Felsberg Advogados > Sao Paulo, Brazil > Firm Profile

Felsberg Advogados > The Legal 500 Rankings

Brazil > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

Felsberg Advogados has one of the most active restructuring and insolvency practices in the Brazilian market. The firm is best known for its debtor-side work, although it also acts for creditors and distressed debt investors when conflicts allow. 2021 saw the firm advising on over 80 cases, with an aggregate value of over R$50bn, several of which, including Renova Energia’s R$3.1bn debt restructuring and Livraria Cultura’s judicial reorganisation, have been ongoing for several years. New mandates include advising the creditor in the reorganisation proceedings of a sugar and ethanol producer, which includes significant litigation. Founding partner Thomas Felsberg is one of the market’s most senior figures. He regularly works alongside partners Fabiana Solano, Clara Moreira Azzoni and the recently promoted Thiago Dias Costa.

Brazil > Environment Tier 3

Foreign and Brazilian companies and domestic industry associations regularly turn to Felsberg Advogados for its wide-ranging expertise in site contamination, chemical regulations and waste management. Covering both non-contentious issues and environmental litigation, the team attracts instructions from the healthcare, pharmaceuticals, electronics, life sciences, and paper and pulp sectors in relation to legislative and regulatory matters. Co-head Fabricio Soler ‘is a reference when it comes to solid waste law‘, and is often engaged by leading organisations in relation to studies and policy-making issues. Daniela Mota is experienced in contaminated areas, solid waste, biodiversity and environmental issues in the mining segment. Tasso Cipriano is no longer at the firm.

Brazil > Labour and employment Tier 3

Felsberg Advogados has a ‘very capable' employment team, which is praised for its ‘great technical knowledge' and ‘speed of return'. The team is regularly involved in collective and individual disputes involving senior executives and high-ranking employees. It is also well versed in strategic behind-the-scenes advice on a range of matters, including employee compensation plans, health and safety, internal investigations and compliance. The team is jointly led by Maurício Pepe De Lion and Ana Cristina Valentim, who ‘stands out for her agility in service, availability and technical quality'.

Brazil > Public law Tier 3

Felsberg Advogados' public law and regulatory team is skilled in acting for clients operating in a range of sectors, including sanitation, technology, agribusiness, infrastructure, energy and chemicals, in the gamut of public law matters. Department head Marianne Albers, who is a public law and life sciences expert, steers the team on a range of mandates cutting across judicial litigation, administrative proceedings, public procurement, concessions and transactions. Rodrigo Bertoccelli is a name to note for clients in the infrastructure sector; he has been particularly active advising on matters in the sanitation and transportation segments.

Brazil > TMT: Tech, innovation and digital business Tier 3

Felsberg Advogados‘ innovation, start-ups and venture capital team works in tandem with the firm’s data protection and technology team to provide advisory, compliance, litigation and arbitration support to its clients. Through this collaboration, the firm renders full-service support to start-ups, investment funds, financial institutions and new companies across a myriad of technology sectors, including health, agriculture, biotechnology, environment, education, fintech and insurance. Evy Marques has standout experience in advising start-ups, while Clarissa Luz is the go-to in the team for international and Brazilian privacy and data protection matters. João Carlos Mendonça is also notable for his expertise in fintech, particularly in cryptocurrency structuring and launches; the three co-lead the multidisciplinary practice.

Brazil > Corporate and M&A Tier 4

Felsberg Advogados‘ corporate offering is especially concentrated on clients in the agribusiness, life sciences, infrastructure, retail and technology sectors, where the team is adept at handling large transactions, mergers and corporate reorganisations. The practice – which benefits from the firm’s strong credentials in the bankruptcy and restructuring fields – is well placed to advise on M&A transactions involving distressed assets. It also houses a sub-group focused on innovation, start-ups and venture capital, which is devoted to assisting investors, private equity players, financial institutions, accelerators and innovative businesses in their embryonic stage throughout rounds of investments; Evy Marques oversees this type of work. João Carlos Mendonça receives praise for his comprehensive knowledge of M&A and private equity; he is trusted by several of the firm’s technology and healthcare clients. Pharmaceutical companies turn to Claudia Maniaci for advice on corporate reorganisations, M&A and private equity deals, while Miriam Machado is regularly sought by media and telecoms companies. Maria Carolina Guazzelli is proficient in spin-offs and mergers, and a key contact for the retail segment. Bárbara Nátali Santos stands out at the associate level for her experience in venture capital and corporate reorganisations. The team was boosted by the addition of two new equity partners in 2021: Anneliese Eger returned from Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner to lead the firm’s international department, and Mirella Kaufman was promoted to the partnership. Furthermore, the firm has recently restructured its pro bono department, led by environmental partner Tasso Cipriano, aiming to strengthen its focus on issues covering ESG, diversity and education.

Brazil > Life sciences Tier 4

Felsberg Advogados‘ multidisciplinary life sciences department services domestic clients as well as international companies looking to enter the Brazilian market. Public bids, contracts, medicine production, distribution and administrative proceedings before ANS, ANVISA and the Ministry of Agriculture and Lifestock Supply (MAPA) are all regularly handled by the team. The team is led by life sciences expert Marianne Albers, who provides counselling to companies, particularly in the environmental, chemical and regulatory contexts. Also of note in the team is Diego Vieira, who specialises in developing strategies for brand and patent portfolios for pharmaceutical companies. Thais Fernandes is also recommended.

Brazil > Projects and infrastructure Tier 4

Felsberg Advogados has an established presence in project finance, and as a result is routinely engaged by an array of financial services clients, including multilateral development banks. Its core strength, however, resides in the structuring and management of infrastructure projects across a variety of sectors, with particular emphasis on sanitation, waste management, telecoms and most recently energy. Dedicated to project finance, Maria Da Graça Pedretti jointly heads the department with three other practitioners: Marianne Albers, who focuses on public and regulatory law; Rodrigo Bertoccelli, a key name for sanitation and power projects; and founder of the Women in Energy group Ligia Schlittler, who joined from TozziniFreire Advogados in March 2021.

Tax > Tax advisory Tier 4

Felsberg Advogados brings ‘speed and technical knowledge‘ and ‘very high quality of service‘, helping clients ‘to make the best decisions‘. The firm’s market-leading insolvency and restructuring work inevitably feeds into its tax offering. The litigation side is led by Anna Flávia De Azevedo Izelli Greco, and includes Rodrigo Prado Gonçalves and recently promoted partner Flavia Ganzella. Ivan Campos is particularly experienced in telecoms issues, while non-contentious tax partner Rafael Macedo Malheiro advises on ‘complex matters with impressive technical knowledge‘. Clients also rate senior associate Gabriel Paranaguá for his ‘experience, wisdom and speed‘.

Brazil > Banking and finance Tier 5

Felsberg Advogados has invested into its banking and finance practice in recent years. The recruitment of Ricardo Higashitani as partner from KLA Advogados added experience in areas such as cross-border syndicated loans. The practice has traditionally been strong in project and aviation finance, areas in which Maria Da Graça Pedretti is particularly active, and represents major banks, multilateral lenders and borrowers. The team also represents clients in administrative proceedings before the key regulators in the financial services industry.

Brazil > Competition and antitrust Tier 5

Under the leadership of ‘excellent professional‘ Paula Salles, Felsberg Advogados has established an active antitrust practice, which has recently handled a number of merger filings before CADE. New clients from a range of sectors, spanning retail, energy and IT, among others, have sought the team’s assistance in competition law matters.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Arbitration Tier 5

At Felsberg Advogados, the arbitration team is adept in cases involving corporate law, M&A, tort, contractual issues, energy and construction disputes, to name a few. Its practitioners have significant experience in cross-border arbitration and mediation matters, where they act for major players in the financial services, transport, energy and retail sectors. Marcus Alexandre Matteucci Gomes leads the team, which is noted for its ‘competence and business and strategic vision'; he is seasoned in multi-jurisdictional proceedings involving New York, London, Houston and Canada. Pedro Butti Do Vale focuses on commercial disputes.

Brazil > White-collar crime and investigations Tier 5

Under the leadership of highly-regarded partner André Fonseca, who draws on over 25 years' experience in criminal litigation and counselling, Felsberg Advogados has established an active white-collar crime and corporate investigations department. Areas of expertise for the practice include crisis management, risk assessment, and judicial and administrative litigation in cases involving fraud, corruption, money laundering and bribery, among other forms of criminal conduct.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Litigation Tier 6

The dispute resolution team at Felsberg Advogados is equipped to act in cross-border and domestic litigation involving corporate law, insolvencies, torts, financing agreements and commercial contracts. Its diverse client roster includes companies from the energy, construction, transport, and food and beverages sectors seeking assistance in disputes at all levels of the judicial system in Brazil. Practice head Marcus Alexandre Matteucci Gomes is proficient in litigation cases concerning M&A, construction, bankruptcy and contractual disputes. He receives key support from Eduardo Périllier, who is particularly skilled in matters involving the judicial restructuring of companies.