Brazil > Competition and antitrust > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

BMA - Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão’s continuing investment in the practice area was marked by the promotion to partner of Marcos Exposto in 2017. The team has had a hand in the majority of major cartel investigations in the market, as well as in cases related to the Lava Jato scandal, and its combined capabilities in M&A and antitrust ensure a regular flow of instructions in merger filings. Among its recent highlights in this space, practice head Barbara Rosenberg advised Brazilian stock exchange B3 (previously BM&F Bovespa) on the acquisition of clearing house Cetip; the transaction was approved with commitments by the Administrative Council for Economic Defence (CADE) in March 2017. José Inácio Ferraz de Almeida Prado Filho is another active member of the team, with a broad competition law practice taking in litigation and compliance.

Highly specialised firm Grinberg e Cordovil Advogados is ‘clearly at the top’ of the market; since its creation in 2010, it has established itself as a go-to firm for competition, antitrust and international trade. Clients particularly highlight the team’s ‘fast and precise responses’. It assists a range of leading international and Brazilian companies, covering complex, sensitive investigations, compliance training, merger control and behavioural matters. Its recent work includes acting for a Japanese company in cartel investigations in three separate markets, each of which required a separate proceeding. The department’s ‘truly exceptional lawyers’ include Leonor Cordovil, Karen Ruback, Ricardo Casanova Motta, and the ‘outstanding’ Mauro Grinberg.

‘Top-notch’ boutique Advocacia Jose Del Chiaro is ‘at the forefront of antitrust in Brazil’ and had another busy year in 2017, prompting the hire of two new associates. Recent instructions have come from longstanding and new clients (many of them leaders in their respective industries) and span conduct cases, merger reviews and cartel investigations. In the latter area, the team is particularly experienced in negotiating leniency agreements and settlement agreements. ‘A rising star in Brazil’s antitrust community’, Ademir Antonio Pereira Júnior provides ‘clear and easy-to-understand advice’. Name partner José Del Chiaro is held in high regard in the market, and Mário André Machado Cabral is an experienced attorney and professor of economic law.

Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados has a broad and active antitrust practice, covering merger control, behavioural matters, compliance training and antitrust-related litigation. 2017 saw it handle a number of complex merger cases filed with CADE, with experienced partner Marcio Dias Soares often taking a lead role. In one highlight, the team assisted Safran in obtaining unconditional antitrust clearance for its acquisition of Zodiac Aerospace, in a global deal which created the third largest aerospace supplier in the world; Amadeu Ribeiro and Renata Fonseca Zuccolo Gianella led on the Brazilian aspects. Lauro Celidonio Gomes dos Reis Neto is another key figure in the department, drawing on almost 30 years’ experience.

Pinheiro Neto Advogados’ team is one of the largest in the market, with five partners, and attracts plaudits for its ‘excellent quality of service, fast response times and in-depth analyses’. Its areas of expertise include international cartel investigations, unilateral conduct cases, internal investigations and compliance training. Cristianne Saccab Zarzur represented Mexichem in its interactions with CADE concerning the acquisition of Netafilm, a transaction which was filed in eight other jurisdictions. Other highlights included representing Abbott Laboratories in an investigation into purported collusion in the orthotics and prosthetics sector, with Renê Medrado leading the team in securing the exclusion of the client from the proceeding. Other key figures are Leonardo Peres da Rocha e Silva and José Alexandre Buaiz Neto.

The team at TozziniFreire Advogados covers the gamut of antitrust and competition, and cooperates closely with the firm’s compliance and white-collar specialists. The practice is particularly renowned for its expertise in leniency agreements, having worked on many of the first international leniency agreements negotiated with CADE. Marcelo Calliari and Joana Temudo Cianfarani are currently representing a multinational company before CADE in three ongoing cartel investigations. Vivian Anne Fraga do Nascimento Arruda, who was promoted to partner in 2017, benefits from previous experience in antitrust enforcement with the Brazilian government. Marcio de Carvalho Silveira Bueno left to establish Caminati Bueno Advogados, and Daniel Oliveira Andreoli left to join Demarest Advogados in 2018.

Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados is particularly renowned for its strength in the area of merger reviews, handling numerous complex cases and fast-track proceedings. The antitrust team is also active in administrative proceedings and investigations, and is notable for its successful negotiation of leniency applications with CADE. Among its recent highlights, Ricardo Lara Gaillard advised Vale on the sale of its fertiliser business to Mosaic, which was unconditionally cleared in 2017; and also – together with Joyce Midori Honda – represented BNP Paribas in the cartel investigation into the national onshore exchange rate market.

Demarest Advogados’ competition team handles a regular workload of merger filings, cartel investigations, abuse of dominance investigations, and compliance training. It also has experience in antitrust-related litigation. Recent highlights include acting as deal counsel to AkzoNobel and BASF in relation to the former’s acquisition of the latter’s industrial coatings business, which was approved by CADE without restrictions; Bruno Drago led the team, which included senior associate Milena Fernandes Mundim. The highly experienced Paola Pugliese co-heads the department alongside Drago, and acts for leading Brazilian and multinational companies in high-profile cases and mergers. Senior associate Paula Salles is another active member of the team. As we go to press, the firm has announced the hire of Daniel Andreoli; with over 17 years' experience, he is the current President of the Antitrust Section of the Brazilian Bar Association (CECORE/OAB-SP) and CADE’s non-governmental advisor regarding events of the International Competition Network (ICN).

Levy & Salomão has a strong antitrust practice; it provides ‘thorough, extremely practical and creative advice’, and is noted for its ‘deep knowledge of the law, and government and international experience’. The sizeable team is led by highly regarded partner Ana Paula Martinez, whose recent caseload includes advising Airbus and Bombardier in the merger filing for the former’s acquisition of a controlling stake in the latter’s C Series jetliner programme. Also recommended are the ‘notable and reliable’ Alexandre Ditzel Faraco and Mariana Tavares de Araujo, who has ‘strong negotiation skills’. At senior associate level, competition and compliance expert Marcos Drummond Malvar is a key contact.

Recommended firm Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados covers the spread of antitrust and competition matters and is regularly engaged by leading clients in high-profile M&A deals. Among its recent highlights in this space, Maria Eugênia Novis advised Boehringer Ingelheim on the asset swap whereby the company swapped its consumer healthcare business for Sanofi’s animal health business; the transaction was submitted to CADE through two separate filings. On the investigations side, practice head Tito Amaral de Andrade and Marcos Paulo Verissimo successfully defended Azul Linhas Aéreas in the investigation of alleged price squeezes and refusal-to-deal conduct in the Brazilian tour operators market.

Boutique firm Magalhães e Dias - Advocacia draws on several decades of experience in the Brazilian antitrust market, and has a strong record in major merger reviews and cartel investigations. Among its recent highlights, Gabriel Nogueira Dias advised Bayer in relation to its multibillion-dollar merger with Monsanto, which was cleared by CADE prior to the decisions of the US and EU authorities. The team also has an active consultancy practice, advising on advertising campaigns, compliance programmes and antitrust issues in corporate policies. Carlos Francisco de Magalhães co-heads the team, which includes Francisco Niclós Negrão and senior associate Raquel Cândido.

Pereira Neto | Macedo acts for leading companies in various heavily regulated sectors. Its antitrust practice takes in merger reviews, cartel investigations and abuse of dominance cases, with the latter a particular specialism; recent highlights include successfully representing Oi in an abuse of dominance case concerning the company’s zero-rating policy for certain mobile phone applications; Caio Mario da Silva Pereira Neto and Daniel Tinoco Douek – who was promoted to partner in 2017 – led the team, which secured the dismissal of the case in September 2017. Former CADE commissioner Olavo Zago Chinaglia is a key figure in the team.

The ‘excellent’ competition group at Trench Rossi Watanabe is split between São Paulo and Brasília. The internationally focused firm has a solid client base of multinational companies, including GE, Honeywell and Standard Chartered. In 2017, the team continued to attract engagements in major investigations into anti-competitive practices and complex mergers. It is representing Siemens in the high-profile subway cartel case, with Tulio Freitas do Egito Coelho and Heloísa Barroso Uelze leading a multidisciplinary team of competition, litigation and criminal law experts. Adriana Giannini and Francisco Ribeiro Todorov ‘demonstrate excellent business judgement and provide superb client service’. Key contacts at senior associate level include Lorena Leite Nisiyama and Denise Junqueira.

The ‘very professional’ competition department at Veirano Advogados provides ‘excellent service’ and ‘adds value to the client’s business’. 2017 was another busy year for the team, which is equipped to handle the gamut of antitrust issues. It successfully represented Claro in the investigation into leading telecoms companies in Brazil and alleged abuse of dominant position with regard to zero-rating policies. On the merger review side, highlights included advising Hertz on the acquisition of its Brazilian business by Localiza Rent a Car and Localiza Fleet; the transaction was cleared without restrictions in 2017. Leonardo Maniglia Duarte, who has been a partner since 2016, attracts strong praise. Mariana Villela is another key contact.

Dedicated antitrust firm Caminati Bueno Advogados was established in April 2018 and is based in São Paulo. It comprises several former Lino, Beraldi, Belluzzo e Caminati Advogados lawyers, including Eduardo Caminati Anders, Leda Batista and Luiz Fernando Coimbra; and Marcio de Carvalho Silveira Bueno and Luís Nagalli, previously at TozziniFreire Advogados. The partners have had extensive exposure to high-profile and complex antitrust matters, from cartel investigations to unilateral conduct proceedings. Merger control cases, often involving companies which are leaders in their fields, are another strength. Senior associates Guilherme Teno Castilho Misale and Nathalie Teyssonneyre are also recommended.

Ricardo Botelho and Aurélio Santos head the busy antitrust team at Cascione, Pulino, Boulos & Santos Advogados, which grew at associate level in 2017 with the arrival of Mariana de Azevedo Castro Cesar from TozziniFreire Advogados. AmBev is a key client; the team’s recent work includes advising the brewing company in relation to several acquisitions, and also assisting with the structuring of a new compliance policy for competition matters. Other clients include Unilever Brasil, Itaú Unibanco and VLI Multimodal.

Inglez, Werneck, Ramos, Cury e Françolin Advogados (IWRCF) has a team of ‘excellent lawyers’ who ‘care about the client’, and clients also appreciate that ‘you can always speak with a partner’. The firm is regularly instructed in complex antitrust investigations, acting for clients ranging from leading multinational companies to individuals. It has been advising Ford Motor Company in an abuse of dominant position investigation concerning industrial property rights. Practice head Ricardo Inglez de Souza has ‘exceptional knowledge of competition and antitrust law’, and senior associate Stefanie Schmitt Giglio is another active member of the department.

Mattos Engelberg Advogados’ Ubiratan Mattos is well regarded in the Brazilian antitrust community, and heads a team distinguished by the strength of its investigations and litigation practice. In recent work, Mattos and associate Andrea Astorga dos Prazeres represented Toshiba in an administrative proceeding concerning alleged bid-rigging and price-fixing among competitors in the gas-insulated switchgear market. Merger filings also feature in the team’s workload, alongside its work in the areas of government relations and international trade; in the latter field, Carla Junqueira is a well-known name.

The ‘highly dedicated’ team at Mundie e Advogados is noted for its ‘good technical knowledge and great client service’. Highlights included representing TIM in CADE’s investigation into zero-rating offers by leading telecoms companies in the country. In addition to its merger control and investigations work, the team regularly assists clients with compliance policies and training. Associates Enrico Spini Romanielo and Tomás Filipe Ribeiro Paiva also attract strong praise.

Paulo Leonardo Casagrande heads the antitrust, compliance and investigations practice at Stocche Forbes Advogados, which has notable international experience and acts for a varied client base of foreign and local companies. The team regularly has a hand in high-profile mergers. In one highlight, it acted for Unipar on its acquisition of a majority stake in Solvay Indupa, which was approved by CADE without remedies. The group is also well versed in behavioural matters; highlights in this space included representing Asperbras Tubos e Conexões in an investigation by CADE concerning polyvinyl chloride and high-density pipes and fittings. Ana Paula Paschoalini is the key contact at senior associate level. Fabricio Cardim de Almeida left to establish Souza, Mello y Torres.

KLA-Koury Lopes Advogados maintains a varied competition practice and is experienced in behavioural matters, mergers and compliance. In the former area, it recently acted for a multinational company and one of its executives in the investigation into an alleged cartel involving automotive spare parts; Tiago Cortez led the advice. The team also provides antitrust consultancy to its clients, advising on best practice, corporate policies and relationships with distributors. Department head Gianni Nunes de Araújo draws on over 20 years of experience.

Lobo de Rizzo Advogados provides ‘sophisticated antitrust advice’ to its client base of major international and Brazilian companies and their employees, and its ‘excellent client service extends through the ranks from partners to associates’. On the merger side, recent highlights include advising Mosaic on the acquisition of Vale’s fertilizer business; Sérgio Varella Bruna led the team, which included senior associate Natalia Salzedas Pinheiro da Silveira and associate Marina Lissa Oda Horita. The department also has notable experience in cartel investigations.

Well-respected boutique Sampaio Ferraz Advogados handles a range of competition and compliance matters for a client base that includes leading companies and individuals. Tercio Sampaio Ferraz has a strong reputation in the market, and has authored numerous textbooks. He works alongside Juliano Souza de Albuquerque Maranhão and Thiago Francisco da Silva Brito. Administrative and regulatory law are ancillary areas of strength at the firm.

Siqueira Castro – Advogados is set apart by its extensive office network throughout Brazil and also the breadth of its client base, which includes leading players – both domestic and international – in a multitude of sectors. Its antitrust department had a busy year in 2017, with clients engaging it in a range of high-profile investigations and litigation. In one highlight, the team represented a Japanese client before CADE in the negotiation of a penalty and cease-and-desist agreement which settled an administrative procedure. Guilherme Dantas and Heitor Faro de Castro are the names to note.

Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown is well positioned to handle cross-border mergers thanks to its international office network, and it also acts for Brazilian companies in a multitude of sectors in cartel investigations. Among its recent high-profile work, the team acted for SETCESP - Sindicato das Empresas de Transporte de Cargas e Região in an abuse of dominant position claim against the Brazilian postal service, ECT. Eduardo Molan Gaban leads the team, which includes associate Bruno Droghetti Magalhães Santos and cooperates closely with the firm’s corporate and M&A department.

At Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados, Priscila Brolio Gonçalves has a broad practice that sees her representing local and foreign companies in investigations into cartels, unilateral conduct, anti-dumping and consumer law infractions. She leads a team of associates with notable experience in competition law, including Camila Pires da Rocha and Danielle Fernanda de Rezende Gomes Guidone. In addition to its behavioural work, the group also acts for clients in merger filings before CADE.

Araújo e Policastro Advogados has carved out a niche in antitrust litigation. Though private damages litigation is not yet a developed field in Brazil, Bruno Lanna Peixoto has established a reputation that sees him receiving instructions from local and international clients in such proceedings. Merger reviews and cartel investigations are other areas of expertise in the department. Founding partner José Theodoro Alves de Araújo is another contact.

The competition and antitrust department at Ayres Ribeiro Advogados covers behavioural matters and merger reviews, and also has expertise in compliance. Elisa Silva de Assis Ribeiro’s broad practice takes in economic law, litigation and arbitration. Clients include infrastructure, technology and telecoms companies.

Azevedo Sette Advogados’ team handles a range of behavioural matters and also supports the firm’s M&A practice in merger filings before CADE. Practice head Luiz Eduardo Salles’ economic law practice spans competition, compliance and international trade. Senior associate Ingrid Bandeira Santos is dedicated to antitrust, compliance and anti-corruption matters.

The multidisciplinary team at Dias Carneiro Advogados combines competition, anti-corruption, commercial and public law expertise. It is particularly well versed in antitrust investigations in the pharmaceutical sector, though its practice spans multiple sectors. 2017 also saw the team strengthen its record in complex merger filings. Ongoing work includes representing a telecoms company in a cartel investigation concerning the procurement of certain electrical components. Joyce Ruiz Rodrigues Alves heads the practice, and Ricardo Sanches and Henrique Dias Carneiro are also recommended.

The economic and competition law department at Felsberg Advogados has a focus on merger review cases, where it works alongside corporate and M&A partners in the firm. Evy Cynthia Marques has broad experience acting for Brazilian and international clients. The team also represents clients in investigations before administrative and criminal authorities.

Noted for its ‘very high industry knowledge’ and ‘appropriate advice’, Fialho, Canabrava, Andrade, Salles Advogados’ private and economic law group handles competition, antitrust and international trade matters. The firm is particularly active in merger filings, with recent highlights including representing a Brazilian company and its main shareholder in notification proceedings before CADE. Leonardo Canabrava leads the team, and Lucas Spadano and associate Bruno Augustin are also recommended.

Founded in 1992, Franceschini e Miranda, Advogados has established a strong reputation in the market, based in part on renowned name partner José Inácio Gonzaga Franceschini. Antitrust is a key area of focus, and the team has experience across investigations, litigation and merger filings. Its clients operate in multiple industries, including the TMT, pharmaceutical and transport sectors.

The Brasília-based team at Gico, Hadmann & Dutra Advogados is active in cartel investigations, representing both companies and individuals. Recent work includes acting for a high-level executive in the automotive parts cartel investigation before CADE, and for a Brazilian company and certain employees in the bid-rigging investigation into the electric meter market. Practice head Eric Hadmann Jasper is recommended.

L.O. Baptista Advogados’ Patricia Agra Araújo has a broad and busy antitrust practice. Her recent work includes advising a US-based multinational in a cartel investigation by CADE. She is also regularly instructed by Brazilian companies, in relation to compliance matters and merger filings before CADE.

At Lefosse Advogados, José Carlos da Matta Berardo has broad experience in high-profile competition matters, including conduct cases and mergers, and counsel Paulo Lilla is also a key member of the team; his practice takes in antitrust, regulatory law, anti-corruption and compliance. Together with senior associate Juliana Daniel, they recently acted for a German-based multinational in cartel investigations. Clients also turn to the team for advice on corporate compliance policies and training.