The Legal 500 > Latin America > Brazil > Corporate and M&A

BMA - Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão established itself as a corporate and M&A powerhouse early on in the firm's history. Today, the 'highly knowledgeable' team continues to take key roles on major corporate transactions in the Brazilian market. With a full-service offering that includes a leading merger control practice, the firm has the size, expertise and resources to handle all aspects of large deals. In the joint venture between Embraer and Boeing, a team led by Paulo Cezar Aragão and Roberto Dias Carneiro acted for Embraer on the Brazilian aspects of the deal and in its interactions with domestic regulators. Aragão also worked alongside Monique Mavignier to advise Grupo Petrotemex and DAK Americas Exterior on the acquisition of Citepe and PetroquímicaSuape from Petrobras as part of the seller's divestment programme. Fabiana Fagundes has a broad corporate and M&A practice, often taking lead roles on significant deals, and is also notable for her experience advising companies in the third sector. The firm also maintains an active French desk under the leadership of Dominique Héléne Bétourné Walter. Other leading figures in the team include Francisco Müssnich, Plinio Simões Barbosa, Luiz Antonio de Sampaio Campos and Amir Bocayuva Cunha. Adriana Dib Fuzinato and Ian Bussinger were promoted to partner in 2019 and associate Ana Paula Reis is also recommended. Adriana Dantas left to take up a position on the Independent Petrobras Committee on Sanctions and Disciplinary Measures.

Major domestic and multinational companies turn to Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados for advice and representation in high-value corporate transactions. 2018 was a busy year for the team, which has carved out its place among the top corporate law firms in Brazil. Its practice spans the gamut of corporate matters and deals, and its expertise in public M&A is of particular note, thanks to the combined strengths of its corporate and capital markets practices. In an illustration of its position as a go-to firm for major deals, Maria Cristina Cescon and Darkson Delmondes Galvão acted for Suzano Papel e Celulose on its high-profile merger with Fibria, which created the world's largest wood pulp producer. Highlights on the sale side included the team's representation of General Shopping Brasil in the sale of Internacional Shopping Guarulhos to the Gazit Group; Ronald Herscovici and Daniel Laudisio were the lead partners. Marcos Rafael Flesch co-heads the department with Cescon; other key team members include Fernanda Bastos Buhatem, Roberto Augusto Nogueira de Pary and Ana Carolina Castro Reis Passos. The group also counts a number of experienced senior associates, including Fernanda Cirne Montorfano, Luciana de Castro Mares Torres and Juliana Vianna Lacreta Gobbi.

The busy and buoyant M&A department at Demarest Advogados has seen significant growth. In 2018, the firm hired Joyl Gondim from Azevedo Sette Advogados and Guilherme Vieira da Silva from Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown, as well as promoting Glaucia Ferreira and Thereza Maria Sarfert Franco Montoro to the partnership in 2018 and 2019, respectively. It has also expanded its private equity practice and counts major private equity firms among its clients, many of which are new clients for the firm. The practice group's cross-border capabilities are also of note; highly regarded international firms have referred work to the M&A team in multi-jurisdictional matters, and the firm also runs a number of foreign desks. In recent examples, Thiago Barbosa Sandim acted for Deere & Company on its acquisition of Wirtgen Group, and Gabriel Ricardo Kuznietz advised General Electric on the sale of its global electrification solutions business to ABB. In a significant matter in the transport and logistics sector, André Luiz Freire advised Azul Linhas Aéreas on the establishment of an integrated logistics solutions company with Correios do Brasil; the company will have 50.01% of its capital owned by the former and 49.99% owned by the latter. Luciana Cossermelli Tornovsky has vast experience in M&A and joint ventures, and also heads the firm's pro bono practice and corporate responsibility groups. Lucas Tavares Bueno, Thiago Rodrigues Maia and José Setti Diaz are additional contacts. Paulo Coelho da Rocha is highly recommended.

The 'motivated and focused' team at Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados is regularly instructed in high-end M&A transactions. Its clients include major domestic and international companies, both private and public, as well as financial institutions, investment funds and pension funds. The full-service firm is able to provide comprehensive advice on any given transaction, covering tax, finance and labour, among other areas. In 2018, a team led by Arthur Bardawil Penteado, Daniel Szyfman and Gabriela Falcão Vieira advised Petrobras on a strategic alliance with Norwegian company Equinor; the project included the execution of several instruments, including an agreement for the transfer of assets in the Netherlands. In other work, Adriana Pallis and a team advised three companies on the establishment of a new entity to promote and manage a loyalty reward programme. Guilherme Bueno Malouf heads the business law department, and Ivandro Maciel Sanchez Junior heads the Iberian and Latin American desk. Luciana Costa Engelberg has experience in numerous sectors, including private equity, education and technology.

With ‘excellent experience in M&A’, Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados has a thriving corporate law and M&A practice that is often involved in the most high-profile and high-value deals in the Brazilian market. It has seen steady growth in recent years; in 2018, this included the promotion of Manoela de Barros Pimentel Penteado de Almeida and Eduardo Marques Souza. In the private equity space, the firm counts leading international private equity houses among its clients, which turn to the team for advice on strategic investments and regulatory matters. One such client is Advent International, which Rodrigo Figueiredo Nascimento and a team advised on the acquisition of an 80% stake in Walmart Brazil for an investment vehicle. Elsewhere, a team led by Marcelo Sampaio G. Ricupero acted for TPG Strategic Infrastructure on the acquisition of several energy transmission line companies from Abengoa Group in the context of the latter’s judicial recovery proceeding. Moacir Zilbovicius draws on 25 years of experience; Pedro Whitaker De Souza Dias has notable experience in M&A, inbound investments and regulatory compliance; and Claudio Oksenberg's broad practice spans corporate M&A, capital markets and finance. Senior partner João Ricardo de Azevedo Ribeiro and Paula Vieira de Oliveira receive strong praise.

Leading firm Pinheiro Neto Advogados has been advising on corporate and M&A since it was founded in 1942. Today, it fields one of the largest corporate departments in the country, which has experience across various sectors of the economy. Its size allows it to staff large and complex transactions with experienced teams, including multidisciplinary groups that cover tax, antitrust and labour. Also of benefit is the firm's highly experienced litigation practice. A cross-departmental group that included Joao Marcelo Pacheco advised longstanding client Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation on a high-profile dispute concerning steelmaking company Usiminas; the settlement involved the negotiation of a new shareholders agreement for Usiminas. Elsewhere, Fernando Alves Meira and Pythagoras Carvalho advised Group Votorantim on its combination with the long-steel business division of ArcelorMittal Brasil; upon closing, Votorantim Siderurgia became a wholly-owned subsidiary of ArcelorMittal Brasil and Votorantim received a minority stake in ArcelorMittal Brasil. Managing partner Alexandre Bertoldi, Henry Sztutman and Francisco Werneck de Albuquerque Maranhão are key figures in the team. Joamir Müller Romiti Alves and Roberta Stettinger Bilotti were promoted to partner in 2019. In an addititional development post-publication, the firm announced its opening of an office in Tokyo, Japan, in December 2019.

The ‘well-qualified’ lawyers at TozziniFreire Advogados are ‘very responsive’ and ‘seek to know the client and the client’s expectations’. The team acts for buyers and sellers and investment banks as financial advisors in large transactions across numerous industries. Its impressive track record in private equity and venture capital deals is of particular note. In a recent highlight, Mauro Guizeline and Francisco Eumene Machado de Oliveira Neto advised Votorantim, one of the controlling shareholders of Fibria, on the sale of its stake in the company to Suzano Papel e Celulose. Elsewhere, Marcela Waksman Ejnisman advised McCain Foods on the acquisition of 49% of Forno de Minas Alimentos, which represented the company’s first acquisition in Brazil, while Marcio Mello Silva Baptista acted for Hainan Airlines on the sale of part of its equity stake in Azul to United Airlines. Martin Miralles Pose heads the practice, which includes João Busin, Luiz Renato Okumura, Claudia Muniz Levasier Mahler and the ‘outstanding’ Maria Elisa Gualandi Verri. Senior associates making a mark in the team include Silvia Martins de Castro Cunha Zono.

'Up-to-date with the latest laws' Lefosse Advogados fields an experienced corporate and M&A team. It maintains a focus on high-end M&A, where it has an impressive market share, and also provides advice on corporate governance and day-to-day corporate issues to its major clients. In recent internal developments, the firm promoted Laura Affonso and André Mileski to partner in 2019, and Christiano Rehder in 2018. Rehder worked alongside Carlos Mello and Rodrigo Junqueira to advise Eletropaulo Metropolitana Eletricidade de São Paulo as target of a voluntary tender offer by Italian company Enel. Elsewhere, Mauricio Paschoal and Felipe Gibson acted as counsel to Ceará State in connection with the investment made by Port of Rotterdam in CIPP, which operates the Pecém port terminal. Christian Roschmann and Lilian Toscani receive praise. Luiz Octavio Lopes and Mirella Abe are also key contacts.

Lobo de Rizzo Advogados continued to see growth in 2018, adding a number of partners, including capital markets experts Caio Cossermelli and Paula Magalhães from Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown. The sizeable corporate and M&A department remained busy, acting for buyers and sellers in significant transactions, particularly those involving highly regulated sectors. Rodrigo Millar de Castro Guerra advised Advent International on its acquisition of shares in Estácio Participações, while, on the sale side, Rodrigo Delboni Teixeira acted for Centroflora on the sale of a food and beverage division to Givaudan do Brasil. Otávio Lucas Solano Valério is 'hands-on, available and technically accurate'. Daniella Tavares, Valdo Cestari de Rizzo, In Hee Cho and José Orlando Arrochela Lobo are other active members of the team.

The 'highly qualified and dedicated' team at Pinheiro Guimarães – Advogados 'works alongside the client throughout the entire process, from negotiation to closing'. It is well versed in sophisticated corporate transactions, acting as counsel to buyers, sellers, management and target companies. Its experience spans numerous sectors of the economy, though the firm's preeminent reputation in banking and finance ensures a strong flow of corporate work in this industry. In one highlight, Francisco José Pinheiro Guimarães advised Banco Votorantim on a strategic partnership with Neon Pagamentos. In a multi-jurisdictional matter, Pinheiro Guimarães worked with Rodrigo Marcilio, Sérgio Ramos Yoshino and Mariana Jost to advise Austrian conglomerate RHI Group on the private acquisition of control of Magnesita Refratários. Senior partner Marcelo Lamy Rego has an impressive track record in M&A, particularly in the financial services and energy sectors. Plinio Pinheiro Guimarães Neto and René Mostardeiro Brunet are highly recommended.

The 'client-oriented' team at Stocche Forbes Advogados is noted for its 'technical proficiency' and 'initiative in anticipating issues'. Private equity is an area of focus and the team represents well-known domestic and international firms. Other sectors keeping the team busy include energy and real estate. Flavio Meyer acted for Engie Brasil Energias Complementares Participações in the acquisition of the Umburanas wind farm complex from Renova Energia in a transaction that had significant regulatory components. The firm also has a dedicated desk for public listed companies, which provides capital markets and regulatory assistance. Recommended partner Alessandra Zequi has broad experience in M&A, corporate governance, shareholder relations and regulatory requirements. André Mestriner Stocche, Fabiano Milani and Fernanda Cardoso are also names to note, but Luiz Felipe Costa moved in house as managing partner of DNA Capital. At the associate level, Ricardo Peres Freoa, Diego Henrique Paixão Spenchutt and Bruna Bellotto receive praise.

The well-regarded corporate and M&A department at Veirano Advogados is highlighted for its 'deep knowledge of diverse areas of law'. The firm has partners based in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo as well as Porto Alegre, where it is increasing its presence. The busy practice also made a number of recent hires at the associate level. It is well versed in large M&As, often with a cross-border element. Recently, this has included advising Lwart Participações on the sale of 100% of Lwarcel Celulose to a Singaporean group; Gustavo Moraes Stolagli and Sergio Bronstein led the team. On the buy side, Lior Pinsky represented Goldman Sachs in a large minority investment in American Glass Products. Augusto Cesar Barbosa de Souza and Carlos Alexandre Lobo head the department, which also includes Guilherme Ohanian Monteiro, Paula Surerus and Ricardo Camargo Veirano. In a notable September-2019 development, the firm was also appointed as the sole Brazilian law-firm founder member of the newly established Brazil-Mexico Business Council.

Azevedo Sette Advogados has seen an uptick in work from international clients, and had a busy start to 2019. Recent mandates have seen it handling work in the tech and healthcare sectors, although its broad corporate practice extends beyond these industries. The firm also stands out for its private wealth and succession planning practice. The team is split between São Paulo, where Luiz Augusto Azevedo Sette is based, and Belo Horizonte, where Fernando Azevedo Sette is a key contact. In team changes, Joyl Gondim left for Demarest Advogados, while Alexandre Morato joined from Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados, Rafael Tavares Bassoli was promoted to partner.

Well-known domestic and multinational companies turn to Campos Mello Advogados in corporate matters, particularly for mid-market M&A. In cross-border work, the firm benefits from its association with DLA Piper, giving it access to an extensive global network, and the team is well equipped to handle multi-jurisdictional transactions and restructurings. In one example, Marcus Vinicius Bitencourt and a team acted for Deere & Company in the acquisition of sprayer manufacturer PLA (which has operations in Brazil and Argentina), from Pampa Agribusiness Fund. Elsewhere, Fabiano Gallo and Carolina Sant’Angelo advised self-storage company GuardeAqui on its purchase of SelfStok. Luiz Augusto Osorio is a key contact in Rio de Janeiro.

Under the leadership of Luis Gustavo Haddad, the corporate and M&A department at Huck, Otranto, Camargo Advogados covers the gamut of corporate matters involving the entire life cycle of a company. Recent years have seen the firm maintaining strong relationships with longstanding clients, and also gaining a number of new clients, including foreign companies looking to invest in Brazil. In cross-border work, a team led by Hermes Marcelo Huck has been assisting bicycle sharing company Tembici Participações on acquisitions and associations in Brazil and in the expansion of its activities in Latin America. Elsewhere, Tiago Molina Ferreira advised Shift Capital on establishing an investment channel and negotiating a master franchise agreement with a major gym chain. Bruno Robert has a strong track record in advising start-ups, and Ana Carolina Barbuio Affonso is a key contact for corporate planning and succession matters.

KLA Advogados 'understands the client's needs very well' and is also noted for its 'great ability to negotiate with the other party'. The team has experience across myriad industries, but stands out in particular in the advertising and tech sectors. Highlights among the department's recent workload was its advice to IPG Photonics on an investment in IT company IDEA; Tania Liberman led the team, which included key senior associate Patrícia Braga. Other clients include Boston Scientific, Omnicom and General Mills. The 'committed and dedicated' Karin Alvo is 'a partner you can count on'. Mariana Cortez often takes lead roles on the department's major transactions; Melissa Kanô has an impressive track record in the advertising and renewable energy sectors; and Luiz Filipe Aranha is active in domestic and cross-border corporate transactions.

The 'client- and business-oriented' corporate group at Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown is split between the Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo offices and excels in cross-border deals, where the firm's broad international platform gives it a clear edge. The team also works closely with colleagues in the capital markets, compliance and banking teams, among others. The firm has a strong profile in the oil and gas and energy sectors, and counts major international energy companies among its clients. In a significant matter in the communication sector, Carlos Motta advised Publicis Group on the acquisition of One Digital Propaganda e Publicidade. The team has seen several recent changes; Alexandre Calmon joined from  Vieira, Rezende, Barbosa e Guerreiro Advogados, while Caio Cossermelli and Paula Magalhães left for Lobo de Rizzo Advogados and Apoena Joels left for Gentil Monteiro, Vicentini, Beringhs e Gil Advogados. The 'proactive' Alexandre Chequer is highly recommended. Victor Galante, Daniel Gunzburger and Daniella Raigorodsky Monteiro are additional contacts.

From its offices in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Ulhôa Canto, Rezende e Guerra Advogados handles corporate transactions in the energy, real estate and financial services sectors, among others; it has also seen an uptick in tech and venture capital deals. In a significant transaction in the latter segment, Pedro Chueiri acted for 99 Taxis on its sale to DiDi Chuxing. Another sell-side mandate saw Marcelo Maria Santos advising Aliansce Shopping Centers on the sale of 24% of its ownership interest in Caixas Shopping to XP Malls. Other clients include Votorantim Participações, Continental Grain Company and Ride. Practice head Aloysio Meirelles de Miranda Filho often takes a lead role in major transactions, as does key partner Guilherme Rocha Murgel de Rezende. The firm's reputation for housing one of the leading tax practices in Brazil is an additional draw.

The thriving corporate and M&A practice at Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados is increasingly active in large transactions, thanks in part to its strategic alliance with multinational firm Dentons. Many members of the team also draw on previous experience at international law firms, putting the department in a good position to handle cross-border matters. It is also notable for its work in healthcare. Highlights included advising NotreDame Intermédica on its acquisition of health insurance group Greenline Sistema de Saúde. The team's vast knowledge of the private equity sector is another distinguishing feature; private equity investments are among recently promoted partner Bruna Gobbi's specialisms. Other team changes included the departure of Bruno Ferla to an in-house position, and the arrival of Gabriella Maranesi Najjar from Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown. Rodrigo Vella is the practice head.

The 'pragmatic and responsive' team at Araújo e Policastro Advogados 'works together excellently' and is particularly noted for its 'great commercial know-how'. It draws on a long history in the market and in advising on corporate transactions, and many of its clients have been working with the team for over a decade. Succession planning and corporate disputes are additional areas of expertise. Eduardo Correa Fazoli is an 'outstanding lawyer', and José Theodoro Alves de Araújo, Camila da Motta Pacheco Alves de Araújo and associate Marina Pacheco de Araújo Paciullo receive plaudits for their 'seriousness, dedication and honesty'. The team was further bolstered by the arrival of Letícia Simonetti Garcia from Wald, Antunes, Vita, Longo e Blattner Advogados in 2018.

The corporate partners at ASBZ Advogados draw on previous international experience with foreign law firms and are well-equipped to handle domestic and cross-border transactions. The team grew further with the arrival of Gabriela Claro from investment bank BR Partners; her practice spans M&A, foreign investment, corporate restructurings and project finance. Aviation is a focus area; in one highlight, Ricardo Melaré advised United Airlines on the acquisition of a stake in Azul from Hainan Airlines. In addition to its transactional activity, the team also advises clients on day-to-day corporate issues and corporate governance. Felipe Gruber is another active member of the corporate team, in addition to handling a range of energy and infrastructure projects.

Dias Carneiro Advogados excels in the tech sector, often representing venture capital firms in significant acquisitions. In 2018, this included advising Monashees Capital in the purchase of a minority stake in healthcare start-up Hi Technologies, and Kaszek Ventures in the indirect acquisition of a minority stake in Hash Lab Soluções Pagamentos; Eduardo Zilberberg led the advice on both deals. Beyond this field, the team has a broader corporate and M&A offering, handling domestic and cross-border deals in several industries. A team led by Eduardo Turkienicz and Artur Fernandes Andrezo advised Dechra Pharmaceuticals on the acquisition of Laboratórios Vencofarma do Brasil. Practice group movement during 2019 saw the departure of Anna Dutra who returned to the in-house sector;  and the hire of former Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados' non-equity partner, Luana Komatsu Falkenburger, as counsel in July 2019.

The 'business-oriented' and 'very committed' team at Felsberg Advogados is noted for its 'practical and academic knowledge, creativity and close involvement with the client'. The sizeable and experienced team advises on incorporation, M&A, reorganisations and day-to-day corporate matters. Highlights on the sale side included highly-regarded partner Miriam Machado's advice to Grupo Morada on the sale of L'S Rentals, the controller of Let's Rent a Car (and other companies), to Vix Logística. Also highly recommended is João Carlos Mendonça; in recent work, he and a cross-departmental team advised WiBOO on the Initial Coin Offering (ICO) for a blockchain-backed trading platform. Evy Marques heads the innovation, start-ups and venture capital practice, Claudia Maniaci has a varied practice that encompasses corporate, contract and immigration law, and Maria Carolina Guazzelli heads the firm's fashion law practice. Associates making a mark in the team include Mirella Kaufman, Matheus Cestari Mota and Gustavo Abud Navacchia. In an additional boost, the team was strengthened further in August 2019 when former Brazilian ambassador to the United States, Sergio Amaral, rejoined the firm as counsel; it has since further strengthened the team with the hire of data privacy specialist Clarissa Luz (formerly at her own boutique) and commercial and real estate practitioner Tatiana Millar de Castro Guerra (formerly at Trench Rossi Watanabe) in October 2019; the latter hires also give the firm gender-parity at partner level.

The sizeable department at Machado Associados is divided between four key areas: M&A; non-transactional corporate matters; corporate structuring; and contracts. International law firms often seek the firm's advice in multi-jurisdictional matters, and its broad client base includes companies in the energy, tech and manufacturing sectors, among others. The input of the firm's highly-regarded tax team on corporate deals is another draw. Recent highlights include advising Italian company Buzzi Unicem on its entrance into the Brazilian market through an acquisition of a 50% stake in BCPAR. Lisiane Menossi Pace heads the practice, which includes Mauro Takahashi Mori, Rochelle Ricci and Renata Almeida Pisaneschi. Senior associate Caio Fink Fernandes advises on corporate and contract law and is a key member of the team. In June, the firm announced its merger with CHBS Advogados.

Mundie e Advogados' impressive reputation for administrative law and regulatory matters makes it a popular choice for companies in highly regulated sectors, and the firm also has a noted antitrust practice. It handles a range of non-transactional corporate matters in addition to its M&A workload. Highlights on the M&A side included acting as local counsel to Altra Industrial Motion in its global asset acquisition from Fortive; Rodolpho Protasio led the team. Protasio also took a lead role in representing logistics company Multilog in its acquisition of Elog from Ecorodovias. Also in the team are Ana Cristina Moraes and Eduardo Zobaran.

With multiple offices across the country, Almeida Advogados has substantial geographic coverage, in addition to its international capabilities. It acts for well-known domestic and foreign companies, and has also carved out a niche for representing minority shareholders of large Brazilian companies. In recent work, founding partner André de Almeida and a team -working alongside a US firm- successfully represented the minority shareholders of Petrobras in a class action corruption lawsuit against Petrobras and its top executives. Elsewhere, Pedro Tinoco assisted Walmart with the closing of its stores and branches in Brazil. The multi-lingual Natalie Yoshida advises on corporate, contract, commercial and banking law.

Baptista Luz Advogados is well versed in corporate transactions, particularly those involving tech, venture capital and private equity funds. On the sale side, Luis Felipe Baptista Luz advised Laboratorios Vencofarma do Brasil on its R$185m sale to Dechra Pharmaceuticals. Outside of M&A, highlights included advising CBSS Bank on a joint venture with Fontes Promotora; the advice spanned corporate, banking and tax law. Jessica Bernstein Heumann and Fabio Pamplona Vidal are key contacts.

Candido Martins Advogados handles a range of private equity and M&A transactions for buyers and sellers. It stands out in the agribusiness sector, where it has a busy practice, although it advises large corporations and family-owned businesses in numerous industries. A team of corporate and tax lawyers including Renata Simon acted for the Galvani family in the sale of its remaining stake in fertiliser producer Galvani Indústria to Yara. 'Excellent lawyer' Henrique Martins is 'knowledgeable, hands-on and well connected'. The group also benefits from having experienced associates, including Mateus Lopes da Silva Leite and Daniel Rodrigues Alves, who also receive praise.

Castro Barros Advogados is well versed in M&A and also has a thriving non-transactional corporate practice. From its offices in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, it handles projects across Brazil and also draws on the firm's tax, antitrust and labour departments to provide a full service to corporate clients. Highlights included advising a Brazilian company that produces organic animal feed and plant fertiliser products on its merger with a Canadian group; Helen Gaudio Valente led the advice. In other work, Fernanda Alves Wolf assisted a major retail company on its corporate and financial reorganisation. Anna Cecilia Rostworowski da Costa Buff compliments her M&A practice with specialisms in antitrust and regulatory law. Renato Stetner left to become Deputy Secretary of Justice for the City of São Paulo.

Established in 2014, CGM Advogados has seen steady growth. Many of its partners have worked together for several years previous to the firm's founding, and the team continues to work with longstanding clients, which include household name multinationals. A mixed team of corporate and tax lawyers led by Bernadete Figueiredo Dias assisted Thermo Fisher Scientific with its merger with Dionex, while a cross-departmental team led by Martim Machado advised Turboserv Engenharia on its acquisition of a turbo machinery business operated by the Brazilian subsidiary of HOERBIGER Group. René Gelman is another key contact.

DDSA - De Luca, Derenusson, Schuttoff e Azevedo Advogados has a broad and busy corporate practice, which was recently bolstered by the arrival of Thais Tendolini e Silva from Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados. The team often works for foreign companies and their Brazilian subsidiaries in corporate transactions; for example in 2018 it advised Italian group Granarolo on its acquisition of Brazilian food importing group Allfood. João Claudio De Luca Junior and Guilherme Filardi co-head the department.

Gasparini, De Cresci e Nogueira de Lima Advogados is especially active in mid-market M&A, and is also equipped to advise on inbound investment, often representing international companies from Europe and the US. Recent mandates have seen the team handling transactions in the timberland, pharmaceuticals and retail sectors, among others. In the latter, Marcus Phelipe Barbosa de Souza has been assisting Giorgio Armani in corporate and contractual matters. Felipe Mavignier is another key partner in the team; he recently advised a company with multinational operations on the sale of its Brazilian subsidiaries.

Rayes & Fagundes Advogados Associados receives plaudits for its 'full technical knowledge' and 'fluent English'. The corporate department counts both Brazilian and well-known multinational companies among its clients. Sector specialisms include IT, life sciences and food and beverages. The team recently provided a major company in the pharma sector with corporate and tax advice on the review of its distribution model in Brazil. Paulo Talarico can draw on 20 years' experience in domestic and multi-jurisdictional transactions. Fabiana Rodriques da Fonseca and associate Pedro Jucá are 'excellent professionals'.

With resources in Porto Alegre, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília, Souto Correa Cesa Lummertz & Amaral Advogados is equipped to advise clients across Brazil; it also acts for a range of foreign companies. Of particular note are the firm's dedicated German, Asian and Latin Desks. Buy-side highlights included Gilberto Deon Corrêa Júnior's representation of Fras-le in the acquisition of Jofund, owner of the Fremax brand. In a significant move, Karina Yunan joined from Trench Rossi Watanabe. The department also saw some changes at the associate level, including the arrival of Martha Giugno Termignoni from Lobo de Rizzo Advogados and the departure of Laura Freitas Ceitlin to Perlman Vidigal Godoy Advogados. The sizeable team also includes Luis Felipe Spinelli, Raquel Stein and associate Clarissa Yokomizo.

Abe, Rocha Neto, Taparelli e Garcez Advogados saw organic growth with the promotion of Fernando Zanotti Schneider to partner in December 2018. He works alongside Marcos Seiiti Abe to advise the firm's multinational and domestic client base, which includes companies in the automotive, tech and financial services sectors. The pair recently advised the owners of an IT service provider on the company's sale to an international company. In other work, the partners assisted a family-owned company on its investments in three start-ups.

The 'very productive' group at Coimbra & Chaves is split across the firm's São Paulo and Belo Horizonte offices and is 'technically prepared and always available'. In 2018, the team worked with a range of new and longstanding clients, including companies operating in the food and beverage, natural resources, engineering and tech sectors. 2018 also saw growth at the associate level, with the arrivals of Rayssa Thainá Moreira Dolabella and Ronalt Duarte Batista from Melo Campos Advogados Associados S/C. Eugênia Aguiar Siqueira and associate Loni Mellilo Cardoso are highly recommended. Founding partner Paula Andrade Ribeiro Chaves is an additional name to note.

Cruz, Gregolin and Amaral "by neolaw" specialises in tech-related corporate transactions, often advising angel, seed and venture capital investors. It also maintains a dedicated desk to assist international companies looking to enter the Brazilian market, particularly those operating in the IT, software and e-commerce sectors. Priscila Titelbaum is the name to note.

Freitas Ferraz Capuruço Braichi Riccio Advogados stands out in the energy, real estate and construction sectors, where it handles a range of corporate and commercial deals. Also of note is its startup and innovation practice. Corporate litigation also features. Bernardo Freitas and Adriano Ferraz co-head the team, which is based in Belo Horizonte.

FreitasLeite Advogados complements its M&A, corporate governance and reorganisations experience with additional knowledge of capital markets and financing. Investment funds, banks, private equity firms and publicly traded companies turn to the team, which numbers 18 lawyers. Highlights included advising Live Nation on the acquisition of a 50% stake in Rock City, owner of the Rock in Rio brand; João Pedro Barroso do Nascimento led the advice. Claudio Fabricio Lima and Guilherme Anderaos Peloia receive plaudits for their 'availability, accessibility and knowledge'.

Highlighted for its 'blend of impressive technical knowledge and commercial/strategic nous', the corporate department at Kestener, Granja & Vieira Advogados is particularly active in the regulated sectors. It handles a range of corporate and commercial transactions and has been busy, recently, advising clients on company incorporations and corporate restructuring. Practice head Fabio Alonso Vieira is an 'outstanding lawyer'.

Malamud e Altit Advogados specializes in corporate M&A, structured finance and complex capital markets transactions on behalf of banks, investment funds, portfolio managers and other corporates. With both extensive finance experience (at Santander and Citibank) and considerable private practice expertise (as a senior partner and head of the corporate and securities practice at the former Motta, Fernandes Rocha Advogados), Michael Altit is a 'well-known' and 'well-regarded figure'. His fellow practice co-head, Tatiana Malamud, has a similarly-strong track record: a former partner at Barbosa, Müssnich Aragão Advogados (BMA), she also has in-house experience at financial institutions incuding Banco Santander, Banco Safra de Investimentos and Banco Original. Recent highlights saw the pair lead advise to Alper–Consultoria em Seguros on matters including the sale of Carraro Corretora de Seguros, the acquisition of Capilano Corretora de Seguros de Vida and the establishment of a joint-venture with Abrahy. Other clients include Grupo Bom Jesus and Adam Capital.

Originally founded as CFA Advogados back in 2011 and subsequently reorganised as Neiva Barros & Figueiró, Sociedade de Advogados in 2017, following the incorporation of new name partners; the firm subsequently entered a cooperation agreement with Spanish legal giant, Garrigues, significantly boosting its market profile. Headline ongoing matters include advising on the Brazilian aspects of Micro Focus' $8.8bn global acquisition of HPE Software from HP. Other notable mandates include assisting AT&T with the local aspects of its global acquisition of cyber-security company AlienVault; and -in conjunction with Garrigues' offices in Chile and Colombia- advising funds FCP Emprendimiento e Innovación and Fondo de Inversión Privado Social 2.0 on the acquisition of a 22.55% stake in recycling-sector operator TriCiclos. Name partners and co-practice heads Tomás Neiva (M&A, venture capital, finance, restructuring and contracts) and Marcela Figueiró (M&A, infrastructure, projects, and banking and finance) are the key points of contact.

The internationally focused team at PGLaw handles a range of transactional and non-transactional matters for its clients, with an emphasis on corporate governance. The tech industry is a focus area; in one highlight, the team advised Quest Software on its acquisition by two US-based hedge funds, with Carlos Portugal Gouvêa leading the advice.

The 'prompt to react' team at RZ Advogados provides 'reliable and thorough advice to foreign clients'. The scope of the corporate practice is broad, encompassing M&A, restructuring and succession planning, with an emphasis on the agriculture, port and logistics sectors. In recent work in the agribusiness industry, Mauricio Jun Higashino and a team advised S3B Fundo de Investimento em Participações on the terms of a new capital injection in Sinagro Produtos Agropecuários. Founding partner Christian de Lima Ramos' expertise spans banking, finance and corporate deals.

The active corporate and M&A practice at Schmidt, Valois, Miranda, Ferreira & Agel Advogados has an emphasis on the oil-and-gas and infrastructure sectors. It expanded through several lateral hires, including the hire of energy, corporate and commercial law expert Alexei Macorin Vivan in January 2018. A team led by Rogério Sobral de Miranda acted for Total on a project in which Petrobras will transfer a 50% interest in TermoBahia to Total. Other clients include ExxonMobil and Inpex Corporation. Paulo Valois Pires and Guilherme Schmidt are 'excellent lawyers'.

The sizeable team at Silveiro Advogados is spread across the Porto Alegre and São Paulo offices. It continues to win new clients each year, in addition to maintaining longstanding client relationships with numerous companies. Corporate transactions feature regularly among its workload, and it is also equipped to handle corporate disputes. In recent work, Pedro Chagas advised IBI Participações e Telecoms Negócios on the sale of a minority stake in LHM Participações Societárias. Vasco Maestri Trindade and André Silveiro are additional contacts.

Recommended for its 'agility, proper technical preparation and know-how', Viseu Advogados has a significant corporate practice that spans numerous sectors. Operating from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the team acts for buyers and sellers in M&A as well as a host of other corporate matters. Paulo Bardella Caparelli and Manoel Ignácio Torres Monteiro are the names to note.