness of the industry; (iii) industrial compliance and regulation, based on the development and implementation of specific compliance programs for the industry, aligned with national and international regulations, including environmental, labor and occupational safety compliance; (iv) industrial litigation and arbitration, with representation in complex disputes, both judicial and arbitral, involving commercial, contractual, environmental and labor disputes, with a focus on protecting industrial interests; (v) tax and fiscal consultancy specific to the industrial sector and (vi) management of environmental licenses and compliance, based on assistance in obtaining environmental licenses, authorizations and permits, in addition to ongoing consultancy to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Material flow management is a key activity in the logistics sector, which includes the transportation and storage of inputs and products, connecting them from production to consumption or export. Logistics modalities include, among others, ports, railways, highways and pipelines. Due to its enormous territorial dimensions, Brazil has become a focus for investments aimed at enabling the delivery of the country's growing production.

Sion Advogados constantly works to offer the best specialized legal services for the sector, with consulting activities in transport and logistics contracts; advice on logistics infrastructure projects, such as concessions for ports, railways and highways, including monitoring of bids, analysis of legal feasibility and contractual structuring; management of licenses, authorizations and legal permits and regulatory compliance; litigation in logistics; consultancy in international trade and customs; tax and fiscal planning for the logistics sector and consultancy in sustainable logistics.

It encompasses the processes, activities and services whose objectives are the successful extraction and financing of the exploitation of mineral substances stored in mineral deposits. It is a fundamental activity for the social, economic and financial development of contemporary societies. In Brazil, the mining sector stands out for attracting investments, ensuring a very positive impact on the national trade balance. According to the Federal Government, Brazil will invest R$ 350 billion by 2030 in the mining sector.

The mining team at Sion Advogados has comprehensive and specialized legal expertise in the sector, meeting the diverse needs and challenges of a market that is so important to the economy. Among the services offered by Sion Advogados in this area, the following stand out:

• Obtaining, maintaining and transferring mining titles, such as research authorizations, mining concessions and licensing records.
• Representation in administrative proceedings before the National Mining Agency (ANM).
• Consulting on compliance with the Mining Code and other sectoral regulations.
• Assistance in obtaining environmental licenses for mining activities, including environmental impact studies (EIA/RIMA).
• Advice on issues related to the recovery of degraded areas and environmental management.
• Advice on the legal structuring of mining projects, including joint ventures, partnerships and strategic alliances.
• Consultancy on due diligence for the acquisition of mining rights and related assets.
• Drafting and review of sector-specific contracts, such as mineral exploration, supply, transportation and marketing of minerals.
• Advice on financing contracts and Representation in judicial and administrative litigation related to disputes over mining rights, environmental, labor and related real estate issues.
• Action in expropriation proceedings, compensation for environmental damages and other conflicts related to land ownership.
• Development of compliance programs for the mining sector, including compliance with environmental, labor and safety standards.
• Assistance in the implementation of sustainable practices and corporate social responsibility in mining projects.
• Legal advice for foreign investors interested in exploring or acquiring mining assets in Brazil.
• Advice on Brazilian legislation related to foreign investment in the mining sector.

The Brazilian oil and gas sector is attracting a lot of investment, especially after the discovery and exploration of pre-salt reserves, which currently account for more than 50% of the country's oil and gas production. According to industry players, demand for oil is expected to peak by 2040, which would imply the need for an increase in oil and gas activity in Brazil. In this context, Sion Advogados has extensive expertise in legal advice related to the exploration and production of oil, gas and their derivatives, offering comprehensive support on environmental and regulatory issues inherent to the sector.

Among the services offered by Sion Advogados in the oil and gas area, the following stand out: consultancy on environmental licensing and compliance for exploration and production ventures and operations in the sector; consultancy on exploration and production contracts; guidance on compliance with the standards and regulations imposed by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) and other regulatory bodies; legal support in mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures in the oil and gas sector, including business structuring and contract negotiation, and risk management and environmental due diligence, which allow the identification and mitigation of potential environmental and regulatory liabilities.

The sanitation sector is essential for sustainable development, ensuring access to drinking water and adequate sewage treatment, which are essential for public health and environmental preservation. In Brazil, the new regulatory framework for basic sanitation has brought significant changes to the sector, boosting investments, expanding private participation and establishing ambitious goals for universalizing services.

Sion Advogados operates strategically and with expertise in the sanitation sector, offering comprehensive legal advice to companies and concessionaires operating in this area. Our services include regulatory consultancy, assistance with public bidding and administrative contracts, support in concession processes and public-private partnerships (PPPs), as well as guidance on environmental and compliance issues. With a multidisciplinary and experienced team, we are prepared to face the challenges of the sector, promoting legal solutions that meet the needs of our clients and contribute to the development of sanitation in Brazil.

The steel industry is the sector of the metallurgical industry dedicated to the manufacture of steel and cast iron, used as essential inputs for infrastructure works, civil construction, capital goods and consumer goods, both in the domestic and international markets. It is also one of the oldest industrial activities in the world. In the ranking of world production, Brazil ranked 9th between January and August 2020, with a total of 19.77 million tons.

Sion Advogados offers a wide range of specialized legal services for the steel industry, addressing the particularities and demands of this strategic market, which include consulting on environmental licensing for enterprises in the sector; consulting on commercial and industrial contracts; consulting on mergers and acquisitions in the steel industry; consulting and negotiation of energy purchase agreements, considering the relevance of this input in the steel industry operation; consulting on issues related to the acquisition, leasing and management of industrial properties, including land regularization and ownership conflicts; advice on civil liability issues related to industrial accidents, environmental and product damage and consultancy on managing relations with local communities.