The Legal 500 > Latin America > Brazil > Public law

Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados is able to handle the full range of public law issues; the practice has a strong track record in public bids, privatisations, concessions, complex public-private arrangements (PPPs) and administrative proceedings before federal regulatory bodies. Other notable areas of practice include judicial litigation and administrative improbity cases. Mauro Bardawil Penteado, who specialises in public law and projects, oversees the department with José Enei, whose areas of focus include PPPs and concessions. Lucas Sant’Anna is noted for his deep knowledge of regulatory matters, particularly involving the sanitation, airports, railways, highways and transport sectors. Rafael Vanzella is completely devoted to public law, and is proficient in public tenders, concessions and administrative agreements.

With a well-established reputation in the public law market, Manesco, Ramires, Perez, Azevedo Marques Sociedade de Advogados' specialised team receives instructions from private and public entities concerning the entire spectrum of public law matters. The practice excels in assisting with large commercial ventures, including concessions, PPPs and other contractual issues, involving a wide array of sectors, namely airports, roads, railways, logistics and sanitation. Judicial proceedings, as well as arbitration and mediation, are some of Floriano De Azevedo Marques Neto's areas of focus. Marcos Augusto Perez is experienced in representing municipalities in issues pertaining to financial laws, and private and public clients in administrative and bid contracts.

TozziniFreire Advogados is skilled at advising domestic and international clients across a variety of public law matters, ranging from infrastructure and privatisation projects to procurement procedures. The team assists with the structuring of PPPs, concessions, supply of equipment and the provision of services, and has seen recent growth in the area of compliance in relation to public procurement matters. Litigation and administrative proceedings also feature on the department's portfolio. Leading the practice is Claudia Elena Bonelli, whose experience covers management of public-private relations and infrastructure projects. José Augusto de Castro specialises in government contracts and administrative law. A team of four lawyers including Ana Cândida de Mello Carvalho left for BMA - Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão.

Azevedo Sette Advogados attracts mandates from private companies operating in the mining, construction and telecoms sectors, among others. Its diverse client base seeks the team's advice on bidding procedures, concessions, regulations, as well as PPPs, privatisations and administrative proceedings. Frederico Bopp Dieterich and Leonardo Moreira Costa de Souza are key practitioners in the public law department.

Demarest Advogados assists private companies looking to do business with federal, state and local governments. Apart from advising throughout the public procurement stage, including handling competitive bids, the team is adept at assisting with concession agreements, PPP models and administrative contracts pertaining to project development. The lawyers are also well versed in administrative, judicial and arbitration proceedings involving public law matters. Bruno Aurélio, whose fields of expertise include government projects and public contracts, is now overseeing the department following the departure of the two previous practice heads André Luiz Freire and Renato Poltronieri, who joined Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados and NHMF Advogados, respectively. Renan Sona Silva is noted for his experience representing companies before regulatory agencies, and in privatisation processes and concession projects in a range of industries; Silva recently joined from Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown.

Felsberg Advogados is able to guide clients through bidding procedures, advising them on the review of proposals, as well as on the filing of administrative appeals and judicial challenges. Assisting with the execution of public contracts, requesting the extension of government contracts, and representing clients before federal, state and local courts are among the regular instructions for the department, which is led by Marianne Albers. Albers brings together experience in public law and life sciences. Public service concessions and PPPs are key strengths for Rodrigo Bertoccelli, while Felipe Cesar Lourenço is noted for administrative contracts.

Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados has longstanding experience managing interactions between private companies and public entities. It regularly assists domestic and international clients navigating legal intricacies in public tenders, PPPs, concessions and administrative proceedings. Part of the team is based in Brasília, enabling the lawyers to assist clients with negotiations with public authorities and regulatory agencies. The team has recently been active in matters relating to logistics and public lighting projects, as well as airport concessions. The public law group was boosted following the arrival of André Luiz Freire, who demonstrates solid experience in public procurement matters and bidding procedures. Thiago Luís Sombra's areas of interest include litigation and privatisation matters. Bruno Werneck recently departed for Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown.

The public law practice at Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown undertakes the gamut of public law work, advising private clients on public bids, concession agreements and PPP structures. The team also offers representation to clients in litigation matters involving public administration issues, covering the judicial, arbitration and administrative spheres. Bruno Werneck and Mario Saadi recently joined from Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados, and are now jointly heading the department. Werneck focuses on project development, as well as PPPs and regulatory matters, which are also areas of activity for Saadi, who is noted for his expertise in the logistics sector. Bruno Aurélio and Renan Sona Silva are now at Demarest Advogados.

BMA - Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão brings extensive experience in infrastructure, regulatory matters and government affairs. The team is often retained to advise on government contracting procedures, PPPs and concessions, and also fields the ability to represent clients before municipal, state and federal regulatory entities in administrative proceedings and judicial reviews. In addition, the practice is proficient in administrative misconduct cases, and regularly handles transactions taking place in highly regulated markets, including energy, telecoms, transportation, healthcare, logistics and sanitation. José Guilherme Berman shares the department's leadership with Ana Cândida de Mello Carvalho, who recently joined with a team of lawyers from TozziniFreire Advogados. Eduardo Hayden Carvalhaes is now a practitioner at Lefosse Advogados.

International and domestic clients from both the private and public sectors seek Justen, Pereira, Oliveira & Talamini Advogados's advice on public law matters, which is a core field of activity for the firm. Its broad experience covers infrastructure projects, public procurement, government contracts, concessions and PPPs. Dispute resolution is another area of expertise. Fernão Justen de Oliveira focuses on commercial and administrative law. Alexandre Wagner Nester is skilled in infrastructure matters and related arbitration, while Marçal Justen Neto is also proficient in energy and waste management regulation.

The public law practice at Pinheiro Neto Advogados assists clients on a range of litigation and non-contentious matters, showcasing extensive knowledge in public tenders, contract negotiation and financial re-balancing cases. The team is adept at handling the implementation and operation of projects, helping clients navigate regulatory hurdles and negotiations with government authorities. Ricardo Pagliari Levy's notable areas of practice include public procurement, concession of public services and PPPs; advising on the development of infrastructure projects and public law litigation are some of Marcello Bernardes' areas of focus. Heloisa Figueiredo Ferraz is another key practitioner in the team.

Veirano Advogados' key strength lies on the advice it offers in relation to transactions involving complex administrative and regulatory challenges in a range of regulated sectors, namely energy and infrastructure. Public law-related dispute resolution and prevention features on the team's workload, as do privatisations, public procurement, PPPs and government concessions. The government and regulatory group is under the leadership of Mauro Hiane de Moura. Marcos Ludwig is skilled in both transactional and project development work, as well as public law, regulatory and contractual issues. Recently promoted Filipe Scherer Oliveira excels in energy law and handles regulatory and administrative matters. Government contracts and infrastructure specialist Roberto Zilsch Lambauer joined in 2021.

Almeida Advogados' team specialises in environmental law, where it assists clients with litigation as well as non-contentious public and administrative law issues. Some of its notable areas of practice include advising on environmental licensing, reverse logistics and waste management issues, and in civil investigations and public prosecutions. The eight-strong practice group is under the joint leadership of André de Almeida and Rafael Zinato Moreira; however, former fellow co-head, Leonardo Palhares, moved to Kobre & Kim in November 2020.

Binenbojm & Carvalho Britto Advocacia fields unparalleled expertise in cases involving fundamental rights, touching on issues pertaining to freedom of speech and freedom of the press, as well as free competition, and constitutional economic law. The group has an impressive track record in representing clients before the Supreme Court in actions of concentrated control of constitutionality and extraordinary appeals. Gustavo Binenbojm focuses on constitutional, administrative and regulatory law, and is also noted for his legal opinions in the field of public law. Strategic litigation is an area in which Flávio Carvalho Britto specialises.

CGM Advogados's public law department handles administrative and judicial claims, internal investigations and non-contentious matters. The team is often sought after by multinational companies in the healthcare, technology, energy, marine services and transport industries. Practice head André Marques Gilberto is experienced in disputes before state and federal courts, and also assists clients in public tenders.

The public law team at Dal Pozzo Advogados focuses on administrative and civil procedural law, as well as matters pertaining to infrastructure. The team offers legal support in relation to public tenders, concessions, administrative contracts and PPPs, and is also well equipped to advise on regulatory issues, compliance programmes and public law-related litigation. Administrative improbity cases are among Antonio Araldo Ferraz Dal Pozzo's areas of expertise, while Augusto Neves Dal Pozzo is noted for public procurement matters.

Adopting a multi-disciplinary approach, Dias Carneiro Advogados brings together expertise in administrative, constitutional and tax law, anti-corruption and regulation. The practice has a strong track record in public procurement matters and administrative contracts, also offering representation to clients in related disputes. Ricardo Sanches leads the department, which assists a client base operating in a range of industry segments, but with particular emphasis on the renewable energy sector. Joyce Ruiz Rodrigues Alves, who often advises on matters relating to compliance with Brazilian public procurement law, is also a name to note for administrative litigation.

Clients from regulated industry sectors, ranging from sanitation, transportation, waste management and energy, seek Duarte Garcia, Serra Netto e Terra Advogados' support in relation to contractual matters and administrative proceedings before local, state and federal entities and regulatory bodies. The practice is well equipped to assist with participation in public bids, execution of government contracts, PPPs, anti-corruption issues and concession agreements. Luis Eduardo Serra Netto, who focuses on administrative and infrastructure matters, oversees the group.

Based in Brasília, the public law department at Advocacia Fernanda Hernandez excels in judicial litigation and administrative proceedings. The specialised practice has extensive knowledge of the Brazilian justice system, offering advice to clients from the very first instances up until the Superior and Supreme Court in the filing of petitions and appeals pertaining to public law issues. Founding partner Fernanda Guimaraes Hernandez, who has more than 30 years' experience in the field, leads the team.

KLA Advogados undertakes a broad range of public law work. Its lawyers are adept at handling and challenging procurement procedures, assisting with the execution of contracts, PPPs and concession agreements, as well as acting in administrative litigation. Practice head Paulo Prado demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the agribusiness, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, and is well versed in the fields of governmental contracts and public procurement.

Lefosse Advogados acts for domestic and foreign investors in procurement tendering procedures, and in the acquisition of equity stakes involving providers of services to the public sector. The practice's position in the public law market was reinforced by the arrival Eduardo Carvalhaes and his team from BMA - Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão. Carvalhaes, who has longstanding experience in public bids, concession agreements, PPPs and administrative contracts, is now overseeing the department, which is well equipped to advise on a variety of public law issues, including privatisations and constitutional issues.

Silveiro Advogados is experienced at handling administrative proceedings, public procurement matters and negotiations with governmental agencies. The practice attracts mandates from both private-sector clients and state-owned companies, and possesses in-depth knowledge of the telecoms sector. The department is jointly led by two public law experts: Ricardo Leal de Moraes, whose expertise covers dispute resolution and regulatory matters, and Manoel André da Rocha, who is proficient in constitutional law.

Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados' public law department underwent a restructuring following the arrival of current practice heads Fernando Villela de Andrade Vianna and Renato Otto Kloss from Siqueira Castro – Advogados. Both practitioners bring extensive experience in public law matters, assisting with public procurement, bidding procedures, administrative contracts and regulatory issues involving industries such as transportation and oil and gas. The team is capable of advising on the structuring of legal models for partnerships with the public sector, and administrative proceedings before auditing courts.