Full-service powerhouse firm Mattos Filho possesses market-leading capabilities across the full scope of matters pertaining to the oil and gas sector. With a strong presence in ‘the most complex issues and leading cases‘ in this space, the practice is singled out for its skills in high-end transactions, spanning stock and asset purchases, financings, issuance of debentures, and project implementation. Covering the entire value chain, the group is the first port of call for several exploration and production (E&P) and downstream clients and companies from the natural gas segment, as well as banks and private equity firms. The highly regarded Giovani Loss, a treble-qualified partner (in Brazil, England and Wales, and New York), has a wealth of experience in M&A, financing deals and regulatory issues in the hydrocarbons sector. Felipe Rodrigues Caldas Feres regularly works in M&A transactions and projects in the natural gas, biofuels and petroleum industries, and is also sought out for his contractual and regulatory expertise; these are also areas of activity for Bruno Chedid. Key practitioners also include senior associate Danielle Ludwig, whose international background is noteworthy, and Nilton Mattos.

A premier choice for oil and gas clients engaged in sophisticated transactions and complex regulatory matters, Tauil & Chequer Advogados fields a sizeable team of specialists whose expertise spans the upstream, midstream and downstream segments. The group, which is a popular choice for E&P companies, banks, private equity clients and funds, manages a busy workload where high-value M&A, financings and project development feature alongside regulatory and litigation matters. A reference in the national market, Alexandre Chequer has advised on the largest oil and gas projects in Brazil; he splits his time between Rio de Janeiro and Houston, where he offers assistance to clients in transactions, regulatory issues and project development. Corporate and M&A specialist Bruno Belchior is often retained by leading industry players – including floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) operators, drilling companies and oilfield service providers – in deals across the hydrocarbons value chain. M&A and project development are core areas of focus for Victor Galante, while Tiago Macêdo stands out for his regulatory expertise. Recently promoted partner Luciana Sodré handles contractual and transactional matters in the oil and gas sector. Senior associate Henrique Rojas is proficient in cross-border asset acquisitions and projects, and associate Leandro Duarte Alves regularly assists hydrocarbons companies in Brazil and Africa. Juliana Pizzolato Furtado Senna joined the Rio de Janeiro office from Kincaid | Mendes Vianna Advogados in September 2023.

At Cescon Barrieu, the oil and gas team is well versed in big-ticket, sector-specific transactions, including M&A, project development, capital markets and financings. The lattermost area is a key strength for the department, which is a strong performer in the financing of FPSOs and drilling rigs operating in Brazilian waters. With a strong presence in the natural gas segment, the team is also well placed to act in contractual, regulatory and litigation mandates. Leading the department is Rafael Baleroni, who is regularly retained by foreign clients in Brazilian law matters within the hydrocarbons sector; his expertise encompasses E&P, offshore assets, natural gas and downstream matters ranging from financing to contract negotiation and litigation.

Under the leadership of Daniel Szyfman, Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados has played a key role in the recent opening up of the Brazilian gas and refinery markets through its involvement in Petrobras’s major divestment plan. M&A in the upstream segment remains a core area of focus for the team, which has been increasingly engaged in energy transition mandates. Practice head Szyfman stands out for his involvement in decarbonisation projects – including carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen and biofuels – and complex transactional and regulatory matters. A key contact for natural gas clients, Maria Fernanda Soares has been instrumental in discussions related to the reshaping of the domestic gas market; her broad practice covers transactions, projects and regulatory matters. With over 15 years of experience in the oil, natural gas and biofuels sector, Fernando Xavier takes the lead on E&P and downstream mandates, including deals and administrative proceedings. At the associate level, Mariele Milhorance focuses on natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and energy transition, while Raphael Barboza Correia is particularly active in the onshore, shallow-water and mature fields sectors.

Praised for its capabilities in regulatory and M&A matters, the oil and gas team at Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper offers legal support to a range of clients operating in the upstream, midstream and downstream segments in Brazil. In addition to asset and stock deals, financings and contractual matters, the team is also proficient in guiding oil and gas companies in their energy transition efforts, covering advice on carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), bio-CCS, hydrogen, and offshore wind. Transactional and regulatory partner Alexandre Calmon has over two decades of experience acting for clients in the oil and gas and wider energy sectors. He oversees the team with Marcelo Frazão, who is recommended for M&A, financings and multi-jurisdictional projects involving offshore infrastructure, ships and maritime terminals, and dispute resolution specialist João Marçal Martins. Senior associate Patricia Winter undertakes a range of contractual work in this space, ranging from engineering, procurement, construction and installation contracts to bareboat charters. Associate Larianne Sampaio joined from Tauil & Chequer Advogados in May 2022, while former Veirano Advogados‘ partners Rogerio Campos and Marcelo Mattos arrived in July and September 2023, respectively.

Pinheiro Neto Advogados’ versatile practice has a strong reputation for handling complex and high-value transactions involving oil and gas assets. The firm, which is present in all hydrocarbons segments, also attracts instructions from domestic and foreign players in relation to regulatory matters concerning the reorganisation of the Brazilian oil and gas industry in the wake of Petrobras’s divestment plan. Marcelo Viveiros de Moura has worked on several multi-jurisdictional and local transactions on behalf of major IOCs. The ‘brilliant‘ Marcello Lobo is a key point of contact for clients from the hydrocarbons sector, who are engaged in M&A, joint ventures and financing deals with regulatory implications. Other names to note include Francisco Werneck Maranhão, who brings together expertise in regulatory issues, corporate reorganisations and financings, and Raphael Moraes Paciello, another reference in the team for M&A and joint ventures in the oil and gas space.

Upstream, midstream and downstream clients routinely turn to Demarest Advogados for assistance in high-end transactions and regulatory matters. In addition to advising on bidding rounds promoted by the ANP and asset deals, the firm is also proficient in the development of onshore and offshore projects, matters involving fuel distribution and disputes related to carbon credits. The oil and gas practice is under the joint leadership of David Meiler, who acts for large and independent oil companies and service providers in this space, and João Luis Almeida, ‘an excellent professional’ in M&A, farm-outs, financings and regulatory matters in the upstream segment. Senior associate Roberta Batalha has recently been engaged in pre-salt bid rounds and several transactional matters. Bárbara Bittencourt left the firm in February 2023.

‘Adept in the review of complex oil and gas contracts‘, Lefosse Advogados is present in the downstream, midstream and upstream segments, demonstrating particular strength in gas-to-power projects. The team handles a mix of regulatory, projects, contentious and transactional matters, but is best known for its deal-making and cross-border capabilities. Led by the highly regarded Felipe Boechem, the department has continued to expand its client roster, most notably in the fuels and biofuels production and distribution sectors. Key support is offered by senior associate André Lemos, who specialises in project development in the hydrocarbons space, and senior lawyer Pedro Salarini. The firm’s infrastructure and projects service offering was reinforced by the addition of Miriam Signor in April 2022, who joined from Stocche Forbes Advogados.

The ‘extremely well-prepared team‘ at Stocche Forbes Advogados is commended by clients for its ‘deep knowledge‘ of the oil and gas sector. With a strong track record in financing and corporate transactions involving hydrocarbons companies and assets, the team is also a solid performer in public bids, divestments and matters before regulatory agencies. Guilherme Forbes, a key contact for M&A and financings in this space, oversees the team with four other practitioners: Frederico Moura and Bruno Gandolfo, who focus on project finance; administrative and regulatory law specialist Mariana Saragoça; and Marco Saliba. Public procurement, regulatory issues and administrative agreements are core areas of activity for associate Julia Barker, while Ana Clara Viola works in project development and contract management.

At Veirano Advogados, the oil, gas and biofuels team acts for a varied client roster, ranging from refineries and distribution companies to midstream players, E&P clients and service providers. Though prepared to assist in the full array of matters relating to the hydrocarbons sector, the team is particularly adept in transactional and regulatory mandates. Ali El Hage Filho, a ‘partner in the oil and gas area with extensive in-house experience‘, manages a diverse workload where regulatory advice features alongside deals and commercial agreements. Associate Tito Rosa is another name to note for contractual matters, administrative proceedings and regulatory issues. The team was reinforced by the addition of Livia Amorim and Fabio Di Lallo from Souto Correa Advogados in October 2023. Former practice head Rogerio Campos left the firm in July 2023.