Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados has an impressive banking and finance practice, which handles a mix of high-end transactional and regulatory work. The firm’s lawyers have vast expertise across a wide range of transactional types, including acquisition and asset financings, distressed debt, trade finance and corporate loans. Additionally, the firm has built a strong platform for regulatory advice, particularly in the payments and fintech space, where it has represented Ant Group/Alibaba on a range of related issues. Maurício Teixeira Dos Santos and Alexandre Gossn Barreto are two of the lead partners for regulatory matters, as well as broader financings, where fellow partners Ana Paula Calil, Joaquim De Oliviera and Daniel Laudisio have also established notable practices.

Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados is commended for the ‘availability and proactivity‘ of its ‘super technical lawyers‘, who have established trusted relationships with some of the largest domestic and international banks operating in Brazil. The multi-faceted practice handles a broad range of transactional and regulatory mandates, including cross-border bond offerings, acquisition and project financings, and support on structured products and refinancings. Coupled with this is an increasing amount of advice to fintech and payments companies. Adriano Schnur has taken over leadership of the practice from the highly experienced Nei Schilling Zelmanovits, who remains a key contact for complex financings. Other lead partners include Eduardo Avila de Castro for regulatory matters and Renato Gomes Ribeiro Maggio for debt restructuring and special situations. The versatile Rafael Carretero has also developed a good name in the field of banking and finance.

Mattos Filho has a leading multidisciplinary banking and finance practice, which covers all corners of the market. The team regularly assists lenders and borrowers on novel financings such as sustainability-linked revolving credit facilities, and other product types including securitisations, debt capital markets, project, trade and acquisition finance. The firm stands out for its corporate, fintech and regulatory work, which combined to good effect when advising the underwriters on Nubank’s ground-breaking $2.6bn global IPO. Among the partners, clients single out the ‘always available‘ Frederico Kerr Bullamah, and Flavia Magliozzi for her ‘proactivity, objectivity and refined technique‘. Bruno Tuca regularly handles major debt transactions, while Marina Anselmo Schneider is strong in structured finance. Pablo Sorj is active on the project finance side. Pedro Eroles is no longer at the firm.

Pinheiro Guimarães is a top choice for high-profile domestic and cross-border financings. The firm acts for a broad range of leading private and institutional creditors, including banks, governments and development agencies, as well as corporate borrowers. This includes regular involvement on some of the largest structured, project and acquisition financings on the market. Lead partners Francisco José Pinheiro Guimarães and Plinio Pinheiro Guimarães N respectively lead the team from the firm’s offices in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Other key partners include Ivie Moura Alves for structured syndicated loans and debt capital markets and Fábio Yanitchkis Couto for distressed debt situations. Roberta Pimentel is particularly active in infrastructure, energy and natural resources-related financings.

Pinheiro Neto Advogados' ‘huge technical and market knowledge' makes it one of the first destinations for ground-breaking transactional and regulatory matters. The firm remained busy during 2021 and 2022 in the booming payments and fintech space, where it has advised on some of the market’s largest transactions, including the IPO of digital bank Nubank. On the financing side, the team also assists major banks on a range of products, including debt capital markets, project and acquisition finance, and real estate and agribusiness debentures. Bruno Balduccini is one of the lead regulatory partners, while Jose Luiz Homem de Mello brings ‘extensive experience' in transactional matters. Fernando Ruiz de Almeida Prado is a key contact for structured products, while Yuka Ono heads the active Japan desk. Recently promoted partners Tatiana Mello Guazzelli and Raphael Palmieri Salomão are also developing strong reputations.

BMA – Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão is a popular destination for major corporate borrowers seeking support on their most complex financings. Recently, this has included advice on high-value cross-border restructurings and DIP financings, as well as asset-backed securitisations, acquisition financings and project finance mandates. The firm has also developed strong relationships with several leading banks, including BTG Pactual. The versatile practice head Camila Goldberg is experienced in structured financings and capital markets work, while partner Rafael D’Avila Dutra has notable project finance credentials. Anna Carolina Malta maintains an active practice advising investment funds and fund managers on related matters.

Demarest Advogados is considered by its banking clients to be ‘unique in its technical quality, in-depth knowledge of the subject and close relationships'. The well-regarded team has a good reputation for regulatory advice to banks, funds and fintechs, with practice head Fabio de Almeida Braga commended for being ‘excellent in the management of complex processes and technical knowledge'. On the transactional side, the firm advises on syndicated loans, project and trade finance, securitisations and structured products. Senior associate Marcelo Ikeziri is a key member of the team. Former partner Helen Naves left the firm in 2021.

Lefosse Advogados has placed a significant emphasis on its banking practice, which has seen considerable growth in recent years. The transactional side is particularly strong, with partners highly experienced in debt capital markets, securitisations, and structured, asset and project finance. This includes advice on cross-border financings and restructurings. The firm also has a notable track record in the payments and fintech space, supported by a solid grounding in financial services regulation. The deep bench of partners includes Roberto Zarour for structured finance, and Kenneth Antunes Ferreira, Renata Cardoso and Ricardo Prado for a variety of finance products and regulatory issues. The recruitment of Miriam Signor from Stocche Forbes Advogados added further experience to the team, particularly in real estate and project finance.

TozziniFreire Advogados has a versatile banking group, which is noted for its ‘customised solutions‘. The firm is especially strong in regulatory matters, where it represents a mix of fintech companies, payments providers and banks on a range of related issues, including licensing and partnership agreements. The firm’s transactional practice was also boosted by the arrival of Ricardo Stuber from KLA Advogados; he is particularly experienced in Real Estate Receivables certificates. The team has also been involved in several novel social impact-related financings. The practice is led by the ‘extremely attentive, proactive and agile‘ Alexei Bonamin, with recently promoted partner Marcus Fonseca  especially active on the fintech front. Pedro Eroles, whose practice focuses on fintech, payment regulation and cryptocurrency matters, joined from Mattos Filho in August 2022.

Veirano Advogados offers considerable expertise across a wide variety of domestic and cross-border financings. The firm has particularly notable experience in major transport, energy and infrastructure-related deals, where it represents major banks and multilateral lenders on ship and project finance. Structured products, debt capital markets and acquisition finance mandates also feature prominently in the firm’s workload. Rio de Janeiro-based partner Marcelo Mattos leads the team, with strong support from projects head Ana Carolina Barretto in São Paulo. Other key partners include Rogério Campos for ship finance, and Lior Pinsky for capital markets.

Stocche Forbes Advogados is experienced across a wide range of debt transactions, from complex acquisition financings and structured products through to high-profile debenture offerings and project finance mandates. Clients of the firm benefit from its deep bench of partners, including Marcos Ribeiro for debt capital markets, and versatile name partner Guilherme Forbes, Henrique Filizzola and Bruno Gandolfo. The project finance side, which also includes Frederico Moura, was further boosted by the arrival of new partner Marco Aurélio Saliba, a former in-house counsel at Proton Energia. Former partner Miriam Signor left the firm in April 2022.

Tauil & Chequer Advogados has a good track record for cross-border financings, and its association with Mayer Brown gives it the ability to ‘meet demands that involve different laws'. In addition to major financings, the firm is also active in the fintech and payments space. Clients appreciate the team’s ‘high-quality and timely‘ service and ‘very well-balanced sense of priorities'. Versatile practice head Eduardo Lima has strong credentials for assisting sponsors, lenders and government agencies in project financings. Luis Montes is ‘very complete, not only technically speaking but also with respect to interactions in general‘. Priscilla Santos is particularly experienced in regulatory matters.

Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper has a versatile practice, and can regularly be found assisting clients in a mix of regulatory and transactional matters. The firm’s international reach ensures a good flow of cross-border transactions for major banks, multilateral agencies, private credit funds, financial services companies and borrowers. Lead partners include Roberto Vianna do R Barros, who has a varied practice, embracing capital markets, project finance and structured finance, as well as regulatory advice, and Jorge Gallo, who is experienced in debt capital markets, non-performing loans, securitisations and restructurings.

Cascione Pulino Boulos Advogados excels in matters related to payments, fintech and associated regulatory issues. The firm represents a broad mix of banks, financial institutions and disruptive technology providers on the full suite of issues, including product launches and partnership agreements. Transactional work also features prominently, with a steady flow of work for banks in secured transactions, syndicated loans and project financings. Founding partner Fábio de Souza Aranha Cascione is the key contact for financings alongside recently promoted partner Gabriel Capella. Marcelo Padua Lima handles the payments, foreign exchange and regulatory side.

Dias Carneiro Advogados is noted for its ‘excellent market and technical knowledge‘. The firm’s clients include a mix of international banks and multilateral lenders, which instruct the firm on a variety of financings and debt restructurings. This extends to acquisition, trade and project finance, often linked to key sectors such as energy, natural resources and agribusiness, where the team also represents several borrowers. The team is a popular Brazilian co-counsel for international law firms, and practice head Thiago Vallandro Flores is ‘a great lawyer, widely recognised in the market for his expertise‘. Paulo Leme and associate Fernanda Savorelli Melhem are also noted.

Felsberg Advogados has invested into its banking and finance practice in recent years. The recruitment of Ricardo Higashitani as partner from KLA Advogados added experience in areas such as cross-border syndicated loans. The practice has traditionally been strong in project and aviation finance, areas in which Maria Da Graça Pedretti is particularly active, and represents major banks, multilateral lenders and borrowers. The team also represents clients in administrative proceedings before the key regulators in the financial services industry.

Santos Neto Advogados acts for domestic and international banks on a broad range of financing transactions. The firm has been creditor’s counsel on several significant debt restructurings, and also advises on syndicated loans, debt capital markets and high-value trade finance deals; the team’s strong reputation in the lattermost area builds on its solid understanding of the agribusiness and commodities sectors. Domicio Dos Santos Neto is the main contact. Nicolau Nardo recently joined from the Brazilian branch of Dutch investment bank, ABN Amro, as a partner.

Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados represents a broad selection of domestic and international borrowers and lenders. The firm regularly advises on acquisition and project financings, as well as syndicated loans and sector-related corporate work. The team also has an increased focus on regulatory matters for fintech companies, including advice on payment products, credit cards, joint venture agreements and banking services. Corporate finance partners Gabriella Maranesi Najjar, Denise Chachamovitz Leão de Salles and Rodrigo Vilardo Vella each have a good track record in this area. The firm’s alliance with Dentons gives it an edge in cross-border matters.