Transport: Shipping in Brazil

Kincaid | Mendes Vianna Advogados has a comprehensive, market-leading shipping practice, offering advice on wet and dry shipping matters. The firm represents a mix of shipowners, charterers, P&I clubs and terminal and port operators. Areas of expertise include admiralty claims as well as high-profile charterparty and bill of lading disputes. On the non-contentious side, the firm regularly advises on shipbuilding and financing agreements, as well as charter and salvage contracts. The well-regarded team is largely based in Rio de Janeiro, with Godofredo Mendes Vianna, Camila Mendes Vianna Cardoso, Iwam Jaeger and Lucas Leite Marques all enjoying strong reputations. Newer partners such as Rodrigo Figueiredo da Silva Cotta are also singled out for praise.

Escritório Jurídico Carbone is a well-regarded maritime boutique with significant links to the shipping market. Based in Rio de Janeiro, it represents P&I clubs, shipowners, and trading and salvage companies on the full range of matters. Artur Carbone is a significant figure in the market.

Castro Barros Advogados is highlighted for its 'great capacity in litigation' and 'very thorough and accurate advice'. The firm is a popular choice with shipowners, insurers, reinsurers and port operators. The versatile team handles the full spread of contentious and non-contentious issues, including shipbuilding and charter party contracts, as well as advising on regulatory matters. The team is also well versed in cross-border wet and dry shipping disputes. Olympio Carvalho leads the department, and has strong connections to the industry, both at home and abroad. Other key members of the team include highly rated associate Camilla Werneck and Alexandre Espínola Catramby, who also has a good name for related litigation matters.

Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados has an impressive shipping practice, which is particularly active on the transactional side, often advising on the sale and acquisition of assets and companies. The practice is led by the well-regarded Nilton Mattos, who handles a mix of corporate, regulatory and contractual matters. The team sits within the wider infrastructure and energy group and brings a holistic approach to clients in various stages of the supply chain, particularly in oil and gas, from the terminals and ports through to the ships.

Cescon Barrieu's shipping practice works out of the firm's infrastructure and project finance group. The bulk of its work is non-contentious, and the team is well regarded for its dry shipping contractual expertise, covering financings, shipbuilding and charter agreements. The firm also acts for several drilling contractors on offshore mandates involving shipyards and oil companies. Rafael Baleroni leads the offshore, shipping and maritime practice, with the highly rated Maurício Teixeira dos Santos handling the infrastructure and project finance side.

Pinheiro Neto Advogados invariably has a strong offering on the non-contentious side. The team regularly advises shipowners, banks and port operators on the full spread of transactional matters, including financings, shipbuilding agreements and joint ventures. Partners such as Marcello Lobo and Ricardo Coelho are particularly active on this front. The firm also stands out on the litigation side, thanks to the expertise of Luis Claudio Furtado Faria, who comes highly recommended for representing clients in shipping disputes, including those involving charterparty claims and maritime incidents.

Veirano Advogados has an experienced team, particularly for offshore maritime related advice. Its workload often involves advising domestic and international clients on charter and transportation agreements. Clients come from across a broad spectrum including major international lenders, multilateral agencies, shipowners and ship yards. The bulk of the work is non-contentious, and Rio de Janeiro-based practice head Marcelo Mattos is especially active in ship finance for vessels and the construction of oil platforms and shipyards. Rogério Campos is also noted for his expertise in this area, which covers maritime regulatory and offshore oil and gas matters.