Offering legal support to both Brazilian and international clients, BMA - Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão is well versed in power auctions, concessions, negotiation of contracts and commercial agreements, administrative proceedings before regulatory bodies and agencies, litigation and arbitration. In addition, the team has experience in the sale and purchase of stock and assets in the power sector, as well as project development involving thermoelectric plants and renewable energy. Rafael d’Avila Dutra and Carlos Frederico Lucchetti Bingemer have strong transactional backgrounds and jointly lead the department.

The energy team at Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper excels in M&A transactions and project development mandates in the power sector. The team is experienced in the implementing of thermoelectric and renewable projects, advising on auction participation, equipment and fuel supply agreements, as well as financing, environmental licensing and tax structuring. Key strengths include assisting with the negotiation of contracts in net metering/distributed generation and power purchase agreements. Practice head Fabiano Gallo's knowledge encompasses M&A, project development and regulatory issues. Associate Flavia Cerutti also receives praise.

Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados handles a wide range of transactional matters taking place in the power sector, providing legal assistance in project finance, M&A and capital market deals. The practice is also well equipped to advise on energy generation, transmission, distribution and trading companies in relation to regulatory concerns. Roberto Mario Amaral Lima Neto, who is regularly retained by domestic and international development banks and multilateral institutions, leads the department alongside Maurício Teixeira dos Santos, whose areas of expertise include renewable energy and infrastructure projects.

Focusing on renewable and non-renewable energy, Demarest Advogados offers legal support to several energy generators in the country, including the most significant hydroelectric power plants in Brazil. The department stands out for its strong track record in regulatory issues and administrative and regulatory proceedings. Practice head Rafael Gagliardi leads on dispute resolution. Since publication, Raphael Gomes and Bruno Crispim have left the firm for Lefosse Advogados, with effect as of December 2020.

Dias Carneiro Advogados offers advice to clients in relation to project contract negotiations, domestic and cross-border project financing and regulatory matters. The practice demonstrates strength in project development and acquisitions, and M&A transactions pertaining to the power sector across various segments, encompassing traditional and renewable energy, particularly wind and solar power. The department is jointly led by Ricardo Sanches, who is proficient in transactions involving utilities and PPPs, and Thiago Vallandro Flores, who focuses on financing issues and private equity matters.

Based in Brasília, energy boutique Julião Coelho Advocacia has particular strength in regulatory cases before federal courts. Covering all segments of the energy sphere, including power generation, transmission, distribution and trading, the practice is also proficient in renewable energy matters. Founding partner Julião Silveira Coelho stands out for his extensive experience in energy litigation, which is also Pedro Henrique Maciel Fonseca's area of focus. Camila Alves e Fontes leads on consulting matters, advising on risk analysis and other mandates involving new technologies in the solar and storage energy fields.

Lefosse Advogados has a team dedicated to the power sector, which is able to deal with the full range of transactions pertaining to this field, including structured and corporate finance, project finance and M&A. Assisting clients with bidding procedures, negotiating EPC contracts and handling administrative litigation before ANEEL, are among the department's notable areas of practice. In 2020, Eduardo Soares left to join electric energy company CEMIG. Eduardo Carvalhaes is now the practice head. In a significant move, the firm hired well-regarded lawyers Raphael Gomes, Pedro Dante and Bruno Crispim.

Covering electricity generation, transmission, distribution, power commercialisation and trading, Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados stands out for the transactional work it undertakes in the power sector. Apart from advising domestic and foreign clients on M&A, project finance and energy auctions, the department also provides legal assistance in the drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts pertaining to project development, as well as administrative and judicial issues. The team is proficient in traditional and renewable power generation and self-production regime projects. Practice head Ana Karina Esteves de Souza advises on private investments in regulated industries, with a particular emphasis on the electricity sector. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) and project finance are some of José Virgílio Lopes Enei's areas of expertise, while recently promoted Laura Garcia de Freitas Souza specialises in energy law. Paulo Machado is also recommended.

Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados receives instructions from the full range of participants in the electricity sector, ranging from power producers, distribution and transmission companies to service providers, private equity funds and banks. The energy department is well equipped to provide assistance in project development and finance, as well as stock and asset purchases, litigation and regulatory matters. With over fifteen years of experience in the field, Fabiano Ricardo Luz de Brito is a key practitioner, whose experience encompasses transactional matters and regulatory issues pertaining to the electricity sector. Sofia Barbosa joined in September 2020.

Mundie e Advogados has longstanding experience assisting energy clients operating in the electricity field. The team has particular strength in the power generation segment, and is also adept at advising regulators on legislative issues. Rafael Fabbri D’Avila oversees the department, leading on matters pertaining to regulatory and contractual issues, as well as energy projects. M&A transactions involving the power sector are co-ordinated by Rodolpho Protasio, while João Carlos Zanon and Diego Herrera Alves de Moraes focus on litigation. The practice further support clients from the power sector in tax-related matters, for which Antenori Trevisan is responsible.

A leader in dispute resolution, Sergio Bermudes Advogados has an increasing presence in the electricity sector. The team excels in contentious electricity matters, with a special emphasis on administrative disputes, regulatory issues and appeals. In addition, the department is adept at assisting with project approvals. Vitor Ferreira Alves de Brito, whose expertise covers regulatory issues affecting the power sector, leads the team with Marcio Vieira Souto Costa Ferreira, who is a name to note for complex disputes. Elena Landau is another key practitioner.

Siqueira Castro – Advogados restructured its energy offering with the hire of renowned partner David Waltenberg in July 2019; he now heads the renewable energy department. The practice was further strengthened with the addition of two lawyers who also joined from Advocacia Waltenberg: Eduardo Evangelista, who focuses on administrative law pertaining to infrastructure, and energy and public law specialist Humberto Negrão. Both Negrão and Evangelista were promoted to partner in 2021. The practice is retained by clients operating in all segments of the power sector, assisting them in auctions as well as litigation and administrative proceedings before ANEEL. Simone Paschoal Nogueira, who specialises in environmental matters, provides legal support to oil and gas companies.

The administrative and regulatory practice at Souto Correa Advogados brings together lawyers with cross-sector expertise and contractual knowledge to assist clients on distributed energy resources projects and gas-related projects. The group is well equipped to advise on regulatory and transactional work involving the power sector. Carlos Souto has advised on privatisations in the electricity industry, while Gustavo Kaercher Loureiro is proficient in handling lawsuits involving electricity distributors. Livia Amorim and Fabio Di Lallo are key contacts for regulatory issues and administrative proceedings.

The power team at Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown is adept at advising on the full cycle of a project, covering the initial structuring through to financing, construction and operation. Drawing on Mayer Brown's international office network, the practice is regularly retained by international energy clients to assist them in entering the Brazilian electricity market, as well as supporting them on cross-border transactions and power projects. The department is not only involved in innovative thermoelectric LNG projects, but is also well versed in renewable energy, advising on project development and financing, M&A transactions, regulatory issues and environmental matters. Other areas of activity include litigation and arbitration proceedings. Finance specialist Eduardo Lima coordinates the team alongside Débora Yanasse, who is active in contractual, corporate and regulatory issues pertaining to the power and gas industries.

TozziniFreire Advogados offers support to clients in the context of greenfield and brownfield projects, financing, M&A transactions and regulatory matters. The team is also well versed in privatisations of electric power distributors and divestitures of generation assets. In the renewables space, it possesses experience in wind, hydro, solar and biomass projects. Leading the team is Pedro Seraphim, whose areas of practice include due diligence in relation to corporate transactions, financing agreements and project contracts.

Ulhôa Canto, Rezende e Guerra Advogados is at the forefront of the Brazilian power market, possessing a strong track record in all segments of the sector, covering distribution, transmission, generation and trading. The practice stands out for its regulatory expertise but is also well versed in M&A transactions, project finance, as well as arbitration, administrative proceedings and judicial litigation. Negotiating EPC agreements and assisting clients in relation to power generation and transmission auctions are other areas of activity for the team, which also fields strength in tax-related matters and renewable energy issues, namely wind and solar power. Department head Isabel Lustosa is recognised for her longstanding experience assisting utilities, generation companies and sponsors in the power sector. Alberto Büll da Silva has advised on several transactions involving renewable energy.

The broad service offering at Veirano Advogados covers both transactional and regulatory advice. The team is adept at assisting with regulatory issues arising from project development, as well as financing matters, M&A and power purchase agreements. Other areas of activity include litigation involving the power sector before arbitral, administrative and judicial courts. Renewable energy is a key area of focus, spanning biomass, wind and solar power. Tiago Figueiró focuses on regulatory matters and asset transactions in the electricity sector. Ana Carolina Barretto leads on project-related work, while Pedro Freitas is experienced in M&A and infrastructure.