Danielle Gomes de Almeida Valois

 Professional Experience

Danielle Valois joined the Firm in 1999, became a partner in 2011. She leads the Trench, Rossi e Watanabe´s Energy practice in Brazil, having extensive experience in advising domestic and foreign clients on legal, regulatory and commercial matters involving the energy sector, including domestic and multijurisdictional M&As, infrastructure development projects, public and private bidding processes, and administrative, judicial and arbitration litigation. Danielle also works in the elaboration and review of corporate governance and compliance policies for companies in the energy sector, and actively assists clients and sectorial organizations in the advocacy and policy making of the Brazilian energy industry legislation and regulation.

Awards and Accolades

Danielle has been recognized for her work by the main legal directories such as Global Chambers & Partners (Tier 2), IFLR 1000, The Legal 500, Latin Lawyer 250, Leaders League, Analise Advocacia Mulher – Full Service, Analise Advocacia 500, LACCA Approved and Euromoney, Who’s Who Legal: Energy

Academic Background

She graduated from Universidade Cândido Mendes with a degree in Law.

Business Sustainability Management at the University of Cambridge – Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

Board Positions and Other Activities Outside the Office

Danielle currently serves as (i) LATAM Chair of Baker McKenzie Energy, Mining and Infrastructure Global Steering Committee; (ii) Regional Director of LATAM & Caribbean Chapter of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN); and (iii) Director of Institutional Relations of the Brazilian Hydrogen Association(ABH2), besides acting as Executive Secretary of the Brazilian Hydrogen Council.

She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Instituto de Desenvolvimento e Gestão (IDG), which manages over 10 assets focused on social, cultural and sustainability projects and the Institute Trench, Rossi e Watanabe, created to secure investments in scholarships and social programs designed for law students and lawyers in Brazil.

Danielle has also been invited by the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy to formally contribute to the Brazilian Hydrogen Plan, and recently was invited by the Governor of Rio de Janeiro to formally contribute to the Energy Transition Strategic Agenda announced by the Rio de Janeiro State in January 2024. 

For the past 10 years, Danielle has been acting as mentor of a variety of female professionals in the Brazil and co-founded a leadership group of energy female lawyers composed of 30 Brazilian leaders of global energy companies active in Brazil, which purpose is to prepare the next generation of female leaders in the energy sector. 

In the past decade, she has been a speaker in a variety of industry conferences, including:

• “H2 – Hydrogen Expo South America. Rio de Janeiro. June, 2024;
• “Hydrogen Energy Association Annual Conference at the Technical and Commercial Mission on Low-Carbon Hydrogen”, promoted by the Brazilian Hydrogen Association (ABH2) and the British government – United Kingdom. May, 2024;
• “Energy Transition National Forum: New Businesses, Opportunities and Challenges – Rio de Janeiro. April, 2024;
• “Energizing Diversity – Women Leadership in the Energy Sector Event”, promoted by the AIEN (Association of International Energy Negotiator). Rio de Janeiro. April, 2024;
• “1st Strategic Energy Transition Meeting”, promoted by the Rio de Janeiro State Government. Rio de Janeiro. March, 2024;
• “Strategic Agenda on Energy Transition Public Hearing”, promoted by the ​Rio de Janeiro State Government. Rio de Janeiro. February, 2024;
• “Energy Transition Panel at the 59th Annual Conference of Inter-American Bar Association – Rio de Janeiro; December 2023;”59th Annual Conference of the Inter-American Legal Association (FIA-IABA) – CCUS and Decarbonization of the Brazilian Oil & Gas Sector.  Rio de Janeiro. November, 2023.
• Hydrogen Americas 2023 Summit & Exhibition – Defining Brazil´s Hydrogen Strategy. Washington D.C. October, 2023.
• “XII Brazilian Congress of Regulation (Brazilian Association of Regulatory Agencies) – Role of Hydrogen in the Brazilian Energy Transition Landscape”. São Paulo. October, 2023
• Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) and Brazilian-Texas Chamber of Commerce (BRATECC) – Roundtable on the Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI). Rio de Janeiro. September, 2023.
• Ablfs McKfnzif Carbon Credit Round Table – The Brazilian Carbon Credit Market. Houston. June, 2023.
• Ablfs McKfnzif Roundtable on Energy Transition – The Role of Brazil in the Global Energy Transition Trend. Miami. June, 2023.
• Canning House Roundtable with the Governor of Rio de Janeiro. Investment Outlook and Opportunities in Brazil. London. April, 2023.
• “IBP University – ESG Course for the Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Corporate Governance in the Oil and Natural Gas Industry”. Webinar. April, 2023.
• “AIEN – Model Contract Workshop – Energy transition and the evolution of model contracts and their negotiation”. Rio de Janeiro. October, 2022.
• “GRI Energy Transition Conference – Hydrogen Value Chain”. Webinar. February 2022.
• “Brazilian Hydrogen Conference – Brazilian Association of Hydrogen”. Webinar. December 2021.
• “XI International Conference for Multinationals – Energy Transition Opportunities in LATAM and the Hydrogen Economy”. Webinar. October, 2021.
• “FGV University – Energia – Energy in Focus; Biodiesel and Energy Diversification”. Webinar. September, 2021
• “Blue Ocean Gas Conference – Guidelines of the National Hydrogen Program and its impacts in the Energy Sector”. Rio de Janeiro. August, 2021
• “Ablfs McKfnzif Talk on the Cities Of Tomorrow”. Webinar. August, 2021
• “GRI eMeeting Hydrogen Economy Agenda in Latin America. Webinar. July, 2021.
• “Ablfs McKfnzif Talk on New Gas Law Conference – Rules, Investments and Expansion”. Webinar. June, 2021.
• “Ablfs McKfnzif Talk on The New EU Taxonomy’s Impact on the Energy Sector”. Webinar. May, 2021.
• “Blue Ocean Natural Gas & Energy Conference – Perspectives of the New Brazilian Gas Market”. Webinar. April, 2021.
• Institute for Energy Law (IEL) 72nd Annual Oil and Gas Law Conference – New Trends on the Brazilian Oil & Gas Sector. Houston. April, 2021.
• “Brazilian Association of Biogas – Hydrogen and the Biogas Sector”. Webinar. April, 2021.
• “Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN) Conference –  Learnings from O&G Regulators: Brazil, Colombia and Mexico” Webinar. April, 2021.
• “Sustainability, Environment, Bioelectricity and the Green Energy Stamp”. Webinar. March, 2021.
• “World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) – Applying risk management to manage your relationship with natural capital”. Webinar. March, 2021.
• “Institute for Energy Law (IEL) Summit on Energy, Leadership & Diversity”. Webinar. March, 2021.
• “Brazil Gas Conference”. Rio de Janeiro. December, 2019;
• “Rio Oil & Gas: Regulatory Stability in the Brazilian Oil & Gas Industry”. Rio de Janeiro. September, 2018.
• “Argus Rio Crude Conference 2018”. Rio de Janeiro. May, 2018.
• “International Conference of the Institute of Energy Law”. Houston. February, 2018.
• “4th B&M Annual Oil & Gas Institute”. Houston. May, 2017.
• “Ablfs McKfnzif First Annual Latin America Power Academy”. São Paulo. December, 2016.
• “VI International Conference of Brazilian Multinationals”. Rio de Janeiro. October, 2016.
• “The New State Companies Law”. Rio de Janeiro. October, 2016.
•  “Latin Lawyer`s 7th Annual Oil & Gas Conference”. Mexico. May, 2016.
• “3rd Ablfs McKfnzif Global Oil & Gas Institute”. Houston. May, 2016;
• “III Symposium Challenges and Opportunities on International Business”. Rio de Janeiro. October, 2015;
• “Latin Lawyer 6th Annual Oil & Gas”. Rio de Janeiro. May, 2015;
• “2nd Ablfs McKfnzif Annual Oil & Gas Institute”. Houston. May, 2015.
• “Latin Lawyer 5th Annual Oil & Gas”. Rio de Janeiro. May, 2014.
• “IV International Conference of Brazilian Multinationals. Rio de Janeiro. September, 2014.
• “Ablfs McKfnzif International Conference of Construction Projects”. Rio de Janeiro. September, 2013.
• “Real State Forum”. Rio de Janeiro. September 2013.
• “Latin Lawyer 4th Annual Oil & Gas”. Rio de Janeiro. May, 2013.
• “Brazil Natural Gas Roundtable”. Rio de Janeiro. April, 2013.
• “AIEN International Oil Industry Going to Rio: Capitalizing on Latin American Growth”. Rio de Janeiro. November, 2012.
• “Ablfs McKfnzif LATAM Conference – The Oil & Gas Industry in Context: Latest Regulatory and Tax Developments in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico”. Houston. September, 2012.
• “Biofuels Logistics Conference”. Rio de Janeiro. September, 2012.
• “Rio Oil & Gas Conference – Public Biddings in the Brazilian Oil & Gas Sector”. Rio de Janeiro. September, 2012.
• “Procurement and Local Content Rules in Brazil”, Latin Lawyer Oil & Gas Conference. Rio de Janeiro. May, 2012.
• “NOCs Going International B&M Conference at the 20th World Petroleum Congress – Qatar. Doha. December, 2011.
• “Ablfs McKfnzif LATAM Conference – Key Oil & Gas Legal Issues in Latin America”. Houston. November, 2011.
• “The Canadian Council for the Americas – Alberta, in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Government of Alberta- Brazil: Business Opportunities in the Brazilian Onshore industry”. Calgary. November, 2011.
• “LARC AIEN Conference – The Future of Litigation in the Oil and Gas Industry, Arbitration, ADR and Expert Determination”. Rio de Janeiro.  May, 2011.
• “Second Pre- Salt Conference – Unitization: A Comparative Law Analysis”. Rio de Janeiro. May 2011.

Representative matters and clients

Danielle worked in the last 25 years in several of the most important transactions in the Brazilian energy sector. On top of that, she also participated in several projects in multiple jurisdictions and stakeholders that had a significant impact in the industry. The key engagements she led in the past decade are described below:

Low Carbon New Energies and Climate Change

• Advised a global oilfield service provider in a Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) in Brazil.
• Advised a Brazilian energy company in studies for the development of hydrogen projects in Brazil.
• Advised a Brazilian energy company in multiple M&A projects for the acquisition of biofuel assets in Brazil.
• Advised a Brazilian energy company in the acquisition of biogas assets in Brazil.
• Advised a Brazilian energy company in the structuring of a project to produce and commercialize green solid fuel.
• Advised a Brazilian energy company in the auditing and internal policy making related to social-environmental aspects involved in the production of biofuel in Brazil.
• Advised a Brazilian energy company in the review of internal processes and suppliers conditions related to the export of biofuels for the purpose to adapt the company’s operations and processes to the new EU and US applicable regulation.
• Advised an Asian Pacific energy company in the structuring of carbon credit projects in Brazil.
• Advised an European energy company in the structuring of carbon credit projects in Brazil.
• Advised an European energy company in the policy making and advocacy related to low carbon new energies bills of laws and draft regulation.
• Advised an sectorial industry association in the policy making and advocacy related to low carbon new energies bills of laws and draft regulation.
• Advised a sectorial industry association in the policy making and advocacy related to the bills of law and draft regulation applicable to the opening of the Brazilian gas market.

Oil & Gas Compliance

• Co-lead of a high-profile and complex internal investigation at a publicly traded energy company as a result of fraud and bribery allegations unveiled by the “Car Wash Operation”, conducted by the Brazilian federal authorities. The internal investigation in reference is considered as the most complex and high-profile investigation conducted in Brazil and one of the most complex investigations conducted in the world, given the size and importance of the client to Brazilian economy and to the Brazilian people in general.

Refineries and Petrochemical

• Counseled a publicly traded energy company in the construction of a petrochemical complex in Brazil.
• Counseled a publicly traded energy company in the construction of a refinery in the northeast of Brazil.
• Counseled an American conglomerate on the global sale of its chemical business unit to South Korea-based conglomerate.

Oil & Gas Field Development

• Counseled a publicly traded energy company in the financing, corporate structuring, public law, regulatory, customs, currency exchange, environmental and contractual aspects involved in the construction of two Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading Units (FPSO) intended to operate in the Campos Basin (offshore).
• Counseled a publicly traded energy company in the international bidding procedure intended to select contractors for the construction of 7 drilling rig units intended to operate in the presalt province.
• Counseled an Asian company in the structuring of the development of the Polvo Field and export of crude from the subject field (Offshore). First private crude export in Brazil.
• Represented a publicly traded energy company in the drafting and negotiations of EPC contracts designed for the construction of over 10 FPSOs in Brazil.

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Representation of the client’s Brazilian interests in the Macau Polo oil fields as part of the reorganization process of the group for their IPO in Brazil.
• Representation of a publicly traded energy company in the acquisition of companies engaged in the production of biofuels in Brazil.
• Represented a variety of energy companies in domestic and cross-border M&A projects involving upstream assets located in Brazil.

Dispute Resolutions

• Representation of a consortium formed by three publicly traded multinationals in a multibillionaire litigation against ANP (Brazilian National Oil Agency) on the delimitation of the area that will be subject to the development plan of the Lula field (the largest oil field of the pre-salt province). Lula Arbitration is known to be the highest-value arbitration in Brazilian history.
• Representation of an energy company in a construction dispute involving the EPC Contract signed for the construction of two FPSOs designed to operate in giant offshore oilfields in Brazil.

Other Representative Engagements

• Advice to the newly created federal state company on the structuring of the crude oil trading model to be adopted by the Brazilian federal government in the commercialization of the federal government portion of the crude oil produced from presalt fields.

• Advice to the association of oilfield service providers on the structuring of a proposal for the new regulatory framework to be adopted by the ANP (Brazilian National Oil & Gas Agency) for Research & Development activities carried out in the Brazilian Oil & Gas Industry.

Languages

Portuguese, english, spanish and french.