Felsberg Advogados > Sao Paulo, Brazil > Firm Profile

Felsberg Advogados > The Legal 500 Rankings

Brazil > Corporate and M&A: Mid-market Tier 1

With extensive experience in both buy and sell-side mandates, Felsberg Advogados handles an impressive volume of mid-market deals ranging from M&A to incorporations, restructurings and joint ventures. Rated for its strong presence in the technology sector, it is a go-to choice for investors, private equity firms, financial institutions, emerging growth businesses and venture capital funds. The group frequently works in close collaboration with the firm’s bankruptcy and restructuring practice, and is also well placed to handle distressed M&A and corporate reorganisations. Buyers, sellers and investors (most notably clients operating in the pharmaceutical segment), often turn to Claudia Maniaci for assistance in corporate transactions. Evy Marques, who leads the start-ups and venture capital group, is also noted for her longstanding experience in M&A, corporate matters and commercial contracts. The ‘extremely technical’ João Carlos Mendonça specialises in cryptocurrency and blockchain, and is often engaged in corporate matters involving the tech sector. Maria Carolina Guazzelli is a key contact for retail and luxury goods companies, while Anneliese Eger is often retained by French and German clients in relation to their business endeavours in Brazil. Focused on M&A, contracts and technology, Gleycon Jonathan Queiróz stands out at the associate level, as does Bárbara Nátali Santos, who works in M&A and private equity transactions.

Brazil > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

With a longstanding reputation in the restructuring and insolvency market, Felsberg Advogados offers an ‘outstanding level of expertise’ and is constantly ‘updated with daily changes in Brazil law and jurisprudence’. A ‘pioneer in new developments or achievements in this branch of law’, the firm is best known for its contentious and non-contentious debtor-side work, including judicial reorganisations and refinancings, although it does also have experience of representing distressed investors and creditors. Founding partner and veteran practitioner Thomas Felsberg is noted for the depth of his restructuring and insolvency expertise. Other key partners include Fabiana Solano, a key contact for debtors, creditors and investors, Thiago Dias Costa, who handles non-contentious and litigation matters involving corporate insolvencies, recovery processes and bankruptcies, and Clara Moreira Azzoni, who is praised for her ‘impeccable quality and knowledge in the area of business recovery’. Clients also single out the ‘young, fast, knowledgeable and efficient’ senior associate Victoria Vaccari Villela Boacnin.

Brazil > Environment Tier 3

Felsberg Advogados has established a niche specialism in waste management work, demonstrating strong capabilities in matters concerning the implementation of circular economy and take-back programmes. The firm, which is a go-to choice for industry associations, is turned to by clients from the worlds of electronics, food and beverages, and pharmaceuticals, which engage it in policy-making matters, environmental compliance and contamination cases. Climate change and ESG issues, including carbon credits and climate litigation, also feature in the firm’s workload. Fabricio Soler, who is often involved in studies for the World Bank, the United Nations and the National Confederation Industry, is a reference in the Brazilian legal market for waste law and environmental compliance. He heads up the team alongside senior associate Daniela Mota, who specialises in biodiversity issues, ESG and sanitation-related matters. Associate Rafael Locatelli is another practitioner to note for waste management, contaminated sites and protected areas.

Brazil > Public law Tier 3

At Felsberg Advogados, the ‘diligent, knowledgeable and caring’ public law department is geared to handle advisory, contentious and administrative law matters. Active in a wide range of segments, including media, energy, oil and gas, sanitation and telecoms, the team is typically engaged in large infrastructure projects, bidding procedures and PPPs. Singled out for her extensive experience in public law and life sciences, Marianne Albers excels in proceedings and negotiations before regulatory agencies. She co-leads the practice with Rodrigo Bertoccelli, a go-to adviser for infrastructure projects, with a focus on the sanitation and mobility sectors.

Brazil > TMT: Tech, innovation and digital business Tier 3

The ‘efficient and objective‘ team at Felsberg Advogados‘ draws on the firm’s multidisciplinary expertise in areas like corporate, data protection and capital markets to assist innovative businesses, start-ups and venture capital clients in transactional, compliance and contentious matters. Showcasing strength in a wide range of sub-sectors, including healthtech, agrotech, biotechnology, fintech and insurtech, the team is noted for its specialist knowledge of crypto assets, tech regulations and related risk mitigation. Evy Marques has substantial experience in the structuring of digital businesses, investment rounds and M&A transactions. Clarissa Luz leads the data protection team, and often acts for domestic and international clients in contentious matters. João Carlos Mendonça is a key contact for cryptocurrency and blockchain issues, while associate Bárbara Nátali Santos concentrates on corporate law, M&A, tech regulations.

Brazil > Life sciences Tier 4

Demonstrating 'great knowledge of the Brazilian regulatory landscape', the life sciences practice at Felsberg Advogados provides domestic and international clients with 'efficient and business-oriented legal advice', with a particular focus on contractual and regulatory matters involving ANS, ANVISA and MAPA. Other areas of activity include assisting clients in public bids and in the licensing and registration of products and medication. Chairing the practice, Marianne Albers is skilled at representing clients in proceedings before regulatory agencies. Key support is offered by associate Thais Fernandes, who frequently acts in administrative and judicial cases involving the life sciences and healthcare sectors.

Brazil > Projects and infrastructure Tier 4

Felsberg Advogados provides consulting and transactional advice in the context of project finance and development, M&A and administrative law. A popular destination for development banks, the firm has been particularly active in the structuring of PPP models for the provision of basic sanitation services in a variety of Brazilian states, and continues to be retained in project finance and contractual issues in the renewable energy, distributed generation, waste management and telecoms sectors. Key practitioners include banking and finance partner Maria Da Graça Pedretti; Marianne Albers, who focuses on public law and regulatory matters; Rodrigo Bertoccelli, who leads on project mandates in the sanitation, water, sewage and solid waste segments; and Ligia Schlittler, whose areas of expertise include green hydrogen projects. Joyce Mackay Meneghello Marques is also noted for her experience in the structuring of concessions, most notably in the sanitation sector.

Tax > Tax advisory Tier 4

Felsberg Advogados has a ‘very technically qualified’ tax team with ‘a deep understanding of the legal framework’. Tax advice linked to major insolvencies and restructurings is a core focus for the practice, which is also skilled at handling complex judicial and administrative proceedings. Anna Flávia De Azevedo Izelli Greco, who leads on tax litigation matters, also advises on customs issues and M&A due diligence. Tax litigation and consulting are core areas of activity for Rodrigo Prado Gonçalves, while the recently promoted Gabriel Paranaguá is entirely devoted to non-contentious tax mandates. Practice head Ivan Campos is particularly noted for his considerable experience in the telecoms sector. Former partner Flavia Ganzella is no longer at the firm. Rafael Macedo Malheiro left the firm in February 2024.

Brazil > Banking and finance Tier 5

Felsberg Advogados has made a strong push into the banking and finance space. With partner Ricardo Higashitani firmly embedded into the team, the firm’s offering in cross-border syndicated loans and other forms of complex financing and debt restructuring has been significantly enhanced. The practice has a strong foundation in project and aviation finance, with Maria Da Graça Pedretti playing an active role in these areas. The team acts for major banks, multilateral lenders, and borrowers, which not only instruct it in transactional work, but also seek advice on administrative proceedings and interactions with the main financial service regulators.

Brazil > White-collar crime and investigations Tier 5

At Felsberg Advogados, the white-collar crime and corporate investigations practice regularly assists household names from an array of sectors in crisis management, risk assessments, investigative procedures and litigation at the judicial and administrative levels. The group is especially skilled at handling federal and internal investigations into allegations of corruption, fraud, money laundering and environmental crime. André Fonseca possesses a wealth of experience in criminal litigation and police investigations.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Arbitration Tier 6

Led by Marcus Alexandre Matteucci Gomes, Felsberg Advogados offers support to corporations and individuals in a variety of arbitration matters, including proceedings arising from construction contracts, M&A, energy and commercial agreements. Practice head Gomes is noted for his experience in commercial arbitration and multi-jurisdictional matters.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Litigation Tier 7

Felsberg Advogados acts for private and publicly-owned companies from the food and beverage, infrastructure, shipping, aviation, construction and energy sectors in a broad range of litigation matters. Its caseload, which features both domestic and cross-border cases, is populated by proceedings arising from M&A, commercial, corporate and financial disputes, as well as torts and insolvencies. The practice is under the joint leadership of Marcus Alexandre Matteucci Gomes and Eduardo Périllier, who brings together expertise in bankruptcy, judicial restructurings and corporate disputes.