Mattos Filho has a well-established reputation among the top teams in Brazil; it offers transactional and regulatory advice to leading exploration and production (E&P), downstream and natural gas players, private equity clients and banks. The group, which is made up of practitioners with relevant international backgrounds, attracts instructions in an array of high-value deals, ranging from stock and asset purchases, business combinations, debt restructuring and financings, while also showcasing strength in the implementation and construction of projects in the oil and gas sector. Mandates involving contractual breaches, class actions and arbitrations also feature in the firm’s impressive portfolio. Devoted to the oil and gas segment, Giovani Loss is an ‘industry-experienced and trustworthy attorney’ who has a wealth of experience in M&A transactions, regulatory and maritime law matters pertaining to the sector. Also recommended, Felipe Rodrigues Caldas Feres is counsel of choice for clients engaged in large-scale projects and M&A deals. Singled out for his ‘vast experience in regulatory, contractual and M&A matters’, Nilton Mattos is another name to note for hydrocarbons work. Other key individuals include Danielle Ludwig and the recently promoted Bruno Chedid, both of whom are active in transactional, regulatory and contractual issues involving the oil and gas sector. All mentioned practitioners are based in Rio de Janeiro.

Housing one of the biggest teams in Brazil dedicated to the oil and gas sector, Tauil & Chequer Advogados is often called upon to provide transactional and regulatory counselling in complex mandates involving the upstream, midstream and downstream segments. The team stands out for its strong track record in high-value M&A, financing deals and project development, where it acts for an array of high-profile industry players, including E&P companies, private equity firms, funds and banks. The firm’s association with international firm Mayer Brown makes it a popular destination for cross-border mandates in all hydrocarbons segments. Department leader Alexandre Chequer is the point of contact for several oil and gas companies in Latin America, Africa and Asia. He splits his time between the Rio de Janeiro and Houston office, and is seen with great regularity handling transactions, regulatory matters and project development of pipelines, refineries, gas-to-power and liquified natural gas (LNG). These are also among Bruno Belchior‘s core areas of activity; he is also noted for his experience in joint ventures, bid processes and regulatory issues involving host government E&P contracts. Victor Galante is particularly seasoned in M&A involving hydrocarbons assets and in project development, while the recently promoted Tiago Macêdo assists energy clients in a variety of regulatory matters, including in relation to Petrobras’s divestment programme. At the associate level, Leandro Duarte Alves is recommended for the negotiation of upstream and downstream contracts. The offshore, ports and maritime law practice was strengthened by the addition of Joyce Jacobsen in November 2021; she joined from Vieira, Rezende, Barbosa e Guerreiro Advogados. Alexandre Calmon is no longer at the firm.

The hydrocarbons group at Cescon Barrieu stands out for its vast knowledge of financing transactions, evidenced by its involvement in high-end deals and recent engagements in refinery acquisition financings, distressed leveraged acquisitions of drillships, and the financing of floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units. Covering all segments of the oil and gas supply chain and drawing on the firm’s transactional strength, the team is also retained in matters involving project development, M&A, capital markets and regulatory issues. More recently, the team has expanded its service offering in the sector, which now also includes contractual, tax and litigation advice. With in-depth understanding of cross-border matters, Rafael Baleroni is trusted by foreign oil and gas players navigating the complex Brazilian legal environment. Upstream asset sales, contractual disputes, financings and tax-related issues are among Baleroni’s areas of expertise. Maurício Teixeira dos Santos, who heads up the infrastructure and project finance group and oversees the Rio de Janeiro office, is skilled in M&A, tender offers, project development and restructurings involving oil offshore assets and transportation projects.

Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados fields a ‘well-integrated and highly experienced team‘, which is particularly noted for its strength in M&A transactions in the E&P segment. Regulatory work, greenfield projects and contractual issues are other areas of focus for the practice, which has been particularly busy advising on numerous transactions on behalf of client Petrobras that have been reshaping the hydrocarbons market in Brazil. The firm is in the process of combining its oil and gas and power teams into a single group to address clients’ needs in the intersection of these segments and emerging areas, such as greenfield hydrogen projects. With more than two decades of experience in the industry and ‘vast knowledge of the oil and gas market’, Daniel Szyfman steers the team in a range of transactions, notably M&A and structured finance. Maria Fernanda Soares is a name to note for natural gas clients, an area which is seeing increased activity as the domestic market opens up. Demonstrating a deep understanding of oil, natural gas and biofuels, Fernando Xavier is singled out for his experience in E&P projects and administrative litigation.

The oil and gas and energy transition practice at Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper has recently experienced a change in leadership with the arrival of Alexandre Calmon and Marcelo Frazão from Tauil & Chequer Advogados in October 2021, both of whom bring a wealth of experience in transactions (including M&A and financings) and regulatory matters across the hydrocarbons value chain. The opening up of the Brazilian gas market and continued divestment efforts by Petrobras of its upstream, midstream and downstream assets have kept the team particularly busy. Domestic and international clients also regularly seek the group’s assistance with LNG regasification and energy transition projects. Co-head Calmon focuses on high-end deals and regulatory issues in this segment, while fellow co-leader Frazão is a name to note for both transactional work and multi-jurisdictional projects involving maritime terminals, ships and offshore infrastructure. João Marçal Martins, who also joined from Tauil & Chequer Advogados in 2021, leads on oil and gas dispute resolution matters, including arbitrations and administrative proceedings.

‘One of the most prestigious law firms in Brazil‘, Pinheiro Neto Advogados showcases a deep understanding of regulatory matters surrounding the exploration, development, production, refining, distribution and trading of oil, natural gas and its by-products. Brazilian and international clients active in all segments, including service providers and equipment suppliers, regularly turn to the team, which has notable strength in high-value transactions involving oil and gas assets. Based in the Rio de Janeiro office, Marcello Lobo is counsel of choice for many oil and gas clients engaged in high-end M&A and financing transactions with relevant regulatory implications. Marcelo Viveiros de Moura, whose experience in this industry spans more than three decades, is a key contact for domestic and cross-border deals. Regulatory matters, corporate reorganisations and joint ventures are all areas of expertise for Francisco Werneck Maranhão, whose track record also features M&A in the oil, gas and utilities sectors. Recently promoted partner Raphael Moraes Paciello is another key individual in Rio for transactions and regulatory mandates in this space.

Demarest Advogados offers advice to upstream, midstream and downstream clients in the gamut of mandates in these fields, notably high-value transactions and complex regulatory issues. The ‘highly qualified, responsive and business oriented’ group was strengthened by the arrival of David Meiler and a team of associates from Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper in October 2021. Meiler has longstanding experience acting for oil companies and service providers operating or seeking to enter the Brazilian market. João Luis Almeida, whose areas of expertise cover corporate deals, financing transactions and regulatory issues, co-heads the department, which is also skilled at assisting clients in the development of onshore and offshore projects. Recent areas of activity for the department include deals involving the recent opening of the Brazilian gas market, Petrobras’s divestment programme and bidding rounds promoted by ANP. Since publication, Bárbara Bittencourt has left the firm, effective as of February 2023.

The oil and gas team at Lefosse Advogados has the breadth of knowledge to handle a range of transactional matters for a variety of stakeholders throughout the value chain. Clients benefit not only from core transactional expertise, but also the team’s ability to handle complex regulatory issues across the downstream, midstream, gas-to-power and upstream segments. Bringing together attorneys with extensive in-house and private practice experience, the team is frequently seen acting in cross-border deals and contentious matters. Primarily focused on transactional work, the highly regarded Felipe Boechem has recently been engaged by clients in relation to Petrobras’s divestments, including in the acquisition of refineries and biofuels, and the distribution of liquefied petroleum gas businesses. Felipe Gibson is seasoned in M&A, private equity and capital markets deals, while senior associate André Lemos is devoted to asset deals, contractual matters and project development in the hydrocarbons sector. In a significant move, project finance and development expert Miriam Signor joined the firm from Stocche Forbes Advogados in April 2022.

Stocche Forbes Advogados is a popular destination for both domestic and international oil and gas clients seeking assistance with large financing and business transactions involving upstream, midstream and downstream assets and companies. The practice, which is noted for its experience in public law-related matters, experienced a recent increase in mandates pertaining to public bids in the context of Petrobras’s divestment programme, interaction with public agencies and regulatory issues. Guilherme Forbes leads on several M&A and financing transactions pertaining to the hydrocarbons sector, while project finance and capital markets matters are some of Frederico Moura and Bruno Gandolfo's legal specialisms. Mariana Saragoça in São Paulo regularly guides clients throughout all stages of public procurement and the regulatory process. Miriam Signor left the firm in April 2022.

Veirano Advogados ‘has an excellent oil and gas practice in Rio and São Paulo‘, which attracts instructions from clients operating throughout the entire value chain, including distribution companies, refineries, service providers, shipping and E&P players. The group has seen recent growth, with several new clients in the hydrocarbons sector seeking legal support in regulatory and transactional matters involving natural gas and oilfield services. In this regard, Ali El Hage Filho has been particularly active providing regulatory advice when it comes to the development and operation of natural gas infrastructure and the negotiation of commercial agreements for the importation of LNG. He receives praise from clients, who highlight his negotiation skills and ‘extensive industry experience‘. Fellow co-head Rogério Campos has a strong background in high-value contracts for the construction, acquisition and operation of oil and gas production units. Also noted is Tito Rosa, a key contact for bidding rounds before ANP and administrative proceedings.