José Virgilio Lopes Enei > Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados > São Paulo, Brazil > Lawyer Profile

With significant presence throughout Brazil, Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados has one of the leading projects and infrastructure practices in the market. Testament to its standing is the impressive track record in innovative transactions in the project finance space. The team has been particularly active advising on financing matters for the development of energy projects, with a special emphasis on renewables. In addition, the group also demonstrates strength in matters pertaining to PPPs, bidding processes and M&A deals. Alberto Faro has a wealth of experience in domestic and cross-border project finance, most notably in the power, mining, oil and gas, sanitation and transport segments. José Ribeiro do Prado Júnior is another noteworthy practitioner for financing transactions, and also demonstrates proficiency in PPPs and regulatory matters. Mauro Bardawil Penteado, who has significant experience in the ports, power and oil and gas sectors, advises clients on an array of infrastructure and energy matters. Other key individuals include José Virgílio Lopes Enei and Adriano Schnur. Since publication, the team has been further strengthened with the February-2022 hire of Marcelo Lucon as a partner; Lucon has a lengthy in house legal trajectory in the construction and infrastructure sector, most notably some seven years as CLO at Grupo Ecorodovidas.

The well-established practice at Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados, which combines impressive administrative law and regulatory knowledge with transactional expertise, provides advisory services in relation to the entire spectrum of public law matters. The team is particularly sought after for its experience in public procurement, complex PPP agreements and high-stakes litigation before federal regulatory agencies and the superior courts of Brazil. Other typical mandates include privatisations, concessions and administrative improbity claims. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the team was engaged by clients across a range of sectors, such as transport, energy and sanitation, in relation to the extension of existing concession agreements, rebalancing requests of contracts, and litigation. Department head José Virgílio Lopes Enei is a name to note for PPPs and concessions of urban and social infrastructure. Lucas Sant’Anna is recommended by peers and clients alike for his strong background in public tenders, administrative law and PPPs. Rafael Vanzella, who specialises in public law and regulatory matters pertaining to the transport and sanitation sectors, and Pedro Saullo, whose areas of activity include concessions and PPP projects, are also key contacts.