In Brasília, Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados has a well-established reputation for its expertise in private pension funds and regulated industries, including oil and gas, energy and telecoms. In addition to its notable strength in complex litigation at the administrative and judicial superior courts, the group is also noted for its track record in tax disputes, in which it often assists clients with proceedings before the Brazilian Federal Revenue Department. Practice head Cristiane Romano has extensive experience in litigation, arbitration and mediation and is especially sought after to handle cases before the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and the Brazil Federal Administrative Tax Court (CARF). Other key practitioners in the department include Diana Piatti Lobo, a specialist in administrative and judicial tax claims, and litigator João Vitor Luke Reis.

Mattos Filho‘s Brasília-based litigation and arbitration team is able to leverage the firm’s national office network and expertise in public law, tax, labour and corporate law to handle complex disputes of national relevance in the superior courts. Notably, the group acted for BHP Billiton in a R$155bn lawsuit regarding the environmental disaster caused by the collapse of the Fundão tailings dam in Mariana. The team also stands out for its track record in constitutional disputes involving bilateral agreements signed with other countries, concession transfers and mutual legal assistance treaties (MLAT). A key contact in the team is Maricí Giannico, who focuses on appellate litigation, administrative disputes and regulatory matters. At the associate level, names to note includde Marina De Mello Cerqueira Zarur and Marselhe Cristina De Mattos, both of whom have extensive experience in civil litigation at the trial and appellate levels. Diego Herrera de Moraes, who has handled matters before Brazil’s surperior courts, and is noted for his experience in disputes in the tech, media, entertainment and telecoms space, joined from HD Advogados in July 2022. Since publication, Frederico Bastos Pinheiro Martins is no longer at the firm.

Praised for its ‘dedication and commitment to achieve successful outcomes for clients’, the dispute resolution team at Pinheiro Neto Advogados is often retained by large national and international companies from an array of industries, including mining, banking, IT, construction and life sciences. The group handles a busy caseload, which includes matters related to public and constitutional law, corruption allegations, and corporate and commercial disputes. Names to note in the practice include mining law and government relations expert Carlos Vilhena; Leonardo Rocha e Silva, who focuses on complex litigation before the appellate courts; José Alexandre Buaiz Neto, whose expertise spans bribery investigations, competition law and compliance issues; and litigator Vicente Coelho Araujo.

Sergio Bermudes Advogados is well known for its specialised expertise in litigation. The group stands out for its track record in complex and high-stakes disputes before the superior courts and the federal regional courts in Brasília, where it handles a wide range of matters involving constitutional and public law, corporate and commercial issues and electoral law. In addition to its varied client list of companies from the energy, infrastructure, mining, banking and financial services sectors, the practice is also a popular choice for industry representatives such as the Associação Brasileira dos Produtores Independentes de Energia Elétrica (APINE) and Associação da Magistratura Brasileira (AMB), among others. The practice is jointly led by civil litigator André Silveira; Flávio Jardim, a key contact for tax, administrative and constitutional law disputes; public law litigator Guiomar Feitosa Lima Mendes; Guilherme Coelho, who focuses on complex cases before the regulatory agencies and superior courts; and Luis Felipe Freire Lisboa, whose expertise spans corporate, insurance and inheritance law.

Advocacia Fernanda Hernandez is well recognised for its strength in dispute resolution, particularly litigation related to finance and tax matters. The group is specialised in a broad range of judicial and administrative disputes, appellate litigation and complex cases before the superior courts, including representing companies as amicus curiae. Founding partner Fernanda Guimaraes Hernandez, who draws on over 30 years of experience in leading tax disputes, heads the firm. Cases involving government contracts, administrative misconduct and public procurement are among the areas of expertise for Luciana Marques dos Reis Frattini and Rebeca Azevedo da Silva. Rafaella Alencar Ribeiro focuses on tax planning and litigation, and Isadora Cronemberger Caixeta is a key contact for matters involving mining, constitutional and administrative law.

With a strong focus on dispute resolution, including both administrative and judicial proceedings, BFBM – Barroso Fontelles, Barcellos, Mendonça & Associados regularly acts on cases before the Supreme Federal Court (STF), the Supreme Court of Justice (STJ), the Superior Labour Court (TST) and the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU). The group is particularly known for its activity in the banking and finance, telecoms and technology segments, where it receives instructions from large domestic and international companies such as Petrobas and Meta Platforms. Litigator and consultant Eduardo Mendonça, who has recently been busy handling matters related to the regulation of new technologies, leads the practice. Felipe Monnerat Solon de Pontes, who heads the firm’s telecoms department; procedural and constitutional law expert Renata Saraiva Verano; and Rafael Barroso Fontelles, who focuses on high-value litigation cases in the banking sector, are also noted.

BMA - Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão is well recognised for its expertise in judicial review cases related to the legality of the enforcement of decisions made by government bodies. Under the leadership of André Macedo De Oliveira, the team is often retained to handle cases in the Supreme Federal Court, the Supreme Court of Justice and the Superior Labour Appeals Court. Key support is provided by associates Sarah Roriz De Freitas, who focuses on litigation before the superior courts, and Giovani Menicucci, who often represents companies from the construction, energy and telecoms sectors in disputes involving administrative misconduct and competition law.

Under the leadership of founding partner José Perdiz de Jesus , who draws on over 30 years of experience in appellate litigation, the dispute resolution team at Perdiz de Jesus Advogados Associados frequently acts for companies and private clients in arbitration proceedings and complex disputes before the higher courts in Brasília, most notably the Supreme Federal Court, the Supreme Court of Justice, the Superior Electoral Court and the Federal Regional Courts. Procedural law and civil and administrative litigation are areas of expertise for Rodrigo Neiva Pinheiro  and Vitor Perdiz de Jesus Borba .

Tauil & Chequer Advogados is well known for its strong track record in appellate litigation, as well as in high-profile disputes before regulatory agencies. The group is especially sought after to assist with commercial and corporate disputes in an array of sectors, including banking and finance, mining, construction and technology. Its association with Mayer Brown also means the group is equipped to deal with cross-border cases. The practice is jointly led by Mauro Pedroso Gonçalves, who has extensive experience in administrative proceedings, and Luis Inácio Lucena Adams, whose expertise spans litigation, arbitration and compliance matters.