Tauil & Chequer Advogados > Rio de Janeiro, Brazil > Firm Profile

Tauil & Chequer Advogados > The Legal 500 Rankings

Energy and natural resources > Hydrocarbons Tier 1

Housing one of the biggest teams in Brazil dedicated to the oil and gas sector, Tauil & Chequer Advogados is often called upon to provide transactional and regulatory counselling in complex mandates involving the upstream, midstream and downstream segments. The team stands out for its strong track record in high-value M&A, financing deals and project development, where it acts for an array of high-profile industry players, including E&P companies, private equity firms, funds and banks. The firm’s association with international firm Mayer Brown makes it a popular destination for cross-border mandates in all hydrocarbons segments. Department leader Alexandre Chequer is the point of contact for several oil and gas companies in Latin America, Africa and Asia. He splits his time between the Rio de Janeiro and Houston office, and is seen with great regularity handling transactions, regulatory matters and project development of pipelines, refineries, gas-to-power and liquified natural gas (LNG). These are also among Bruno Belchior‘s core areas of activity; he is also noted for his experience in joint ventures, bid processes and regulatory issues involving host government E&P contracts. Victor Galante is particularly seasoned in M&A involving hydrocarbons assets and in project development, while the recently promoted Tiago Macêdo assists energy clients in a variety of regulatory matters, including in relation to Petrobras’s divestment programme. At the associate level, Leandro Duarte Alves is recommended for the negotiation of upstream and downstream contracts. The offshore, ports and maritime law practice was strengthened by the addition of Joyce Jacobsen in November 2021; she joined from Vieira, Rezende, Barbosa e Guerreiro Advogados. Alexandre Calmon is no longer at the firm.

Tax > Customs Tier 1

Brazil > Capital markets Tier 2

Tauil & Chequer Advogados leverages its strong global platform to provide issuers and underwriters with a comprehensive equity and debt capital markets offering. The ‘extremely technical‘ team is praised for its ‘excellent business acumen‘ across a range of sectors, including infrastructure, energy, financial services and food. Carlos Motta leads the versatile practice, which includes highly rated partners such as Rodolfo Constantino De Tella, who is an ‘exceptional professional, with a lot of experience in the area'. Other key individuals include Luis Montes and Bruno Cerqueira, who is particularly experienced in asset-backed securities in the real estate and agribusiness sectors.

Brazil > Competition and antitrust Tier 2

The competition and antitrust department at Tauil & Chequer Advogados is highlighted for its ‘great knowledge and expertise‘. The practice is based across Brasília and São Paulo, and the firm’s association with Mayer Brown gives it access to a broad international network and is of benefit in the department’s many multi-jurisdictional cases. As befits its profile, the firm counts major international companies among its clients, including Microsoft, GE and Nestlé. Francisco Todorov, a ‘very senior antitrust lawyer who provides fresh strategic information‘, leads the team from Brasília and handles a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. Other key practitioners include Adriana Giannini, who has in-depth knowledge of the antitrust aspects connected to public bids and distribution networks; Lorena Nisiyama, who specialises in conduct investigations and litigation; and associate Isabella Giorgi.

Brazil > Compliance Tier 2

‘Extremely experienced and capable‘, the compliance department at Tauil & Chequer Advogados ‘demonstrates extensive technical expertise‘. With an international office network, the firm is well placed to handle cross-border matters for its blue-chip clients. It has recently been busy coordinating internal investigations for companies in the technology, sanitation and energy sectors, among others, and is also regularly sought by clients for anti-money laundering training. Luis Inácio Lucena Adams, who brings his former experience as Attorney General to the practice, jointly leads the department alongside Michel Sancovski, a director of IBRADEMP, who has vast experience in investigations and interactions with Brazilian and US authorities. Tax and customs compliance are areas of specialism for Maria Eugenia Kanazawa; Liliana Mascarenhas Coutinho, who is also admitted in New York, has knowledge of cross-border compliance and anti-corruption matters; and Luiz Santiago is well versed in criminal enforcement actions. Marcelo Ramos Leite is also noted.

Brazil > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

The multidisciplinary team at Tauil & Chequer Advogados is a solid performer in transactional, regulatory and contentious matters. Brazilian and international corporations, financial institutions, buyout firms, private equity funds, investors and pension funds routinely seek the team’s assistance in the context of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, consolidations, spin-offs and corporate restructurings. Oil and gas-related deals are a cornerstone of the department, whose sectoral coverage also extends to chemicals, agriculture, technology, education, retail, real estate and retail. Benefitting from its association with Mayer Brown, the firm offers a global risk management tool to clients, which can easily build a picture of their risk landscape and consider mitigation strategies in the context of transactions. Its pro bono commitment is also of note; it has recently worked on a pro bono basis with the Vance Center for International Justice, the CEFIS (Centre for Philanthropy and Social Inversions of the Adolfo Ibáñez University in Chile), the Ellen MacArthurFoundation in circular economy projects, the AAME (Association of Friends of Spinal Muscular Atrophy) and Mundo Gentileza, an organisation that provides educational support to public school students across the country. Alexandre Chequer is seasoned in M&A and joint ventures involving oil and gas players. He oversees the practice with Carlos Motta, whose experience includes cross-border transactions, private equity and venture capital, and Victor Galante, another name to note for deals in the oil and gas, energy and natural resources segments. Bruno Salzano is proficient in inbound and outbound investments, cross-border M&A and corporate restructuring. Since publication, the firm has hiredOlavo Bentes David (formerly the legal head of state-owned entity Pré-Sal Petróleo – PPSA) as a counsel, effective as of October 2022.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity (and renewable energy)

Full-service firm Tauil & Chequer Advogados fields a sizeable energy group, which brings together considerable experience in guiding clients through the full life-cycle of a power project. The team is regularly engaged in the financing, construction and operation of all classes of transmission, distribution and generating assets and projects. Power traders, service providers and large consumers also instruct the practice in transactional work and contentious matters. A strong oil and gas bench makes the firm a go-to destination for thermoelectric projects. Furthermore, its recent work highlights demonstrate the team’s ability to handle high-value buy- and sell-side M&A throughout the value chain, privatisations of renewable and conventional power generation and transmission assets, and self-production projects. Focused on the power, gas and, more recently, hydrogen sectors, Débora Yanasse ‘is agile, business-oriented and knows the energy market well‘. She co-heads the team, and leads advice on regulatory, contractual and corporate matters related to the sector. Bruno Salzano ‘is recommended for M&A transactions and corporate matters‘, while Bruno Werneck specialises in the development and financing of energy projects. Other practitioners to note include Eduardo Lima. Since publication, Julia Batistella Machado left the firm in October 2022.

Brazil > Environment Tier 2

Tauil & Chequer Advogados fields a standalone practice focused on environmental and climate change matters, which is prepared to handle administrative and judicial proceedings, transactional work and compliance issues. The broad service offering also includes environmental licensing, waste management, contaminated areas as well as biodiversity, energy transition and ESG issues. The team has seen recent growth with several new clients in the power, chemical, agribusiness, mining, and oil and gas sectors. Splitting his time between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Luiz Gustavo Bezerra has represented several domestic and multinational clients in environmental disputes and negotiations with governmental authorities and public prosecutors. His other areas of expertise include corporate environmental and social responsibility, crisis management, waste and water laws. Gedham Gomes is active in class actions and administrative proceedings, and also advises on compliance, permitting and risk assessment. Both practitioners ‘stand out for their proactive attitude, knowledge and professionalism'.

Brazil > Public law Tier 2

At Tauil & Chequer Advogados, the public law and regulatory team is particularly seasoned in the modelling of projects with the public sector and in representing clients before public entities. Demonstrating notable strength in interactions between private companies and the public administration, the team is adept in concessions, PPP agreements, bidding processes and the execution of public contracts. Project development, PPP structures and concessions are key specialisms for Bruno Werneck. He manages the public law department, where senior associate Juliana Deguirmendjian is a name to note for public consultations and bidding procedures of infrastructure projects across the water and sewage, public lighting, transport and energy segments. Julio Barboza is regularly instructed by clients in judicial and administrative proceedings involving regulated sectors and public contracts.

Brazil > Real estate Tier 2

Tauil & Chequer Advogados is a ‘firm with excellent service and great technical capacity, always seeking to solve problems and highly focused on business‘. The ‘extremely creative‘ team is praised for its ‘very rapid response times‘ and ability to leverage off ‘the resources of a global firm, promoting the collaboration of resources and ideas employed in other jurisdictions‘. Its association with Mayer Brown ensures a strong flow of work from foreign investors and developers, often through the creation of special purpose companies and joint ventures. In addition to urban retail, hotels, industrial and mixed-use developments, the team also has a strong grounding in the agribusiness and forestry sectors. ‘Exceptional‘ practice head José Paulo Marzagão has over 20 years of experience in the full range of transactional matters. Ludmila Arruda Braga is ‘extremely attentive, responsive and creative in the solutions she proposes‘.

Tax > Tax advisory Tier 2

Tauil & Chequer Advogados enjoys an extremely good reputation for domestic and international tax advice, offering ‘good client service and technical knowledge‘. The firm covers all sectors and its strong connections to the oil and gas industry make it a top destination for customs and other related contentious and non-contentious matters. This includes litigation support at the municipal, state and federal levels, as well as M&A, capital markets, corporate restructurings and international trade. Tax has long been a key focus for founder and practice head Ivan Tauil, whose team includes Guido Vinci for transactional and VAT matters and Eduardo Maccari Telles for litigation. Younger partners making a name in the area of tax law include Carolina Bottino for her ‘eminence, objectivity and dynamism‘. Former partner Thais Rodrigues left the firm.

Brazil > Banking and finance Tier 3

Tauil & Chequer Advogados has a good track record for cross-border financings, and its association with Mayer Brown gives it the ability to ‘meet demands that involve different laws'. In addition to major financings, the firm is also active in the fintech and payments space. Clients appreciate the team’s ‘high-quality and timely‘ service and ‘very well-balanced sense of priorities'. Versatile practice head Eduardo Lima has strong credentials for assisting sponsors, lenders and government agencies in project financings. Luis Montes is ‘very complete, not only technically speaking but also with respect to interactions in general‘. Priscilla Santos is particularly experienced in regulatory matters.

City focus - Brasilia > Litigation Tier 3

Tauil & Chequer Advogados is well known for its strong track record in appellate litigation, as well as in high-profile disputes before regulatory agencies. The group is especially sought after to assist with commercial and corporate disputes in an array of sectors, including banking and finance, mining, construction and technology. Its association with Mayer Brown also means the group is equipped to deal with cross-border cases. The practice is jointly led by Mauro Pedroso Gonçalves, who has extensive experience in administrative proceedings, and Luis Inácio Lucena Adams, whose expertise spans litigation, arbitration and compliance matters.

Brazil > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

With significant experience in all stages of the life cycle of major infrastructure projects in Brazil, Tauil & Chequer Advogados is adept in project finance, construction, operation and dispute resolution. Its alliance with Mayer Brown makes it a go-to destination for cross-border corporate and finance transactions involving other Latin American jurisdictions and Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa, but the practice is perhaps best known for its involvement in large-scale infrastructure projects across the roads, rail, ports, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors. Project finance, including debt restructuring and infrastructure debentures, are among Eduardo Lima's core areas of activity. Bruno Werneck leads on public concessions and PPP-related work, while Alexandre Chequer focuses on oil and gas projects. Senior associate Juliana Deguirmendjian has assisted numerous clients in the structuring of infrastructure developments, bidding procedures and public contracts in the sanitation, public lighting, transport and power sectors.

Tax > Tax litigation Tier 3

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Arbitration Tier 4

Based across São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Tauil & Chequer Advogados‘ arbitration team is comprised of seasoned lawyers with extensive experience in domestic and cross-border cases, with a special emphasis on energy, construction, mining and corporate disputes. The practice is particularly well versed in arbitration arising from construction and engineering projects, as well as concession contracts in the oil and gas segment. Gustavo Fernandes De Andrade has over two decades of experience serving as counsel and arbitrator in proceedings under the rules of leading arbitration institutions around the world. Fabio Peixinho Gomes Correa, whose experience also includes mediation, joined from Huck, Otranto, Camargo Advogados in April 2021. Gustavo Scheffer Da Silveira is singled out for his track record in international proceedings. Associate Rodrigo Nikobin is also noted for corporate and commercial arbitrations at the domestic and international levels.

Brazil > Labour and employment Tier 4

The ‘fast, competent‘ team at Tauil & Chequer Advogados is commended for its ‘ability to find unique and innovative solutions’. This strength applies as much to high-profile labour disputes in the Supreme Federal Court as it does to the team’s advice on day-to-day issues and non-contentious strategic issues, including compensation schemes and negotiations with unions. The young team is led by Aline Fidelis , who is ‘undoubtedly an out-of-the-box partner in every way‘ and ‘gets down to business, works, responds quickly and has a well-formed team to accompany our needs‘. Associates Isabela do Val  and Valentina Eluf  are ‘two new stars‘.

Brazil > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 4

The ‘very attentive’ team at Tauil & Chequer Advogados is a solid choice for creditors and debtors in cross-border restructurings and insolvency procedures and is also regularly instructed by distressed debt investors. The team is now led by Liv Machado Fallet - who joined from TozziniFreire Advogados in July 2022 and succeeded Fabio Peixinho in the leadership seat - following the departure of Luciana Celidonio. Banking partners Eduardo Lima and Luis Montes (who is highlighted as ‘creative, pro-business’) are also well regarded in this area.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Litigation Tier 5

At Tauil & Chequer Advogados, the dispute resolution practice is skilled in managing multi-jurisdictional disputes across a variety of industries, with a particular focus on cases involving the oil and gas, energy, engineering and construction segments. Recent highlights include significant victories in proceedings before the Superior Court of Justice, and in administrative improbity actions. With over twenty years of experience in dispute resolution, Gustavo Fernandes co-heads the department with Fabio Peixinho Gomes Correa, a recent hire from Huck, Otranto, Camargo Advogados, whose expertise covers bankruptcy and banking litigation. Mauro Pedroso Gonçalves is seasoned in briefing and arguing cases before the high courts, especially those involving banking, real estate and technology-related disputes. João Cople is another key contact for administrative and civil litigation.

Brazil > Transport: Shipping