Carolina James Zini Ghidoni

Carolina James Zini Ghidoni specializes in Public Law and Regulation, providing both advisory and litigation support to concessionaires, private partners, and other market participants.

Her practice involves supporting clients on punitive administrative and judicial proceedings, helping to identify key risks and areas of attention in several complex matters. She has extensive experience in strategic sectors, including ports, highways, and sanitation. Carolina works closely with infrastructure investment funds, public works and services concessionaires, and private entities operating in regulated industries, offering tailored legal solutions to manage sophisticated regulatory frameworks and guarantee the success of projects.

She has advised prominent clients, including JV Navegantes, 3 JVs Nordeste Logística [HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – NOT TO BE PUBLISHED], Sherwin-Williams, Suzano, Jardiplan, and Globant.

She has played a key role in significant projects, such as advising Navegantes Logistica Portuária S.A [HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – NOT TO BE PUBLISHED] in the first Brazilian’ Port Authority privatization, supporting the client in the negotiation of the transition from a public to private contract and other matters.

Carolina also provided advisory to two state-owned sanitation companies that included the development of two Economic-Financial Feasibility Studies, and the Resource Mobilization Plan focused on the universalization of public water supply and sanitation services.

Carolina holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP).

 

MAIN CLIENTS

Sherwin-Williams; Suzano SA.; Gerdau; Comexport; Globant Brasil Consultoria Ltda., JV Navegantes and the 3 JVs Nordeste Logística [HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – NOT TO BE PUBLISHED].

 

WORK EXAMPLES

At Cascione, Carolina has been working in several complex matters, including, for example:

  • Assisting Sherwin-Williams in participating in public procurement processes by conducting comprehensive risk analyses to support its bidding strategies. A key aspect of her work involves addressing challenges that emerged under a supply contract executed with Petrobras, where the company encountered significant difficulties in the contract’s execution phase.
  • Assisted Globant in a bidding process conducted by Petrobras for the procurement of a social platform. The process faced significant challenges due to the reference budget established by Petrobras, which was considerably below the proposals submitted by the bidders.
  • Carolina is constantly required to assist the company in public law and regulatory matters related to public contracts, risk assessments among others.
  • Advised Gerdau (the largest producer of long steel in Latin America) in the sale of the terminal Terminal Marítimo Gerdau to Intermarítima.
  • Assisting Navegantes Logística, a joint venture formed by Raízen, BR Distribuidora, and Ipiranga—three of Brazil’s leading Oil & Gas companies—in an administrative proceeding before the National Department for Ports and Waterway Transport (Secretaria Nacional de Portos e Transportes Aquaviários). The matter concerns a request to modify the investment schedule under the lease agreements the JV holds with VPorts, the concessionaire that replaced CODESA—Brazil’s first privatized Port Authority. This renegotiation process sets a crucial and highly relevant precedent for the sector, addressing operational and economic challenges while ensuring compliance with the contractual obligations and the regulatory framework. [HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – NOT TO BE PUBLISHED].
  • Represented Pérola S.A. in an administrative proceeding before Brazil’s National Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ) regarding a Lease Agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructure. The case arose after significant climate events destroyed key structures essential for Pérola’s operations at the Port of Santos, raising questions about the allocation of risks under the agreement.
  • Carolina advised Banco BTG Pactual on the acquisition of OPY – a PPP concessionary of one hospital in Belo Horizonte/Minas Gerais and one hospital in Amazonas/Brazil.

 

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

  • Exame | Under discussion in São Paulo and Paraná, “privatization of schools” has only one project in operation in Brazil – June, 2024.