Brazil

Spanish trade and investments in Brazil have grown significantly, solidifying Spain's position as a major foreign investor in the country. In 2022, Spain ranked fourth among foreign direct investment (FDI) contributors to Brazil, with an FDI stock of approximately US$52.3 billion. Spanish investments in Brazil span multiple sectors, including infrastructure, energy, and financial services, with notable examples such as Banco Santander’s extensive branch network expansion and investments in renewable energy projects like the Marlim Azul gas power plant and the Ribeirão Gonçalves solar energy complex. The close economic ties between Spain and Brazil are also evident in trade relations. Spain has become one of Brazil's most important European trading partners. In 2023, bilateral trade reached US$11.8 billion, with Brazilian exports to Spain concentrated in commodities like crude petroleum, soy, and corn. Spanish imports from Brazil are highly reliant on oil, which accounted for 40.6% of the total imports in 2023, largely due to the increased demand caused by the disruption of Russian oil supplies following the conflict in Ukraine. Other products such as sugar and soy derivatives also saw significant growth during this period. Brazil’s export basket to Spain, while focused on commodities, has shown resilience and potential for diversification. The conclusion of the Mercosur-EU trade agreement could further enhance Brazil's access to the European market, particularly in agriculture, providing opportunities for growth in other sectors. However, challenges remain. Brazil must navigate evolving regulatory frameworks such as the European Union’s new deforestation law (EUDR), which will restrict imports from deforested areas, potentially affecting Brazilian exports of soy, beef, and other agricultural products. In terms of investment projects, Spanish companies have played a pivotal role in Brazil’s energy and infrastructure development. Repsol, a key player in the energy sector, has engaged in multi-billion-dollar investments in Brazil's offshore gas fields, while Neoenergia, another Spanish company, has established itself as a leader in renewable energy. These projects are crucial for Brazil's energy transition and infrastructure expansion, further reinforcing Spain’s role as a strategic investor in Brazil. Beyond traditional industries, the Brazilian government has emphasized its commitment to innovation and regulatory modernization, launching initiatives to foster a more favorable environment for foreign investors. Recent discussions between Brazilian and Spanish officials have highlighted the potential for increased collaboration, particularly in areas like renewable energy, digital transformation, and infrastructure development . As both countries explore these synergies, the framework for Spanish investments in Brazil is set to strengthen further, benefiting from shared interests and strategic partnerships. Fábio Medina Osório, the founding partner of Medina Osório Advogados and former Attorney General of Brazil, is a specialist in regulatory law and corporate compliance. He holds a Ph.D. in administrative law from Complutense University of Madrid and has been actively involved in organizing events alongside key financial institutions and telecom giants to discuss regulatory trends, infrastructure, and risk management strategies for companies looking to execute large-scale infrastructure projects or investments in Brazil. His expertise and leadership are essential for navigating Brazil’s complex regulatory landscape.  

The initiative positions Veirano Advogados as one of the few law firms in Brazil with a specialized practice in Fashion Law. Veirano Advogados has officially consolidated its Fashion Law practice, offering specialized legal support to the luxury and fashion industries. This new focus practice combines years of experience advising clients in this dynamic sector, which was previously served across various practice areas within the firm. The launching event took place at our São Paulo office and featured Silvia Braz, one of Brazil’s most prominent fashion and lifestyle entrepreneurs and influencers. Veirano’s Fashion Law practice is designed to serve the entire fashion ecosystem from raw material suppliers to manufacturers, retailers, media, and digital platforms supporting clients at every stage of their business development. “Our goal with this practice is to deliver highly specialized, multidisciplinary legal solutions tailored to the unique needs of the fashion and luxury market,” explains Isabel Hering, head of the Fashion Law practice. “We are consolidating the expertise that Veirano has built over the years into a single, dedicated team.” The team includes specialists in intellectual property, corporate law, tax and customs, consumer and conflict resolution, labor, compliance, privacy, and criminal law, among others. To further support multinational clients, Veirano also leverages a network of trusted international partners, ensuring a global perspective and comprehensive legal solutions. With this initiative, Veirano becomes one of the few Brazilian full-service law firms with a practice focused on Fashion Law — offering innovative, strategic, and high-quality legal advice to a sector that is constantly evolving

Veirano Advogados continues its growth trajectory by announcing a new office opening in Belo Horizonte. This move strengthens the Firm's national presence and meets the growing demand from its long-standing clients in Minas Gerais while expanding its reach to new clients in one of Brazil's most essential and fast-developing markets. Veirano has appointed Julio Antonio Nunes Queiroz as a partner to lead the initiative. Queiroz is a lawyer with more than 15 years of experience and has built a solid career advising on complex and structured financial transactions. Alongside his team, he will focus on Investment Funds and Asset Management, Capital Markets, and Corporate & Mergers and Acquisitions. He will support companies operating in key sectors such as infrastructure, mining, energy, technology, and financial services. Beyond his core practice areas, Queiroz will also help coordinate the presence of Veirano's other practice groups in Minas Gerais. As a full-service business law firm, Veirano is reinforcing its ability to offer agile and highly specialized support to address the complex needs of companies based in the region. Queiroz holds a law degree from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and an LL.M. from University College London, where he received the Valentine Korah Prize. Widely recognized in the market, he brings extensive experience in leading mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and public offerings of securities. "Joining Veirano with the mission of expanding the firm's presence to a new state—my hometown—is one of the most important steps in my career and a milestone in a journey dedicated to advising clients in key sectors of the economy," said Julio Queiroz. "I'm excited to be part of such a sophisticated and high-performing team." According to managing partner Paula Surerus, Julio Queiroz's arrival reinforces Veirano's commitment to delivering tailored solutions to companies across the country. "Our growth is driven by market demand and our clients' evolving needs," she said. "We understand the importance of being physically present for our local clients. With our new structure in Minas Gerais, we are even better positioned to support complex and innovative transactions." With a 52-year history, Veirano Advogados operates in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasília, Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, and New York. The Firm has 91 partners and remains one of Brazil's leading business law firms.

The corporate law team at Finocchio & Ustra Sociedade de Advogados advised A9 — a company founded with the mission of transforming agribusiness through innovation, agility, and trust — in the acquisition of strategic assets from Coplacana, one of the most traditional and respected agribusiness cooperatives in Brazil. Established in 1948, Coplacana is headquartered in Piracicaba, São Paulo. The transaction represents a strategic move to establish A9’s presence in the agro-industrial market and to consolidate its position as the largest dealership of a leading agricultural machinery brand in the state of São Paulo. Already present at Agrishow 2025 — one of the world’s largest agricultural technology trade shows and the leading agribusiness event in Latin America — A9 reaffirms its commitment to delivering solutions at the pace agribusiness demands, with ethics, ambition, and results. The transaction was conducted by partner of the corporate and M&A Andrea Tincani, with the participation of Marcelo Schwartzmann, partner of the environmental practice, Camila de Godoy Ferreira, Letícia Flaminio, Júlia Bueno da Conceição and Giovana Silva, all from Finocchio & Ustra.