The Legal 500 > Latin America > Brazil > Labour and employment

The leading employment department at Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados maintains a busy workload. The team, led by Andrea Giamondo Massei Rossi, is regularly instructed on business-critical employment issues, including fighting accusations of modern slavery, as well as major collective bargaining negotiations and strategic labour lawsuits, including collective and individual claims. The firm has a strong advisory service that regularly helps with internal investigations, compliance issues and the structuring of employment policies and contracts. Rodrigo Seizo Takano and Caroline Marchi also have good reputations.

Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados has a top reputation with clients and peers alike, and is strongly recommended both for labour litigation and advisory work. The team includes a stellar roster of talent, including Vilma Kutomi, Dario Abrahão Rabay, Sólon Cunha, who is especially strong on union-related matters, Cleber Venditti and Rio-based Domingos Antonio Fortunato Netto, who is well known in Brazil's oil and gas sector. As well as high-profile contentious matters, the firm has a strong focus on litigation prevention strategies and negotiations with the labour unions. The team has recently handled significant cases related to the gig economy.

TozziniFreire Advogados has established an excellent reputation in labour law. Its lawyers provide strong employment support to the firm's wider corporate offering, regularly assisting with related M&A transactions and company restructurings. The team also has a good track record in managing potentially contentious issues, including plant closures, mass redundancies and negotiations with the unions. When matters do go to court, the firm's litigators regularly represent employers at the highest level, including major collective and individual lawsuits. Highly rated practice heads Alexandre de Almeida Cardoso and Marcelo Pereira Gômara are supported by high-quality individuals, including Mihoko Sirley Kimura and Fernanda Bianco Pimentel.

The employment team at Veirano Advogados continues to impress the market with its handling of contentious and non-contentious employment issues. It regularly handles complex, strategic matters, including judicial and administrative lawsuits, collective negotiations, company restructurings, compensation plans and advice related to M&A transactions. Recently, the firm has been involved in several significant work-related accident and illness claims, and cases related to confidentiality breaches and discrimination. Key partners include Jose Carlos Wahle, Luiz Antonio dos Santos Junior and Sílvia Araújo in São Paulo, and Luiz Guilherme Migliora, Maria Luisa Soter and Flávia Azevedo in Rio de Janeiro.

The team at Demarest Advogados is relied upon by a broad mix of domestic and international clients. The practice provides crucial employment support on major corporate mandates, including business launches, M&As and restructurings. In addition, the group offers strong strategic advice on collective bargaining agreements, compliance investigations, compensation plans and the structuring of internal policies. The highly versatile Cássia Fernanda Pizzotti and Renato Canizares jointly lead the team, with key input from labour litigation head Marcello Della Monica Silva, who specialises in labour prosecution negotiations, class actions and claims involving occupational accidents and diseases.

São Paulo-based boutique Granadeiro Guimarães Advogados has one of the largest employment teams in the country. The practice represents domestic and international companies from across a broad range of sectors, including banking, food, technology, pharmaceutical, manufacturing and energy. This includes comprehensive support on the full range of contentious and non-contentious issues, including internal audits, government inspections and judicial and administrative proceedings. Key partners include Gustavo Granadeiro Guimarães, Mauricio Granadeiro Guimarães, Filipe Gustavo Potzmann Pereira and Aparecida Tokumi Hashimoto.

The highly regarded employment team at Huck, Otranto, Camargo Advogados acts for companies in a range of industries, including retail, transport, financial services, technology and food and beverage. Contentious matters range from high-level executive claims to mass litigation, as well as lawsuits filed by the Ministry of Labour. On the advisory side, its areas of expertise include health and safety, corporate support, collective bargaining, strike management and social security. Maria Fernanda de Medeiros Redi leads the active team, which also includes partner Célia Mara Peres. Senior associate Luiza Cruz Greiner is singled out for praise by clients.

Clients are quick to praise Pinheiro Neto Advogados' active employment team, which is led by the highly experienced Luís Antônio Ferraz Mendes, who has over 30 years in the market. Other key partners include Thais Galo, who has good expertise in executive hiring, individual and collective layoffs, business reorganisations and various remuneration and profit-sharing plans. Mauricio Froes Guidi is also well regarded, particularly for representing clients in the finance and technology industries. The versatile team covers the full range of contentious and non-contentious labour issues, including related outsourcing, pensions and insurance matters.

BMA - Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão has a well-regarded employment team, with expertise across the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious issues. On the advisory side, the team regularly advises on redundancy proceedings, compensation packages and business process outsourcing, with a keen view to avoiding litigation. When disputes do occur, the lawyers have a notable track record in collective labour claims, often linked to corporate takeovers, privatisations and restructurings. Partners Cibelle Goldfarb and Luiz Marcelo Góis are highly rated by clients, as is associate Mariana Brassaloti.

The well-regarded team at Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados is regularly instructed by major companies on sensitive employment matters. Practice head Gisela da Silva Freire is noted for her wide experience in labour law, which includes non-contentious matters such as senior level recruitments and redundancies, collective bargaining agreements and stock option plans. The team is also noted for its strong litigation experience, including class actions and more controversial areas including child labour. Senior associate Viviane de Azevedo Rodrigues has established a good name.

Felsberg Advogados has an impressive, growing practice that represents employers on the full range of issues. On the litigation side this includes individual and collective disputes, whether filed by former executives or representative labour unions. The team is as comfortable handling strikes and collective bargaining negotiations as it is stock options and employee compensation plans. Highly rated practice head Maurício Pepe de Lion has over 20 years in the market, while Ana Cristina Valentim is also building a strong reputation for defending companies' interests.

Gasparini, De Cresci e Nogueira de Lima Advogados has a popular and growing practice. Recently, the firm has been involved in several high-profile collective dismissal proceedings and union negotiations. Labour disputes, including mass litigations and senior executive claims, remain high on the agenda. As well as advising on day-to-day matters, the lawyers provide related support on corporate transactions and restructurings, as well as major infrastructure projects. Team head Ricardo Christophe da Rocha Freire has almost 20 years of experience in the market. Senior associate André Rodrigues Schioser is highly recommended.

Mannrich e Vasconcelos Advogados is very well regarded in the market, drawing in part on the reputation of Nelson Mannrich, who has a distinguished track record as an adviser and professor. The practice handles the gamut of contentious and non-contentious matters, including disputes involving unions and the Labour Prosecutor's Office, as well as civil class actions and lawsuits from former executives. The team also offers a strong service in strategic and compliance advice. Other key partners include Celso Goulart Mannrich, Roberto Aguirre Rossetti and Fábio Tadeu de Lima.

ASBZ Advogados has a good track record for representing employers in complex labour disputes. The team also advises companies across a range of industries on strategic issues, including the negotiation of collective agreements, the drafting and review of internal policies, and internal investigations. In litigation, the lawyers have experience in judicial and administrative claims, including public civil actions, health and safety-related issues, and allegations of discrimination and sexual harassment. Decio Daidone Junior and Rodrigo Shiromoto are recommended for their contentious and non-contentious expertise.

CGM Advogados offers a strong balance of contentious and non-contentious expertise, and clients are quick to praise the quality of the lawyers at all levels. Practice head Patricia Barboza is supported by an experienced team, which includes Maury Lobo de Athayde - who became a partner in 2019 - and well-regarded associate Poliana César. Collective negotiations, senior employee claims, health and safety matters, internal investigations and litigation are among the matters that feature high on the agenda for the versatile practice.

Dias Carneiro Advogados offers a reliable, full-service employment practice, with a good combination of litigation and strategic support. The team regularly represents clients in administrative and judicial disputes. On the consultancy side, it advises on labour union negotiations, company restructurings, senior employee compensation and stock options, as well as acquisitions and divestments. Practice head André de Melo Ribeiro oversees the department, with strong support from highly rated counsel and labour litigation head Cynthia Fernandes Guidotti.

KLA Advogados has a good track record in high-value and complex labour claims and strategic non-contentious matters. Practice head Alexandre Pessoa is a popular choice with international clients, and has good expertise with executive-level recruitment and dismissals, as well as collective bargaining agreements and immigration issues. The team also provides training support and advice on collective redundancy proceedings.

Lefosse Advogados's labour law team handles an even split of litigation and consultancy work; non-contentious advice includes support on corporate finance transactions, including M&A and restructurings, as well as devising incentive plans, drafting employment contracts and conducting internal audits. The team, which includes practice head Aloizio Lima and experienced senior associate Paulo Antonio Peressin, also defends employers in high-value and complex labour disputes.

Rayes & Fagundes Advogados Associados is a popular destination for high-end labour and social security advice, offering the full spectrum of litigation and consultancy services. As well as handling high-value lawsuits and settlement procedures, the team also provides strong support on union negotiations, pay schemes and redundancy programmes. Paula Corina Santone Carajelescov leads the well-regarded team, which includes highly rated associate Roberto Ferreira Ferlis.

The experienced, multi-disciplinary labour law team at Souto Correa Advogados handles an impressive mix of strategic lawsuits and advisory projects. This includes collective actions with unions, individual claims from senior managers, as well as occupational accidents. Clients also turn to the team for advice on the development of internal policies and day-to-day matters. Paulo Roberto Souto leads the team, which includes Joel Gallo and Flavio Sirangelo. Patricia Alves is also recommended.

Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown saw the departure of practice head Eduardo Soto, who left to set up his own boutique Soto Frugis Advogados. Nevertheless, the existing practice still provides strong support to clients, and the recruitment of new practice head Aline Fidelis from Kestener, Granja & Vieira Advogados demonstrates the firm's commitment. Senior associate Thatiane Campello is well regarded.

Abe Giovanini Advogados has a small but focused team of specialists, which is led by the highly regarded Fernanda Garcez. Recently, the firm has defended clients against several high-value judicial claims brought by former employees. The firm is also seeing increased work from equity investment funds regarding their liabilities towards portfolio companies. Associate Priscila Soeiro Moreira is also noted for her consultancy expertise.

Araújo e Policastro Advogados offers a strong litigation and advisory service to employers from across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, IT, recruitment, education and energy. Ana Lúcia Pinke Ribeiro de Paiva leads the team, which has significant expertise in defending against employee claims, providing corporate support, and advising on company reorganisations and employee benefits.

The strong labour team at Castro Barros Advogados is recommended by clients for its litigation and consulting expertise. Valéria Wessel Souza Rangel de Paula is one of the firm's main points of contact, with good experience in administrative and judicial employment disputes. The team regularly advises clients in the financial services, energy and construction sectors.

Inglez, Werneck, Ramos, Cury e Françolin Advogados (IWRCF) is a popular choice with domestic and international companies, particularly for defence in high-value lawsuits and class actions. The team, led by the highly rated Luiz Fernando Alouche, also offers strategic advice on the full range of employment matters, including collective bargaining processes. Associate Rodrigo Rosalem Senese is also recommended by clients.

In labour law, Lobo de Rizzo Advogados has a particular focus on pre-litigation advisory work and employment-related risk mitigation strategies. This includes assessments of unpaid rights, recruitment strategies, negotiating with unions and planning collective dismissals. The firm also has litigation expertise, having defended clients in collective labour lawsuits. Fabio Medeiros leads the team.

Mundie e Advogados' solid labour law team is led by Nadia Lacerda, who has almost 30 years of experience in the market. The practice has a good track record in unfair dismissal claims, collective bargaining agreements and class actions. Clients come from a wide variety of sectors, including business process outsourcing, telecoms, energy, technology and fashion.

Soto Frugis Advogados is a new entrant to Brazil's labour law market. The labour boutique was recently established by Eduardo Soto, a former practice head at Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown, and Antonio Carlos Frugis, formerly a partner at Demarest Advogados. Other key partners include Graziela Vicari Mellis, who works out of the firm's Campinas office and has a good track record advising technology companies, and Leonardo Pardini, who has a strong focus on class actions and collective bargaining procedures. Associate Jorge Soares is also well regarded.

Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados is entrusted by several major companies on significant and sensitive employment issues. High-profile strategic lawsuits have featured high on the agenda recently. Marcos Renato Gelsi dos Santos leads the team, which has notable international reach thanks to the firm's strategic alliance with Dentons.