Drawing on its strong know-how in the fields of M&A, public law and regulatory law, BMA – Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão builds on its expertise acquired in complex transactions involving power assets, concessions, negotiations of regulated contracts and bids. The practice is well versed in all matters before regulatory agencies, including ANEEL and CCEE, and in assisting large consumers in the acquisition of electricity in the free market. Ana Cândida de Mello Carvalho heads up the infrastructure, regulatory and government affairs department, and steers the team in bidding procedures, public contracts and administrative proceedings. Corporate partner Carlos Frederico Lucchetti Bingemer in Rio de Janeiro takes the lead on M&A transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

The power team at Campos Mello Advogados manages an impressive transactional workload, including M&A deals, financing and project mandates covering both conventional and renewable energy. Under Fabiano Gallo‘s leadership, the team attracts instructions from clients in the negotiation of power purchase agreements (PPAs), public auctions, the expansion of net metering projects, self-production, and energy efficiency issues. The team was recently reinforced by the addition of senior associate Roberta Matsubara Arakaki, who joined from Da Fonte Advogados in February 2022; renewable energy, including biogas and biomethane, are some of her key areas of expertise.

Cescon Barrieu has well-established credentials in the electricity sector, where it assists major clients across the value chain in an array of transactional and regulatory mandates. The practice – which has undergone a recent restructuring under the leadership of Maurício Teixeira dos Santos – is adept at handling high-value M&A deals and complex regulatory issues arising in both non-transactional and transactional contexts, but particularly stands out for its frequent presence in major deals in the financing and capital markets space. Based in Rio de Janeiro, Santos leads on project finance, M&A and tender offers in the power segment, while Alexandre Leal Ribeiro Leite in São Paulo oversees regulatory work. Rafael Baleroni, who heads up the oil and gas and shipping departments, has been active in renewable energy, especially energy transition matters. Eduardo Lanna is another key contact for the sale, divestment and combination of power assets.

The well-rounded energy team at Demarest Advogados is best known for its involvement in high-value litigation and regulatory matters involving government bodies and agencies. The recent arrival of co-head Rosi Costa Barros, who has more than two decades’ experience in the power sector, and a team of five associates strengthened the firm’s services catered to electricity companies engaged in public consultations, proceedings before ANEEL, regulatory contracts and self-generation projects. In addition, the practice is also adept at assisting with M&A and project development in the generation, distribution and transmission segments. Rafael Gagliardi is the main point of contact for advice on power regulation, administrative proceedings and judicial litigation in this space.

In addition to its strong profile in the acquisition, financing, construction and development of power projects throughout the country, Dias Carneiro Advogados is also regularly engaged by clients in the negotiation of power purchase agreements, commercial contracts and regulatory issues. The team possesses an impressive track record in transactions involving the supply, installation and operation of wind turbines, and is also often instructed by credit agencies, development banks, and distribution and transmission companies. With a particular focus on the infrastructure sector, Ricardo Sanches is seasoned in public procurement, project finance and regulatory matters. Fellow co-head Thiago Vallandro Flores specialises in financing and private equity transactions, including several in the energy sector. Paulo Leme maintains a broad practice, advising on contractual, financing and corporate matters relating to power and infrastructure. Creditors routinely seek Gustavo Junqueira's assistance in financing and restructuring transactions in the hydropower sector.

Highlighted for its ‘excellent legal technical performance', energy boutique Julião Coelho Advocacia has an active presence in the energy regulatory space, often representing clients in market-shaping cases before the superior courts in Brazil. The Brasília-based firm is a go-to destination for major players from the electricity sector facing complex regulatory challenges in the power generation, transmission, distribution, trading and renewable segments. Providing legal opinions and assisting in high-profile contentious matters are core areas of activity for the practice, which also offers support to international energy companies looking to establish operations or invest in the country. Founding partner Julião Silveira Coelho is a reference in the sector for his constant involvement in cases before the federal courts and ANEEL. Camila Alves Angoti de Moraes is noted for her experience in both non-contentious matters and litigation, where she excels in cases involving new technology in the solar and storage segments. Pedro Henrique Maciel Fonseca brings together expertise in public law, regulation and infrastructure.

Singled out for its ability ‘to deal with issues of the highest complexity, such as unprecedented transnational and regulatory aspects’, Lefosse Advogados‘ energy team is adept at handling the entire spectrum of mandates concerning power-sector clients. Its practitioners are skilled at guiding clients through the negotiation of major M&A transactions involving conventional and renewable power assets, and in the structuring of distributed generation and self-production projects. Regulatory matters, including regulatory advice in the context of privatisation processes in this industry, also feature in the team’s busy workload, which is further populated by administrative cases before ANEEL and judicial proceedings. Raphael Gomes, who has a relevant background at the Chamber of Commercialisation of Electric Energy (CCEE) and in-house experience in a major energy company, leads the department. Focused on power regulatory matters, Pedro Dante ‘stands out for his technical and practical knowledge’. Counsel Bruno Crispim is fully devoted to the energy sector, and is a go-to attorney for project development, M&A and litigation in the electricity space. Renato Edelstein is a name to note at the associate level.

Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados combines finance, M&A and contractual expertise with comprehensive power sector market knowledge. The group – which is also adept at handling regulatory matters – offers support to traditional generation and renewable energy players seeking assistance with energy auctions, acquisitions and dispositions of power assets, and the development and financing of electricity projects. The team is under the joint leadership of two partners: Ana Karina Esteves de Souza, whose areas of expertise include private investment in regulated sectors, administrative law and privatisations; and Brasília-based Cristiane Romano, who is recommended for judicial and administrative disputes involving the energy sector. Laura Souza, who is proficient in transactional and regulatory matters pertaining to the power segment, is another key contact. Regulatory issues, project finance and transactions taking place in the infrastructure space are among Paulo Machado‘s key areas of practice.

Mattos Filho‘ highly experienced group advises power producers, distribution and transmission companies, traders, service providers, private equity firms and banks on the entire spectrum of legal issues that arise in the electricity and renewable energy sector. It is well positioned to handle energy project M&A, financing and capital market deals, project structuring and regulatory matters, but stands out in particular in the market for its wide-ranging capabilities in the regulatory sphere, where it works on non-contentious matters and administrative proceedings before the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) and the Energy Trading Chamber (CCEE). Recent areas of activity for the team have included self-production projects and long-term corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs). Its practitioners have also been kept busy assisting traditional oil and gas companies in their energy transition efforts. With more than 20 years of experience in the power sector, Fabiano Ricardo Luz de Brito is singled out for his regulatory and transactional track record. Brito has been particularly active in the negotiation of PPAs, administrative and judicial litigation, as well as M&A deals in this segment. Sofia Barbosa, who was recently promoted to partner, is an ‘excellent attorney with diverse knowledge of the industry’. Bárbara Mendes Carnevalli is another name to note for corporate and contractual matters related to the power sector.

With deep regulatory knowledge of the Brazilian power sector, Mundie e Advogados advises across the full spectrum of electricity mandates, with a special emphasis on the generation segment. The team’s strength lies in contentious work, particularly administrative proceedings, and in regulatory issues, but its practitioners are also skilled in power purchase agreements and legislative and contractual matters. Department leader Rafael Fabbri D’Avila, who has more than two decades’ experience in power regulation, excels in administrative and regulatory disputes. Nathalya François is also recommended for complex regulatory issues in the electricity segment.

Pinheiro Neto Advogados has multidisciplinary knowledge in practice areas key to the successful completion of transactions involving power and renewable assets, privatisations and auctions in the Brazilian electricity sector. Its varied client roster is predominantly made up of corporations and investors engaged in power generation, distribution, transmission and trading, which often turn to the firm for assistance with tenders for new hydroelectric uses and construction of new transmission lines, private auctions, M&A transactions, corporate restructuring and project finance. The team is also well positioned to act for large power consumers and the CCEE on a number of regulatory matters. The firm has continued to diversify its power practice, and has recently seen an uptick in work related to energy transition, self-production and distributed generation projects. José Roberto Oliva Júnior is a go-to counsel for a number of domestic and international clients, including traditional and renewable power producers, utilities, trading companies and large consumers; he specialises in project finance, M&A and regulatory matters in the power sector. José Carlos Altomari Teixeira is proficient in power-related M&A, administrative litigation and privatisations.

Drawing on its strong dispute resolution bench, Sergio Bermudes Advogados‘ power group has a wealth of experience representing concessionaires and industry representatives in complex matters involving power agreements, projects, appeals, and administrative and regulatory issues. Besides litigation, the department also offers assistance to clients in non-contentious mandates, especially project approvals. Vítor Ferreira Alves De Brito, who focuses on regulatory issues affecting the electricity sector, and litigator Marcio Vieira Souto Costa Ferreira jointly head up the team. Elena Landau, Frederico Ferreira and Guilherme Coelho are other key contacts for power clients.

Souto Correa Advogados provides legal support to domestic and international clients involved in the generation, transmission, distribution and commercialisation of electricity. The team is seen with great regularity handling regulatory and contractual matters, but is also well placed to assist with energy auctions, PPAs and transmission system connection agreements. Biogas-to-power, distribution generation and renewable projects are other areas of particular expertise for the department, which is jointly led by Livia Amorim in Rio de Janeiro and Fabio Di Lallo in São Paulo. Amorim is primarily focused on regulatory issues, contracts and M&A involving assets in the power and oil and gas sectors, while Di Lallo has considerable strength in electricity regulations and administrative proceedings. Mariana Campos specialises in clean technology and renewable energy, the latter of which is also an area of focus for Arthur Lardosa, who joined from Gustavo Binenbojm & Associados (GBA) in April 2021. The team was recently reinforced with the addition of two lawyers with relevant in-house experience in the power segment: Marcela Aranha and Juliana Melcop.

Covering all power segments, including generation from renewable sources, Stocche Forbes Advogados assists clients from the initial development through to the operational stage of electricity projects. Its team members are routinely engaged by top power players in regulatory matters, financing transactions and corporate deals within this industry. Frederico Moura and Bruno Gandolfo in Rio de Janeiro undertake a range of transactional work in the infrastructure space, including M&A and project development. They co-chair the department alongside Mariana Saragoça in São Paulo, who is noted for her extensive experience in regulated sectors, public procurement and privatisations. Recently promoted partner Emilio Pescarmona Gallucci advises companies and investment funds on M&A and the formation of joint ventures, with an emphasis on the energy sector. Frederico Accon stands out at the associate level for his regulatory expertise.

Full-service firm Tauil & Chequer Advogados fields a sizeable energy group, which brings together considerable experience in guiding clients through the full life-cycle of a power project. The team is regularly engaged in the financing, construction and operation of all classes of transmission, distribution and generating assets and projects. Power traders, service providers and large consumers also instruct the practice in transactional work and contentious matters. A strong oil and gas bench makes the firm a go-to destination for thermoelectric projects. Furthermore, its recent work highlights demonstrate the team’s ability to handle high-value buy- and sell-side M&A throughout the value chain, privatisations of renewable and conventional power generation and transmission assets, and self-production projects. Focused on the power, gas and, more recently, hydrogen sectors, Débora Yanasse ‘is agile, business-oriented and knows the energy market well'. She co-heads the team, and leads advice on regulatory, contractual and corporate matters related to the sector. Bruno Salzano ‘is recommended for M&A transactions and corporate matters', while Bruno Werneck specialises in the development and financing of energy projects. Other practitioners to note include Eduardo Lima and Julia Batistella Machado, the latter of whom joined the team in November 2021 and reinforced the team’s transactional capabilities in the power space.

Praised by clients for its ‘ability to combine corporate know-how with regulatory experience', TozziniFreire Advogados is recognised for its strength in M&A transactions and project financing in the power sector. Its varied client roster comprises numerous energy generators, transmission and trading companies, distributors, as well as national and foreign institutional investors seeking assistance with critical corporate and regulatory aspects arising in the purchase and sale of energy companies and assets. The practice is also active in advising corporate consumers of electricity on offtake agreements, and non-energy companies looking to develop energy generation projects. Leading the department is Leonardo Miranda, who possesses ‘great knowledge of the M&A market' and project contracts. He receives key support from Ana Carolina Katlauskas Calil, whose experience covers project development, corporate transactions and regulatory issues across all power sub-segments.

Singled out for its market-leading reputation in the regulatory space, Ulhôa Canto, Rezende e Guerra Advogados is one of the first ports of call for electricity clients engaged in high-profile and innovative transactions and contentious matters. In addition to the team’s well-known regulatory capabilities, its practitioners are also seasoned in privatisations, M&A deals involving power assets, transmission and generation auctions, and EPC agreements across all segments. The firm’s renewable energy offering is also of note; testament to this is its regular involvement in matters involving wind, solar and hydropower. Isabel Lustosa is a reference in the Brazilian power sector; she possesses a wealth of experience acting for generation companies, financial sponsors and utilities in regulatory matters, administrative proceedings, litigation, M&A and projects. Luciana Yoshida has acted for utilities, generation companies and sponsors in numerous mergers and acquisitions in the power sector. Alberto Büll da Silva is no longer at the firm.

Combining deep sector strength with a multidisciplinary offering covering financing, M&A and project development, the electricity practice at Veirano Advogados is well positioned to advise clients throughout the life cycle of a power project. The team - which showcases particular strength in the transmission space - also assists clients from all sub-segments in regulatory matters, litigation before administrative and judicial courts, and tax-related issues. The practice has witnessed an uptick in deal activity on the renewables side, notably in wind and solar power project M&A, and has been sought after by clients engaged in LNG-to-power projects in ports, offshore wind power plants and hydrogen mandates. Though primarily focused on M&A transactions involving electric assets, Tiago Figueiró is also proficient in project development and administrative proceedings in this space. He manages the team with Daniel Engel, a key contact for renewable generation projects, and Ana Carolina Barretto, a name to note for project financing. Luísa Tortolano Barreto, who has been particularly active in M&A and regulatory matters, and Paola Oliveira, who focuses on contracts and public law issues, stand out at the associate level. Recent hire Mariella Rocha brings a wealth of experience in renewables, energy transition matters and policies.