Detail Commercial Solicitors pushing emerging practice areas in Nigeria

Ismael Faquir, Country Managing Partner, Ernst & Young

The government of Mozambique is currently discussing potential changes to its capital gains tax regime, and amendments to tax law are now a regular occurrence in order to accommodate the discovery of natural resources such as gas and coal. Ismael Faquir discusses the country’s investment landscape, the services offered by Ernst & Young, and the importance of getting the right advice at the outset of any investment.

Vicente Sevilha, CEO, Sevilha Contabilidade

Brazil’s tax system is widely recognised as one of the most complex and costly regimes in the world: a serious debility for a nation striving to become a top five economy. How can investors come to terms with the impact that numerous federal, state and city taxes will have on their businesses? Vicente Sevilha offers his expert advice.

Dario Oscos, Senior Partner, Oscos Abogados

Vitro, the Mexican-based glass manufacturer, defaulted on $1.5bn of debt in 2009 – but before so doing ensured its subsidiaries were its major creditors, allowing the company to control its own reorganisation proceedings. Its bankruptcy plan is preliminarily valid in Mexico but in the US it has been rejected: Dario Oscos explains the significance of this decision, its implications for cross-border trade, and the timeframe for a final verdict.

Revaz Beridze, Managing Partner, Eristavi Law Group

Georgia’s Rose Revolution in 2003 began far-reaching political and economic reforms which had a great impact on the business environment. Information is now easily accessible, the government has strengthened ties with the EU, and foreign direct investment has increased. Revaz Beridze of Eristavi Law Group outlines the country’s progress, the sectors attracting investment, and how the firm’s wide-ranging expertise is contributing to its success.

Antonio Giacomini Jr, Partner, Andrioli e Giacomini Advogados

With the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016, Brazil is making huge investments in infrastructure. At the same time, the government is reforming many of its tax laws to attract more international investment partners. Antonio Giacomini explains the strategy behind these reforms, and the ways that Andrioli e Giacomini Advogados assists its international clients through Brazil’s complex system of tax and business legislation.

Lakshmi Kumaran, Founder and Managing Partner, Lakshmi Kumaran & Sridharan

Indian companies may once have been slow to protect their intellectual property rights, but a recent surge in filings of patents and designs show the country’s businesses are increasingly aware of the value of their IP. Lakshmi Kumaran discusses the importance of international businesses registering their patents in India, good practice for investors beginning a joint venture in the jurisdiction, and the fierce independence of the country’s judicial system.

Dev Erriah, Head of Erriah Chambers

Mauritius’ complex legal system – a post-colonial hybrid of French civil and English common law – is shifting more towards the latter as it aligns itself with OECD standards and ensures its fiscal statutes comply with international regulations. Dev Erriah discusses the reforms being made to make the country more accessible to international businesses, and what the recent Indian Vodafone tax ruling means for the Mauritian jurisdiction.

Gregory P Joseph, Partner, Gregory P Joseph Law Offices

Gregory P Joseph has had an outstanding career in commercial law – litigating highly complex disputes with considerable stakes. In practice since 1975, he has seen significant changes in the way the US judiciary handles commercial cases, and won considerable victories along the way. He discusses the emerging trends in commercial litigation and a recent $268m judgement he secured for City Bank against Morgan Stanley.

Darío Oscós, Senior Partner, Oscós Abogados

It has been more than a decade since the Ley de Concursos Mercantiles – Mexico’s business reorganisation law – was enacted. But the law was never fit for purpose, and since then just 440 filings have been made. The recent case of Vitro demonstrates one of the critical flaws in the system: Darío Oscós discusses the company’s unique restructuring strategy, and how a truly modern insolvency system would prevent it.