Mr Carlos Vilhena > Pinheiro Neto Advogados > Brasilia, Brazil > Lawyer Profile

Highlighted for its ‘excellent knowledge of the mining sector’, Pinheiro Neto Advogado acts for a strong client base comprised of market-leading mining companies with investments and projects located in Brazil and overseas. The firm’s longstanding reputation in this space sees it frequently acting in various public and private M&A deals, debt transactions and alternative financing, including royalties and streaming transactions. The Brasília-based team is also well positioned to advise clients in complex regulatory matters, crisis management, litigation and environmental permitting. More recently, the practice has been focusing on guiding mining and metals sector clients throughout their cultural transformation triggered by the ESG, decarbonisation and energy transition agendas. With extensive experience in mining policy and regulation, Carlos Vilhena ‘is an excellent professional with vast knowledge and recognition in Brazil and other countries‘. Senior associate Filipe Morais Cunha maintains a broad practice, but demonstrates particular strength in contractual, regulatory and environmental issues. Marina Bertucci Ferreira is another name to note at the associate level; she is often seen advising clients on the development of policies and the impacts of public policies on specific projects.

Praised for its ‘dedication and commitment to achieve successful outcomes for clients’, the dispute resolution team at Pinheiro Neto Advogados is often retained by large national and international companies from an array of industries, including mining, banking, IT, construction and life sciences. The group handles a busy caseload, which includes matters related to public and constitutional law, corruption allegations, and corporate and commercial disputes. Names to note in the practice include mining law and government relations expert Carlos Vilhena; Leonardo Rocha e Silva, who focuses on complex litigation before the appellate courts; José Alexandre Buaiz Neto, whose expertise spans bribery investigations, competition law and compliance issues; and litigator Vicente Coelho Araujo.

Pinheiro Neto Advogados is a popular choice for companies from the healthcare, infrastructure, energy and mining industries seeking assistance with PPPs, privatisations, concessions and public contracts. Another area of particular strength for the practice is dispute resolution, where it acts on complex and sensitive cases before local governments, regulatory agencies and the superior courts. As part of its broad offering, the team also handles compliance and environmental matters, bribery allegations and administrative improbity claims and competition law issues. Marcelo Alfredo Bernardes is a key contact for infrastructure projects and administrative disputes. Carlos Vilhena focuses on mining projects and government relations work. Other key names in the department include Leonardo Rocha e Silva, an antitrust expert with experience in proceedings before the CADE; appellate litigator Vicente Coelho Araujo; and José Alexandre Buaiz Neto, an expert in anti-bribery and compliance matters.