The multidisciplinary team at BMA - Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão is regularly turned to by an impressive roster of leading domestic and international companies across an array of industries, including retail, mining, agribusiness, energy, oil and gas and telecoms, on high-profile mandates. Comprised of ‘highly qualified, well-trained, up-to-date‘ professionals, the team stands out for its track record in M&A deals involving publicly traded companies. Beyond this area of strength, the group’s cross-sector focus ensures that it is also sought out by clients in the context of public offerings, transactions for sale of control, transfers of minority holdings, structuring of joint ventures, and corporate reorganisations. In diversity and inclusion, the firm’s commitment to gender diversity is demonstrated by its significant proportion of women partners who have an active role in strategic decision-making, and its initiative to support the professional development of women lawyers through its gender equality programme, BMAWomen. Also noteworthy is the firm’s participation in Projeto Incluir Direito to foster educational and training opportunities for black students in order to enhance their competitiveness in the job market. Luís Loria Flaks and Roberto Dias Carneiro, both of whom have played an instrumental part in many of the most high-profile corporate matters and transactions handled by the team in recent decades, jointly chair the department. Paulo Cezar Aragão, who specialises in cross-border transactions and commercial arbitration, is a reference in the market, given his involvement in market-shaping M&A transactions across Latin America. Active in both sell and buy-side deals and private equity investments, Monique Mavignier is also part of the core team. Other key individuals include Luiz Antonio Campos, a counsel of choice for listed companies; joint ventures and foreign investment specialist Amir Bocayuva Cunha; senior associate Thiago Pinho; recently promoted Ana Paula Reis; and Ellen Juste Nuñez, a key contact for clients from the health sector. Luciana Magalhães Costa is a name to note for commercial contracts. Founding partners Plínio Barbosa and Francisco Müssnich have a wealth of experience in complex M&A and corporate matters. Since publication, Felipe Bon and Rodrigo Mariani were welcomed to the partnership at the end of 2022.

Maintaining a top-tier corporate and M&A practice, Cescon Barrieu offers broad corporate and transactional support to an impressive client base of financial institutions and blue-chip companies across all of Brazil’s major industries, including energy, telecoms, life sciences and retail, among others. The team, which is comprised of partners and associates with notable international backgrounds, is well placed to handle innovative and high-value cross-border M&A deals, and has been recently involved in several distressed asset transactions, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The firm’s move towards internationalisation is evidenced by the recent opening of an office in Toronto, as Canada becomes a prime destination for its clients operating in the mining and oil and gas segments. The firm’s focus on gender diversity is apparent through the strong representation of women partners in its corporate and M&A department, with female staff comprising over 70% of the firm’s partner promotions in 2021. Other D&I initiatives include LIFT, through which the firm offers professional mentoring to young low-income black, cis and transgender people. Maria Cristina Cescon ‘is one of the most brilliant lawyers in Brazil’; she acts for financial institutions, corporations and private equity funds in large-cap M&A. She leads the group with Marcos Rafael Flesch, who is a key contact for corporate governance matters. Acquisitions and divestitures, as well as distressed transactions, are core areas of activity for Ronald Herscovici. Cristina de Freitas Bueno has taken a lead role in some of the most high-profile deals handled by the team recently. Other noteworthy practitioners include Darkson Delmondes Galvão, who also advises on private equity investments, Ana Carolina Castro Reis Passos, Luciana De Castro Mares Torres, who ‘stands out due to her knowledge, engagement, dedication and team coordination‘ and the highly recommended Eduardo Lanna. Marcelo Moura, senior associate Marina Faro and Fernanda Montorfano Gibson are other names to note for corporate and M&A work. Since publication, the corporate and M&A group was strengthened by the February 2023 arrival of Andrea Barbosa Campos, who was previously of counsel at Paul Hastings LLP.

With over seventy years of experience in domestic and cross-border M&A, Demarest Advogados routinely handles a significant volume of large-cap, and oftentimes innovative, transactions on behalf of Brazil’s foremost companies, private equity players and financial institutions. The team, which has developed special regional groups composed of dual-qualified professionals, is seen with great regularity advising on multi-jurisdictional deals, including inbound and outbound investments, where the team acts for Brazilian blue-chip companies looking to expand their operations internationally. Its recent workload includes advising on the structuring of the first special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) registered with the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM), and on the implementation of the first go-shop provision in a merger agreement in Brazil. The firm has adopted a number of structures and initiatives aimed at enhancing diversity and inclusion, including D Mulheres, a gender equality group focused on the fair distribution of opportunities within the profession; D Mais, which aims to foster a welcoming work environment for everyone irrespective of sexual orientation; and D Raízes, which works against racial discrimination. Corporate governance and M&A specialist Luciana Cossermelli Tornovsky ‘evaluates situations with depth, but also practicality‘. With ‘in-depth knowledge of corporate and M&A‘, José Diaz manages a varied transactional workload covering M&A and corporate reorganisations. Paulo Coelho da Rocha brings experience in mergers, acquisitions and corporate governance, while Ana Carolina Botto Audi is particularly seasoned in private equity and venture capital investments, going-private deals and joint ventures. Thiago Sandim, who has a longstanding reputation in the field; Joyl Gondim, who excels in mid-market deals; key contact for infrastructure-related matters Gabriel Kuznietz; Bruna Toledo Pacheco; and Daniel Caramaschi also form part of the core team. Focused on M&A, private equity and corporate reoganisations, Fábio Tayar is a name to note at the associate level.

The ‘excellent M&A team‘ at Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados is well placed to handle many of the most complex, high-stakes transactions taking place in the market. With great geographical reach that stretches across the country, and an office in New York, the department is skilled at assisting publicly and privately held companies, investment funds, financial institutions, and governmental entities in both buy and sell-side cross-border transactions with ties to Brazil. Over the past year, the team has advised on several high-end deals across the financial services, oil and gas, retail, energy and mining sectors, ranging from M&A to joint ventures, asset divestments and privatisations. Innovative work is at the core of the practice, which also utilises technology and AI tools to improve efficiency in the provision of its services. The firm’s extensive D&I programme is structured in three pillars, covering gender equality (Elas Conectam), LGBTIQA+ (#1gualdade) and racial equality (ID.Afro). Its pro-bono work is also noteworthy; 2021 saw more than 189 practitioners, including partners and associates, advising numerous NGOs and reaching a total of 3,750 pro-bono hours. Leading the corporate group, Guilherme Bueno Malouf specialises in M&A and private equity investments in a multitude of economic sectors. Corporate law specialist Adriana Pallis is recommended for corporate governance issues and transactions involving listed companies. Private equity funds with investments in Brazil routinely turn to Mauro Cesar Leschziner, while Arthur Bardawil Penteado has been particularly active advising Petrobras in its $15bn divestment programme. Ivandro Maciel Sanchez Junior is a name to note for Spanish clients; he heads up the Iberian desk, a multidisciplinary group of Spanish lawyers. Elie Sherique undertakes domestic and cross-border work related to joint ventures, M&A, private equity and corporate reorganisations. Paulo Markossian Nunes, Mariana Meditsch and Paulo Henrique Carvalho Pinto were promoted to partner in 2021.

‘One of the best full-service firms in Brazil’, Mattos Filho ‘has a very robust team’, which is ‘prepared to face any challenge’ on behalf of a stellar client base comprising domestic and multinational companies across key sectors such as life sciences, technology, financial services, healthcare, energy and construction. Fully dedicated to corporate and M&A matters and with lawyers based across Brazil, London and New York, the department offers support during every stage of negotiations and throughout the entire life cycle of businesses. Some of the largest private equity funds and investors regularly retain the firm in market-leading deals, as do venture capital clients, start-ups and technology players engaged in complex transactions. The firm’s extensive diversity and inclusion programme sees it acting on six fronts: gender equality, LGBTIQAP+ rights, racial equity, rights of people with disabilities, religious freedom, and more recently, parenting responsibilities and gender equity. Another highlight is the firm’s varied and pioneering pro bono practice, which was created to address the lack of access to justice and the scenario of human rights violations in Brazil. Daniel Calhman de Miranda enjoys a strong reputation for his capabilities in cross-border transactions. João Ricardo de Azevedo Ribeiro – a key relationship partner for a diverse roster of private and public companies, private equity funds and foreign investors – possesses considerable experience in M&A, corporate restructurings and joint ventures, which are also among Marcelo Ricupero‘s areas of expertise. Moacir Zilbovicius is a go-to attorney for mandates involving publicly held companies, while Paula Vieira de Oliveira is noted for her private equity sector acumen. Private equity investments also feature heavily in Pedro Whitaker De Souza Dias‘s workload. Fernando Amendola leads on M&A deals in the real estate space. Other names to note include Luciana Pietro Lorenzo and Maria Fernanda de Almeida Prado e Silva. Tomás Neiva joined from CFA Advogados in August 2021. Since publication, Thaís Gasparian Moraes has been promoted to partner.

Praised by clients for its ‘deep legal knowledge, excellent negotiation skills and relevant deal flow’, Pinheiro Neto Advogados continues to advise buyers, sellers, private equity funds, venture capital firms and financial institutions on blockbuster M&A deals in a variety of industries. The team has reported a recent uptick in transactional mandates within the technology, education, energy, oil and gas, healthcare, agribusiness and infrastructure sectors, which are all undergoing a consolidation process in the country. In terms of technology and innovation, the firm has adopted new software solutions based on data analytics and machine learning to support decision-making in many of its core practice areas. Its D&I programme promotes internal and external actions, with an emphasis on gender equality, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, people with disabilities, religious freedom, and financial and geographic diversity. On this front, it supports Ismart – Instituto Social para Motivar, Apoiar e Reconhecer Talentos, a non-profit that assists young people from low-income backgrounds by offering them scholarships in prime schools and access to vocational programmes from elementary to higher education levels. As a result, many law students linked to this entity joined the firm as interns. Furthermore, the firm, which was the first in the market to offset its entire carbon footprint, has been offering advice on a pro-bono basis since its inception in 1942. Focused on private equity and M&A transactions, Carlos Alberto Moreira Lima Jr manages the group, which also features managing partners Alexandre Bertoldi and Fernando Alves Meira, the latter of whom excels in cross-border deals. Marcelo Viveiros de Moura is experienced in M&A in the oil and gas space, while Henry Sztutman and Miguel Tornovsky are trusted by several private equity firms. Other core members of the team include Joao Marcelo Pacheco, Fernando Zorzo, whose experience covers corporate reorganisations involving listed companies, Eduardo Paoliello Jr., Vânia Marques Ribeiro Moyano and Joamir Müller Romiti Alves, who is highlighted for his ‘excellent negotiation skills’. Camila Carvalho Gomes and Thiago José da Silva were promoted to partner in early 2022. Since publication, Tiago Eler Silva and Cauê Rezende Myanaki have been raised to the partnership – with effect from January 2023.

An exceptional 12 months for Lefosse Advogados saw the firm advising on a series of market-shaping deals across the healthcare, oil and gas, retail and technology segments. Brazilian and international companies engaged in strategic transactions regularly turn to the team for assistance with the full range of M&A, private equity and venture capital deals. On the innovation front, the firm’s recent investment in technology and new software systems aims to streamline the provision of legal advice. The firm’s diversity and inclusion programme was established in 2017 to focus on four grounds: gender, race, LGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities. More recently, the firm has revised its internal policies concerning talent attraction and retention in order to place a larger emphasis on diversity during the recruitment process. Leading the corporate and M&A practice, Luiz Octavio Lopes brings to the table a wealth of experience in both corporate and capital market transactions at the domestic and international level. Carlos Mello is the trusted advisor to many of the firm’s most important corporate clients; corporate reorganisations and M&A are among his areas of expertise. André Calumby, who is a name to note for corporate governance, has recently handled deals on behalf of a multitude of entities, including private and public companies, private equity houses and venture capital funds. Typical instructions for Christiano Rehder range from corporate restructuring to foreign investments, private equity and joint ventures. Christian Roschmann left the firm in April 2022. Since publication, Leonardo Batista has been promoted to partner.

The highly regarded team at Stocche Forbes Advogados maintains a broad offering in the area of corporate and M&A. Noted for its partner-level involvement and ‘focus on long-term relationships‘ with major clients, the team is frequently engaged in innovative, high-end and complex transactional work, covering the formation of joint ventures, share purchases and sale arrangements and corporate reorganisations in the energy, retail, food and life sciences sectors, to name a few. Private equity is a strong point for the department, which often attracts instructions from local and foreign funds seeking to invest in Brazil. A multidisciplinary team led by capital markets and M&A partners Henrique Filizzola and Rafael Andrade oversees the legal innovation initiatives launched by the firm to optimise efficiency; it recently teamed up with a software development boutique to develop a bespoke AI solution to be utilised during due diligence processes. On the diversity and inclusion front, the firm has developed four internal committes focused on gender (SF Mulher), LGBTQIAP+ (SOMOS), disability (Ultra), and ethnicity and race (Radix) issues. André Mestriner Stocche and Flavio Meyer have been working on corporate law matters and M&A for over two decades; private equity transactions, where they act on both the sell and buy side, is another area of expertise for the pair. Fabiano Milani has considerable experience in cross-border deals involving Latin American jurisdictions. Matheus Campos ‘is tireless and always attentive to every detail of a transaction’. Other noteworthy practitioners include Bruno Bercito and Ricardo Peres Freoa. Emilio Gallucci is a key contact for foreign companies and investment funds, while Alessandra Zequi stands out for her track record in deals involving listed companies. Luciana Stracieri and Teo Silva Galvão were welcomed to the partnership in 2022. Fernanda Cardoso is no longer at the firm.

The multidisciplinary team at Tauil & Chequer Advogados is a solid performer in transactional, regulatory and contentious matters. Brazilian and international corporations, financial institutions, buyout firms, private equity funds, investors and pension funds routinely seek the team’s assistance in the context of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, consolidations, spin-offs and corporate restructurings. Oil and gas-related deals are a cornerstone of the department, whose sectoral coverage also extends to chemicals, agriculture, technology, education, retail, real estate and retail. Benefitting from its association with Mayer Brown, the firm offers a global risk management tool to clients, which can easily build a picture of their risk landscape and consider mitigation strategies in the context of transactions. Its pro bono commitment is also of note; it has recently worked on a pro bono basis with the Vance Center for International Justice, the CEFIS (Centre for Philanthropy and Social Inversions of the Adolfo Ibáñez University in Chile), the Ellen MacArthurFoundation in circular economy projects, the AAME (Association of Friends of Spinal Muscular Atrophy) and Mundo Gentileza, an organisation that provides educational support to public school students across the country. Alexandre Chequer is seasoned in M&A and joint ventures involving oil and gas players. He oversees the practice with Carlos Motta, whose experience includes cross-border transactions, private equity and venture capital, and Victor Galante, another name to note for deals in the oil and gas, energy and natural resources segments. Bruno Salzano is proficient in inbound and outbound investments, cross-border M&A and corporate restructuring. Since publication, the firm has hired Olavo Bentes David (formerly the legal head of state-owned entity Pré-Sal Petróleo – PPSA) as a counsel, effective as of October 2022.

TozziniFreire Advogados‘ team is regularly instructed by a sizeable roster of prestigious corporate clients in an array of high-end and mid-market M&A transactions, private equity investments and divestitures, both domestic and cross-border in nature. Under the joint leadership of Marcela Waksman Ejnisman and João Busin, the practice has been notably active in high-profile deals in the technology and software fields, including fintech, as well as healthcare, logistics and infrastructure, among other sectors. Highlighted for its focus in innovation and strength in venture capital matters, the team has been ‘fostering the growth of new companies and entrepreneurship through Think Future‘, a programme whose focal point is on agile methodologies, visual law and legal initiatives that bring lawyers closer to the technical and operational areas of the law firm. On the topic of innovation, the firm has long utilised automated due diligence and AI sytems aiming at reducing costs and enhancing efficiency in the provision of legal services. Its D&I initiative (TFInclusão), which comprises affinity groups focusing on gender, LGBTIQA+, race, people with disabilities, refugees and sustainability, is also of note. The firm’s well-established pro bono programme goes from strength to strength; the firm reported an increase of almost 400% hours per year since 2017. Names to note in the M&A team include Maria Elisa Gualandi Verri, who acts for public and privately held companies in deals across the infrastructure, logistics and energy sectors. Silvia Martins De Castro Cunha Zono marries M&A experience with in-depth knowledge of wealth and estate planning, while Fernando Silveira Carvalho is recommended for venture capital and foreign investments. Victor Frias Françoso ‘is an excellent professional and super available‘. Juliana Soares Zaidan Maluf and Beatriz Seixas recently joined from Pinheiro Neto Advogados, while João Ribeiro da Costa  and Oswaldo Dalla Torre arrived from Landi, Rodrigues, Nakano e Giovannetti Advogados. Since publication, Francisco Eumene Machado de Oliveira Neto has left the firm.

Praised for its ‘differentiated business acumen‘, Veirano Advogados has cemented a strong reputation for M&A in the Brazilian market. With practitioners based in São Paulo, Porto Alegre and in the newly opened Rio de Janeiro headquarters, the practice is well suited to handle high-value M&A deals involving listed companies, mid-market and smaller transactions concerning family-owned businesses, and strategic cross-border investments. Private equity transactions are a notable field of activity for the team, which is also well placed to assist in the venture capital, technology and start-ups spaces. The firm has been developing its diversity and inclusion programme, InclusiVA, for the past six years with a particular focus on five aspects: age, gender, race, sexual orientation and social background. Its commitment to increase female participation and representation in the firm was reflected by the recent appointment of Paula Surerus, the first woman to hold the role in the firm’s 50-year history. Augusto Cesar Barbosa De Souza, who has handled M&A deals in the pharmaceutical, IT, retail and petrochemical segments, manages the corporate group alongside Fernando Verzoni, Lior Pinsky, who is highlighted for his knowledge of public M&A, private equity and capital markets, and managing partner Surerus. Alberto Bragança has a strong transactional record in regulated sectors, while Vitor Rozenthal boasts far-reaching experience in buy and sell-side M&A deals, corporate restructurings and private equity. Vanessa Felício and Daniel Augusto Malatesta, the latter of whom is well regarded for his performance in domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures and venture capital, were promoted to partner in early 2022. Since publication, Diego Yago Rodrigues and Maria Cecilia Vieira were welcomed to the partnership, effective as of January 2023.

Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper‘s presence in high-end and mid-market M&A space is reflected in the volume of big-ticket, cross-border deals the team advises on. Benefitting from its association with the DLA Piper global network, the firm is a go-to destination for companies taking part in multi-jurisdictional transactions. In addition, it is able to make use of state-of-the-art technology and software tools to improve efficiency. During the review period, the practice reported increased activity in private equity, joint ventures and M&A involving energy, oil and gas, and distressed assets. Department head Fabiano Gallo has recently been engaged by international clients looking to establish or expand their activities in Brazil; energy and infrastructure-related transactions are among his fields of expertise. Clients seeking assistance in corporate law and real estate M&A regularly retain Fabio Perrone Campos Mello, while Carolina Marcondes Sant’Angelo leads advice to retail, technology and industrial goods companies in the context of commercial contracts, M&A and private equity deals. Other key contacts include Oduvaldo Lara Júnior and the recently promoted Renata Amorim. Another relevant feature of the firm is its pro bono programme, coordinated by insurance and reinsurance partner Marcella Hill, which supports causes related to climate change, and social and gender equality.

Singled out for its ‘exceptional technical quality and negotiation skills', Pinheiro Guimarães has considerable experience in sophisticated M&A transactions involving clients of all sizes, from publicly traded companies to start-ups. Drawing on the firm’s banking and finance tradition, the group is well positioned to handle high-end deals in the financial services sector; private equity investments, and M&A involving listed companies, which generally have additional regulatory challenges, are other notable areas of strength for the team. Its busy workload not only features domestic and cross-border M&A, but also public offerings, joint ventures, spin-offs and corporate reorganisations across a range of industries. Plinio Pinheiro Guimarães steers the Rio de Janeiro-based team on complex M&A deals, and Francisco José Pinheiro Guimarães oversees M&A, private equity and corporate law matters handled by the São Paulo office. Fellow co-head Marcelo Lamy Rego is noted for his ‘in-depth knowledge of corporate law, Brazilian legislation and comprehensive view of all kinds of legal challenges'. Rodrigo Marcilio is trusted by private equity funds and large corporations in both sell and buy-side transactions. Large-cap M&A and distressed deals are key areas of activity for Sérgio Ramos Yoshino. Maria Amélia Lisbão Senra is noted for her transactional track record in the financial, healthcare and retail sectors.  Also recommended, René Mostardeiro Brunet is a key contact for cross-border M&A and private equity deals, and Carolina Cardoso Ramalho brings together experience in corporate finance and business transactions. The firm has made significant investments in technology, including the implementation of AI tools to facilitate research, legal precedent analysis and due diligence exercises in the context of transactions.

Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados continues to attract top-end M&A mandates, regularly acting on behalf of numerous household names in the healthcare, retail, energy, financial services, and media and entertainment industries, to name a few. Its strategic alliance with Dentons makes it a popular choice for clients, including private equity and financial services players, engaged in high-value, cross-border transactions with ties to Brazil. As a result of this association, the firm has implemented a global strategic business plan based on four main pillars (grow, protect, operate and finance), through which it has already adopted numerous cybersecurity measures and technological tools to address clients’ most pressing needs. Corporate partner Bruna Gobbi serves as co-head of the firm’s D&I committee and WomenLEAD In Brazil, a programme centred around gender equality in the legal profession. The corporate and M&A group is under the joint leadership of founding partners Frederico Buosi and Rodrigo Vilardo Vella, both of whom possess decades of experience in corporate transactions, including joint ventures and private equity investments. Denise Chachamovitz Leão de Salles specialises in M&A and compliance matters; Gabriella Maranesi Najjar is a key figure in the group, with a particular focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors; and recently promoted partner Fernanda Le Tassinari is singled out for her track record in the life sciences space. Fernando Henrique Lopes, who was also welcomed to the partnership, ‘is an invaluable advisor‘ in the areas of corporate law and compliance.

Araújo e Policastro Advogados has a longstanding reputation in the Brazilian market, and is praised for combining ‘tradition and innovation to provide quality legal services‘. The full range of corporate and M&A services are catered for, with the team regularly acting for leading multinational and Brazilian clients from the healthcare, real estate, chemicals, telecoms, education, banking and infrastructure sectors, among others. The team handles a steady flow of M&A transactions, but is also prepared to provide non-transactional advice, and support in the context of corporate disputes. On the contentious front, the practice, which is made up of a majority of female lawyers, offers clients a tool that automatically allows the follow-up of ongoing lawsuits. Theodoro Araújo, who leads the thriving succession planning department, also oversees work pertaining to M&A, including cross-border deals. Focused on mergers, acquisitions and divestments, José Paulo Bueno is also active in joint ventures, shareholder issues and commercial agreements. These are all areas in which Camila Araújo is a key contact; she also has a wealth of experience assisting foreign entities in their operations in Brazil. Tania Mara Ferreira specialises in M&A and contractual matters in the automotive sector; other key practitioners in the group include Fernanda Pereira Leite and Bárbara Moreira.

Azevedo Sette Advogados fields a ‘team with excellent technical quality and negotiation skills‘, which is equally adept at handling both domestic and cross-border mid-cap transactions on behalf of domestic and foreign banks and companies. Besides M&A, the team – whose practitioners are based across São Paulo and Belo Horizonte – is seasoned in corporate reorganisations, commercial agreements and regulatory matters involving a range of sectors, such as energy, infrastructure and healthcare. Jointly leading the team, Fernando Azevedo Sette and Luiz Augusto Azevedo Sette each draw upon more than 25 years’ experience in foreign investments and commercial contracts. Leonardo Costa de Souza leads on transactions involving the infrastructure and real estate segments, while Ana Paula Terra Caldeira is counsel of choice for several mining and technology clients in transactional mandates. Frederico Bopp Dieterich is another name to note for infrastructure-related M&A. Roberto Ribas Wilson, Alessandra Martins De Souza and Luis Ricardo Miraglia are other core members of team; they focus on transactional and commercial work. Eleonora Santiago Carneiro Quadro is a key contact for outbound investments into Europe, especially in the fields of technology and real estate. Since publication, partner André de Godoy Fernandes joined from Mattos Engelberg Echenique Advogados, effective as of October 2022, and Natasha Midori Hinata was promoted to partner in January 2023.

Felsberg Advogados‘ corporate offering is especially concentrated on clients in the agribusiness, life sciences, infrastructure, retail and technology sectors, where the team is adept at handling large transactions, mergers and corporate reorganisations. The practice – which benefits from the firm’s strong credentials in the bankruptcy and restructuring fields – is well placed to advise on M&A transactions involving distressed assets. It also houses a sub-group focused on innovation, start-ups and venture capital, which is devoted to assisting investors, private equity players, financial institutions, accelerators and innovative businesses in their embryonic stage throughout rounds of investments; Evy Marques oversees this type of work. João Carlos Mendonça receives praise for his comprehensive knowledge of M&A and private equity; he is trusted by several of the firm’s technology and healthcare clients. Pharmaceutical companies turn to Claudia Maniaci for advice on corporate reorganisations, M&A and private equity deals. Maria Carolina Guazzelli is proficient in spin-offs and mergers, and a key contact for the retail segment. Bárbara Nátali Santos stands out at the associate level for her experience in venture capital and corporate reorganisations. The team was boosted by the addition of two new equity partners in 2021: Anneliese Eger returned from Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner to lead the firm’s international department. Since publication, Miriam Machado Kleissl, Mirella Kaufman, Tasso Cipriano and Renato Brandão have left the firm.

Madrona Fialho Advogados fields a team of ‘highly qualified professionals‘, ‘with extensive experience in corporate and M&A‘. Rated for their ‘knowledge, experience, dedication and commitment‘, the firm’s practitioners attract buy and sell-side instructions in relation to a range of domestic and cross-border transactions across the healthcare, agribusiness and technology sectors, among others. Ricardo Madrona undertakes the full array of corporate and M&A work, including corporate restructuring, joint ventures and arbitration, while José Luis Camargo Jr. is best known for his strength in mergers and acquisitions in the infrastructure and private equity spaces. Milena Coimbra Mazzini is widely recommended for her ‘deep knowledge of corporate law and great negotiating skills‘; she is seasoned in succession planning, commercial transactions and contractual issues. Danilo Mininel is extremely active in the practice, where he handles a steady flow of transactional and contractual mandates. Technology, entertainment and advertising clients regularly turn to Luciana Renouard for advice on M&A. Luciana Felisbino, who stands out for her experience in asset and equity deals, joined from Machado Associados in September 2021, while Roberto Pary, who has more than 20 years of experience in the market, arrived in September 2022 from Marcelo Tostes Advogados. The result of the 2023 merger between Madrona Advogados and Fialho Salles Advogados, the firm has recently added Luciano Fialho, Alice Dourado, Patricia Alvarenga and associate Bárbara Monduzzi to the corporate and M&A team.

Abe Advogados ‘provides a differentiated service‘ in the field of corporate and M&A, where it advises a variety of longstanding and new clients operating in a range of sectors, notably technology, agribusiness and education. Besides assisting in mid-market M&A transactions, the team is also adept at handling cross-border deals and corporate restructuring issues. Its Japan desk continues to be a source of high-end corporate transactions; co-head Marcos Seiiti Abe has a notable track record in deals involving Japanese clients, and is also recognised for his strength in distressed M&A and corporate disputes. He oversees the practice with Fernando Zanotti Schneider, who is a key advisor for M&A transactions and has in-depth knowledge of earn-out and purchase price adjustment clauses. William Joji Nakasone specialises in M&A, venture capital and corporate restructuring matters, which are also among Daniel Afonso Franzin‘s areas of expertise. The firm has recently established an ESG committee to foster processes, activities and policies to make it a more sustainable, socially responsible and transparent organisation. Since publication, Renato Giovanini Filho left the firm in July 2022.

Candido Martins Advogados is highly active in mid-market M&A, where it routinely acts for private equity firms on the buy side, and family-owned businesses as sellers in a variety of industries. Its recent work showcases its strength in handling complex deals in the healthcare, energy, agribusiness, education and technology sectors. The firm has actively invested in innovation and technology to enhance efficiency during M&A transactions: it has implemented AI solutions that can anticipate potential contingencies during the early stages of due diligence processes, and is developing a software that will help in the management of post-closing issues. Department leader Henrique Martins has significant experience in private equity and M&A transactions in the banking, forestry and education spaces. Renata Simon maintains a broad practice in M&A and capital markets, and Daniel Rodrigues Alves focuses on corporate deals, contractual issues and private equity. Mateus Lopes da Silva Leite, who made partner in June 2022, and associate Raphael Pereira Arantes Pires are also names to note.

CGM Advogados regularly advises numerous established and fast-growing companies on a range of M&A and commercial transactions, including joint ventures, reorganisations and corporate governance projects. The team, which is ‘formed by professionals of the highest technical quality‘, is instructed by a strong and diverse mix of domestic and international clients, most notably in the automotive, technology, retail, life sciences and real estate areas. Adriano Chaves oversees the corporate and M&A, data protection and privacy groups, and is particularly skilled in assisting technology clients and international start-ups looking to enter the Brazilian market. Fellow co-head René Gelman is often engaged in mandates pertaining to strategic alliances, corporate restructurings and joint ventures. Marcia Mandelbaum and Camila Magami Cardinale were recently promoted to the partnership.

The ‘excellent M&A team‘ at Dias Carneiro Advogados continues to expand its client base, and has particular experience in the renewable energy, telecoms, technology and real estate sectors. The practice has a well-established practice in M&A, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, business combinations and spin-offs. Besides its strong capabilities in transactional work, the group also advises a sizeable portfolio of companies on general corporate law and governance matters. Paula Seabra Carvalho Reis is seasoned in M&A transactions in the infrastructure space, and also assists closed and publicly held clients in corporate restructurings. She jointly heads up the department with Artur Fernandes Andrezo, who is rated by clients as ‘one of the best M&A partners in Brazil‘. Débora Trovões Cabral, who has extensive experience in M&A, corporate restructuring and corporate law, was recently promoted to counsel. Senior associate Max Ide Hasimoto joined in January 2022 to boost the department in the fields of foreign investments and corporate disputes. Tathiana Martini Quercetti Moreira Luz is also noted for her involvement in cross-border deals and joint ventures.

FreitasLeite Advogados' well-established presence in the capital markets space makes it a strong choice for clients engaged in M&A transactions involving listed companies, asset management companies and banks. In addition, the team handles a continuous flow of instructions from family offices, fintech clients and private equity funds in both sell and buy-side deals and day-to-day corporate matters. Standing out for ‘his solid technical knowledge and extensive experience in corporate, tax and accounting’, Pedro Afonso Gutierrez Avvad leads the department with Claudio Fabricio Lima, who is recommended for his ‘great negotiation skills and legal knowledge'. Joaquim Chacur Mano has advised on the structuring of M&A transactions, and also works on corporate disputes and shareholder issues. Guilherme Anderaos Peloia ‘possesses great technical knowledge' and is another key practitioner who dedicates his time to corporate law and M&A.

The corporate and M&A team at Gasparini, Nogueira de Lima e Barbosa Advogados is highlighted by clients for the ‘availability of professionals, attention to the client, quality of analyses and advice'. Mid-market M&A, including domestic and cross-border transactions, are at the core of the practice, which acts for an array of corporate clients across the technology, manufacturing, agribusiness and retail sectors. Marcus Phelipe Barbosa de Souza and Felipe Mavignier jointly head up the department, which also features Paula Taira Horiuti, Desire Tamberlini Campiotti Pajola and Guilherme Dantas.

The corporate practice at Peixoto e Cury Advogados acts for a mix of mid-cap entities, family-owned businesses and private equity funds on local and cross-border M&A deals. Its practitioners – many of whom have international experience linked to the US – are also skilled in corporate restructuring and debt transactions. Claudia Soares Garcia has a wealth of experience in regulatory issues, corporate law and compliance, while Bernardo Coelho Rezende Vieira is noted for his experience in working with listed companies and clients from Japan, China, Germany and the US. Since publication, José Ricardo de Bastos Martins, Rafael Villac Vicente De Carvalho and Renan Bruno Agustinide Oliveira have left the firm.

Primarily based in São Paulo but with an additional office in São Bernardo do Campo, Rayes & Fagundes Advogados Associados handles the entire gamut of corporate law matters and M&A transactions, frequently acting on due diligence reviews and the setting up of business operations in Brazil. Corporate restructurings and shareholder agreements also feature in the firm’s workload, which includes mandates across a range of sectors, such as technology, life sciences, education, energy and banking. Fabiana Fonseca, who has been particularly active in partnership negotiations and restructuring matters, heads up the team, whose lawyers are praised for their ‘great legal knowledge and practical vision'. Carolina Taunay Joop handles commercial agreements, corporate reorganisations and M&A, and the highly regarded Ludmila Passos Holtz focuses on cross-border transactions, contracts and capital markets.

Working in close collaboration with other departments in the firm (including tax, labour, competition and bankruptcy), the corporate and M&A group at Souto Correa Advogados offers multidisciplinary advice in the context of M&A deals, corporate restructurings and joint venture agreements. The team, which is often retained by major players in the energy, technology, agribusiness, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors, excels in foreign investment mandates, where it acts for global and regional clients in incorporations, restructurings or the expansion of operations in Brazil. The practice is under the joint leadership of managing partner Carlos Souto and Rodrigo Tellechea, both of whom possess in-depth knowledge of M&A transactions, corporate reorganisations and contractual structures. Gilberto Deon Corrêa Junior and the ‘incredibly talented' Mauricio Negri Paschoal are also recommended for corporate, commercial and M&A matters. Clarissa Yokomizo excels in cross-border transactions, joint ventures and financing issues. The firm’s diversity committee is focused on the promotion of measures to reduce unconscious biases in hiring processes and career progression. It has recently partnered up with Pretos no Direito and Black Tax Matters, which seek to connect black students and professionals and companies that are committed to making the legal profession more diverse and inclusive.

Mid-market companies and other entities, including publicly held corporations and private equity funds, turn to Bocater, Camargo, Costa e Silva, Rodrigues Advogados on a regular basis for assistance in M&A and non-transactional corporate matters. Drawing on its extensive experience in matters concerning the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission, the team is particularly well positioned to advise on securities regulations. Typical instructions for the department include acting for shareholders in routine corporate activities, as well as joint ventures and incorporations in the energy, technology and financial services sectors, among others. The team is under the joint leadership of Francisco da Costa e Silva, who has held several positions at leading banks and financial institutions, and João Laudo de Camargo, who brings to the table expertise in financing and capital markets transactions. Other key figures include Maria Isabel do Prado Bocater and Luiza Rangel de Moraes, the latter of whom is highlighted for her ‘deep knowledge of corporate law'.

De Luca, Derenusson, Schuttoff Sociedade de Advogados is regularly sought out by an impressive roster of domestic and international clients on day-to-day corporate matters and M&A transactions. With the ability to provide support on all legal aspects surrounding the purchase and sale of companies, the practice is also active in corporate reorganisations, governance issues, consolidations and joint ventures. Furthermore, clients benefit from the firm’s multidisciplinary service offering, covering tax, labour, litigation, regulatory and environmental law. The practice is jointly led by founding partners João Claudio De Luca Junior and Guilherme Filardi, both of whom handle M&A deals and contractual matters.

Focaccia, Amaral e Lamonica Advogados (FAS Advogados) is equipped to handle a range of corporate law and transactional matters, where it acts for both buyers and sellers. Mid-market deals in the education, healthcare and technology are the focus of the corporate and M&A team, which is also skilled in succession planning and in the structuring of investment vehicles. In terms of diversity and inclusion, the firm has a committee named FAS Pra Todos, through which it seeks to promote equality and diversity at the firm; it also works with Banco Paraisópolis on a pro bono basis, a financial inclusion initiative which began in the Paraisópolis Favela. Renata Homem De Melo has recently handled several M&A deals in the education and healthcare spaces. She spearheads the group with Carla Anastácio, who excels in buy and sell-side transactions.

Focused on business law, Loeser e Hadad Advogados brings together expertise in corporate, M&A, data protection and tax law, and is highlighted for its capacity to ‘accurately and efficiently assess all the legal risks involved in the M&A process‘. On the transactional front, the team handles the entire spectrum of mandates, ranging from corporate restructurings to divestments, mergers, acquisitions and post-closing issues. Its sectoral coverage is also broad; clients operate in an array of sectors, including banking, retail, life sciences, energy and real estate, among others. The firm, which places a strong emphasis on innovation, has recently been utilising AI technology in due diligence processes and contract revisions in connection with M&A transactions, corporate restructurings and business reorganisations to promote more efficient services. Leading the practice, Enrique Tello Hadad is a ‘highly attentive and dedicated partner with an above-market knowledge of corporate and M&A‘. Daniel Domenech Varga has handled both domestic and cross-border M&A in the chemicals, healthcare, and food and beverages spaces.

Machado Associados leverages its ‘experience in business law, accounting, tax planning and corporate law’ to provide assistance to several Brazilian and international entities in inbound and outbound transactions. Besides assisting clients throughout all stages of M&A deals, the practice also focuses on corporate restructuring, non-transactional corporate advice, commercial contracts and corporate disputes. The firm – which is a member and co-founder of Lataxnet, an international network of Latin American law firms dedicated to tax and corporate law – counts energy, construction, mining, technology, real estate and agribusiness companies among its core clients. Leading the department is Mauro Takahashi Mori, who brings together expertise in M&A, wealth and succession planning, and ‘is extremely approachable and technical‘. Rochelle Ricci is a key contact for both transactional and contentious matters, while Rubens Bezerra Filho is devoted to M&A deals, foreign investment and contracts. Caio Fink Fernandes, whose areas of activity cover corporate restructuring, spin-offs and amalgamations, is also noted.

Mundie e Advogados‘ transactional team is noted for its strength in highly regulated sectors. Its in-depth knowledge of administrative law and regulatory issues positions it as a go-to firm for telecoms, media, technology, energy and infrastructure clients seeking assistance in corporate transactions and private equity deals. Recommended for his ‘extensive legal knowledge, understanding of the business world, great articulation and negotiation skills’, co-head Rodolpho Protasio leads on high-value M&A and private equity deals. Fellow co-chair Eduardo Zobaran complements his M&A practice with additional expertise in finance and civil law. Associates Leonardo Burlamaqui and Danusa Pereira Fernandes are also active in the practice.

With over two decades’ experience in the M&A and corporate law fields, Elias, Matias Advogados offers legal support to both domestic and international clients. The team is adept in the structuring of M&A transactions, but is primarily active in the provision of general corporate and commercial advisory services. Start-ups and entrepreneurs benefit from a new billing system developed by the firm and the creation of its own currency, E,Mcoin. Department head Eduardo Felipe Matias is the main point of contact for clients engaged in M&A and corporate law mandates. He receives key support from a team of associates, including João Luis Marques Boffino, Evelyn Tamy Macedo and Thaís Gomes da Silva.

Praised for its ‘great technical capabilities‘, Moreira Menezes Martins Advogados specialises in corporate and capital markets issues, and is often instructed by financial institutions, shareholders, brokers and companies in M&A and corporate restructuring matters. The firm – which is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro and has recently opened an office in São Paulo – also possesses strong credentials in arbitrations arising from corporate contracts, and is proficient in regulatory matters involving the CVM. Founding partner Carlos Martins Neto handles a variety of transactional matters on behalf of private equity funds and companies from the oil and gas and energy segments. Mauricio Moreira Menezes excels in corporate restructuring and corporate disputes. Nicholas Furlan Di Biase was recently welcomed to the partnership.

Orizzo Marques Advogados acts for Brazilian and multinational companies of all sizes across the retail, food, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and construction sectors in relation to M&A transactions, joint ventures and contractual issues. Co-head Alessandro Orizzo ‘is an excellent professional, who combines theory with practice in a brilliant way‘; he is the main point of contact for foreign clients, and steers the team in cross-border deals. Also recommended is fellow co-leader Fábio Marques, who brings together expertise in corporate and tax law, and concentrates on legal due diligence of complex transactions. Other key figures include Luiz Gustavo Mesquita, whose experience includes M&A, debt capital markets and wealth management, and corporate law specialist Guilherme Coltro.