Businesses that wish to take part in transactions in Brazil will need to follow the laws of this country and pay attention to the differences between intellectual property, acquisition, merger, and real estate regulations or else risk an ensuing lawsuit.

A Brazilian law firm experienced in financial legislation, contract law, and the economic stipulations that this nation incorporates may help businesses ensure that they commit to beneficial transactions, mergers, or acquisitions that meet the needs of both parties.

When investing in another country, it is important to know how its economic resources will benefit one’s company. The Economist reported that Brazil has been awaiting a financial recovery but it may not be coming anytime soon.

Economic Performance

The expansion was half that what the federal government promised, which fell at merely 0.6 percent. Guido Mantega, Brazil’s finance minister, said that these numbers were disappointing but expect there to be a 4 percent rise in recovery next year.

“The nastiest surprise was the fall in investment, despite the government’s efforts to lower business costs,” the news source stated. “The Central Bank has reduced the policy interest rate from 12.5% in mid-2011 to a record low of 7.25%; it has also pushed state banks to cut spreads and to lend more.”

Foreign companies may wish to consider investing in Brazilian resources, as the latest bank regulations have pushed down policy interest rates. It is possible that the tax on foreign-currency inflows has led some businesses to forego partaking in transactions within this nation.

By contacting Brazilian lawyers when encountering financial or economic issues, companies will be sure to gain solid representation in the courtroom. Also, undergoing arbitration and dispute resolution tactics provided by law firms in Brazil may help two parties resolve their problems.

Brazils’ legislation against computer hacking

In today’s world, the advent of mobile technology and the widespread use of the internet has brought forth a number of legal issues that governments have been grappling with on an international basis.

With computer hackers, the spread of viruses and stolen information have led many lawmakers down a road of banning such actions from harming innocent victims. In Brazil, for instance, President Dilma Rousseff has signed two legislations into law that organize different types of cybercrime into two categories, according to Fox News. These include hacking into computers, stealing passwords and emails as well as attacking websites.

The new rulings specify the jail times affordable for each illegal cyber activity and puts forth more data within the Penal Code for the most serious crimes. Computer hackers that are thinking of committing grave mistakes such as stealing industrial computer secrets or hacking into private electronic communication systems should be aware that the new legislations will put them away in prison for a long time.

Those who consider releasing private information or photographs will experience even more severe penalties under the Brazil legal system. Also, victims that have had their personal credit card information stolen can rest assured that their attackers will be put in jail for up to five years.

However, there are some concerned citizens and organizations around the world that fear putting too many legal obstacles around the use of the internet could seriously compromise the freedom of speech and information on a global scale, according to World News Australia.

Businesses that wish to learn more about the penalties of cybercrime in Brazil should contact a Brazilian attorney. Professionals from a Brazilian law firm have the experience necessary to adequately represent any company in a cybercrime-related lawsuit.

BMW plans to build car factory

Companies that are conducting transactions, mergers, acquisitions or purchasing property in Brazil will have to follow all business law procedures, which include the country’s tax legislations. Title VI of the Brazilian Federal Constitution discusses the taxes and budget-related issues that businesses may deal with.

The National Tax Code, which was initiated in 1966, and the Administrative Tax Process may be two of the most important tax-related legislations in Brazil, as they provide a way for taxpayers to place an appeal with a federal revenues service whenever they disagree with a particular tax charge.

The major car manufacturer BMW had to postpone its plans temporarily to build a car factory in Brazil until the country’s new auto industry tax regime was released, according to the Wall Street Journal. The company wanted to wait to see if the financial viability of the project would be beneficial depending on new tax regulations for this industry. The government had previously increased taxes for imported cars by 30 percent but exempted automobile companies with a Brazilian factory.

“Brazil is a market with tremendous potential for the future,” BMW sales chief Ian Robertson said in a statement. “[The new plant] will create the necessary conditions for us to maintain the balance of sales between Europe, Asia and the Americas.”

The company will initiate production of automobiles by 2014 and plans to have a production capacity of 30,000 vehicles per year. More than 1,000 new employees will be hired in Brazil to help this car factory get off on the right foot, said BMW representatives.

Businesses interested in learning more about Brazil’s tax laws should contact experienced attorneys from a Brazilian law firm who have a strong understanding of the Brazil legal system.

Deforestation on the Amazon

The environmental law of Brazil is complex and extensive, as it encompasses one of the most complete environmental legislation across the globe. In the past, some of these laws may not have been substantially enforced but this has been changing in recent years.

Businesses attempting to build office buildings and utilize the resources of Brazil will have to abide by the country’s environmental laws. As such, consulting a Brazilian attorney could prove beneficial for remaining compliant with all regulations.

In 1981, the Brazilian Environmental Policy was passed, which made businesses and factories liable for the amount of pollution they contributed within the country’s borders. From that point forward, polluters were responsible for the amount of damage they caused in Brazil.

The Brazilian Ministry of the Environment is the agency responsible for ensuring that all businesses operating within Brazil remain compliant to every environmental policy. Environmental licensing also has to be provided for any businesses that may impact the climate of the country and is coordinated through a number of federal agencies in Brazil.

The government’s initiatives seem to be working. The Wall Street Journal reported on November 27 that deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon region has slowed dramatically. This is most likely because government officials have improved the detection of illegal farming and logging.

“Their effort is a major step forward, even compared with advances in previous years,” Doug Boucher from the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Union of Concerned Scientists, told the news source. “An additional drop of 27 percent is quite substantial, and it comes at a time when there’s substantial economic growth.”

Businesses attempting to expand in Brazil and utilize the country’s natural resources will have to abide by its environmental protection legislation. As such, partnering with a Brazilian law firm experienced in environmental laws will likely benefit a company’s long-term goals.

Richest Man “Lemman”

Eike Batista, former richest man in Brazil, can no longer claim the title, as the billionaire has lost half of his wealth due to unstable shareholding prices, according to Forbes. In March, Batista had a net worth of $30 billion but it has since dropped down to $18.6 billion.

Batista’s shares in natural resource startups had plunged recently by 6.8 percent. Batista has also fallen from the list of top 10 richest people in the world and beer baron Jorge Paulo Lemann has been gaining ground to make the list of richest Brazilian since June of this year.

Lemann’s investment in Burger King, of which he holds 29 percent of shareholding, put him on the map back in March. Bloomberg reported that Lemann is currently worth $18.9 billion due to the fact that he invested in shares of Anheuser Busch InBev and developed a $52 billion merger with the company, which is the largest beer manufacturer globally.

“Eike has the potential for explosive returns, but it’s also a business full of challenges,” Chris Palmer, who manages $2.5 billion of assets as London-based director for Henderson Global Investors Ltd, told the news source. “The performance of the companies that Lemann controls has been very strong.”

Lemann and his two partners Marcel Herrmann Telles and Carlos Alberto Sicupira have seen their wealth grow by 50 percent in the past year, partially due to major investments in Brazil and international companies.

When business owners are looking to develop mergers or partake in beneficial transactions in Brazil, contacting experienced lawyers from a Brazilian law firm can ensure that all contracts and negotiations are run favorably. The Brazil legal system can be complex and consulting a knowledgeable attorney will keep businesses compliant with all laws.