Partner in Demarest's Mining practice, Tiago de Mattos holds a bachelor's degree in Law from the UFMG and master's degrees from two institutions: Centre for Energy, Petroleum, and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) at the University of Dundee (Scotland) and in Socioeconomic and Environmental Sustainability at UFOP. He has over 20 years of experience in mining law, with an emphasis on transactions, contractual governance, and regulatory matters for both domestic and foreign clients. He concentrates his practice in structuring business models, conducting complex negotiations, and drafting, reviewing, and managing contracts and related documents, ensuring regulatory compliance and efficient risk allocation throughout the project cycle. Tiago drafts legal opinions and provides strategic advice, acting as a consultant to the National Mining Agency (ANM) and the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), and as litigation counsel in selected matters.
- Rare earth elements (REE) | IPO in the ASX (Australia): Advised a major ASX player in the valuation of rare earth mining assets.
- Iron ore: Advised a major iron ore player (listed on B3) in contract structuring and regulatory compliance within the context of forming partnerships, in their various regulatory formats, for the development of mining projects.
- M&A - Gems: Advised a traditional mining group in the gemstone segment in the sale of its equity interest to a group controlled by European capital.
- Cements: Regulatory and litigation advice to enable a large-scale mining and industrial venture in the cement sector (company listed on B3), including representation in administrative disputes before the ANM.
- Lithium: Offtake with foreign investor: Advised a major player in the lithium sector in structuring, negotiating, and drafting an offtake agreement with an international investor.
- Gold: Portfolio in Northern Brazil: Comprehensive review and legal audit of all mining assets of a major player in the gold sector (listed on the TSX) in the North region of Brazil, including risk mapping, compliance verification, detecting of contingencies, and action plan to mitigate liabilities.
- Kaolin: Consolidated operations in Northern Brazil: Advised a client in the kaolin sector with consolidated operations in the North of Brazil in reviewing an extensive portfolio of mining assets, including diagnosis of compliance, risks, and opportunities.
- Master's degree (LL.M.) from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum, and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) at the University of Dundee, Scotland, 2018.
- Master's degree in Socioeconomic and Environmental Sustainability from Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), 2013.
- Bachelor of Laws from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Minas Gerais, 2007.
- President of the Brazilian Institute of Mining Law (IBDM).
- Coordinator and professor of the postgraduate course in Mining Law at CEDIN/IBDM.
- Member of the Governing Board of the Red Latinoamericana de Derecho Minero (RedMIN).
- Member of the Advisory Board and coordinator of the MG Chapter of the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce (CCBC).
- Author of the book “Mining Law: Brief Reflections on a Discipline in Motion” [Direito da Mineração: breves reflexões sobre uma disciplina em movimento], 2024.
- Co-organizer and author of the book “Mining on Indigenous Lands in Latin America: Development and Environment” [Mineração em Terras Indígenas na América Latina: desenvolvimento e meio ambiente], 2022.
- Author of the column “MineraL: Mining and Law” [MineraL: mineração e lei], published on the JOTA website, between 2020 and 2023.
- Co-author of the book “Mining Law: Mining, Environmental and Tax Issues” [Direito da Mineração: questões minerárias, ambientais e tributárias], 2017.
- Co-organizer and author of the book “Controversial Aspects of Mining and Environmental Law” [Aspectos Controvertidos do Direito Minerário e Ambiental], 2013.
- Co-author of the book “Mining Law Dictionary”, 2012.
- Co-author of the book “Studies on Mining Law” [Estudos de Direito Minerário], 2012.
- Portuguese and English