Dias Carneiro Advogados > Sao Paulo, Brazil > Firm Profile

Dias Carneiro Advogados > The Legal 500 Rankings

Energy and natural resources > Electricity (and renewable energy)

In addition to its strong profile in the acquisition, financing, construction and development of power projects throughout the country, Dias Carneiro Advogados is also regularly engaged by clients in the negotiation of power purchase agreements, commercial contracts and regulatory issues. The team possesses an impressive track record in transactions involving the supply, installation and operation of wind turbines, and is also often instructed by credit agencies, development banks, and distribution and transmission companies. With a particular focus on the infrastructure sector, Ricardo Sanches is seasoned in public procurement, project finance and regulatory matters. Fellow co-head Thiago Vallandro Flores specialises in financing and private equity transactions, including several in the energy sector. Paulo Leme maintains a broad practice, advising on contractual, financing and corporate matters relating to power and infrastructure. Creditors routinely seek Gustavo Junqueira's assistance in financing and restructuring transactions in the hydropower sector.

Tax > Customs Tier 2

Brazil > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

Standing out for its strong track record in the renewable energy sector, Dias Carneiro Advogados is skilled at advising on cross-border and domestic project financing, M&A deals involving infrastructure assets, project contract negotiation and regulatory matters. Credit agencies and development banks are among the team’s key clients, which also include companies from the energy, sanitation, mining, oil and gas, ports and telecoms industries. Thiago Vallandro Flores undertakes project finance work, including debt offerings and debt restructuring transactions. He jointly heads the department with Ricardo Sanches, who focuses on project finance, public procurement and the regulatory aspects of the energy and transport sectors. Contractual, financing and corporate issues relating to infrastructure are all areas of activity for Paulo Leme. Gustavo Junqueira regularly advises on investments in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Brazil > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3

Dias Carneiro Advogados is well regarded in cases involving bankruptcy, judicial reorganisations, out-of-court debt restructurings and DIP financings. The bulk of the firm’s focus is on creditor work, though the team will act for debtors when banks are not involved on the other side. The highly rated Laura Mendes Bumachar leads the practice, and alongside partner Antonio Nachif has developed an extremely good reputation for representing banks and investors in contentious and non-contentious mandates. The team was further boosted by the recruitment of partner Álvaro Brito Arantes from Muriel Medici Franco Advogados; he has a notable practice assisting trade creditors.

Brazil > TMT: Cybersecurity and data privacy Tier 3

Dias Carneiro Advogados regularly advises financial institutions, videogame and e-sports companies, schools and public administration bodies, and AI companies in their day-to-day dealings. In addition, the team also assists clients in their LGPD compliance projects, data transfer negotiations, data breaches and data audits. Vanessa Pareja Lerner leads the practice; she has extensive experience in data collection, use and privacy. Also of note in the team is Guilherme Berti de Campos Guidi, whose practice focuses on technology, personal data protection, security matters, and digital health in the fintech, crypto-economics and education-technology industries. Since publication, Guidi has moved to Freitas Ferraz Advogados - effective as of October 2022.

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

Major technology companies, start-ups and video game companies turn to Dias Carneiro Advogados for their ‘multidisciplinary and cohesive care’ and advice on all aspects of their businesses, including in navigating relevant Brazilian regulatory frameworks, start-up business model structuring and consolidation, commercial agreements, IP protection and data privacy issues. The team is led by Vanessa Pareja Lerner , who is praised for her ‘extensive expertise in the technology market’. Barbara Emidio Nascimento  is another name to note.

Brazil > Banking and finance Tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados is noted for its ‘excellent market and technical knowledge‘. The firm’s clients include a mix of international banks and multilateral lenders, which instruct the firm on a variety of financings and debt restructurings. This extends to acquisition, trade and project finance, often linked to key sectors such as energy, natural resources and agribusiness, where the team also represents several borrowers. The team is a popular Brazilian co-counsel for international law firms, and practice head Thiago Vallandro Flores is ‘a great lawyer, widely recognised in the market for his expertise‘. Paulo Leme and associate Fernanda Savorelli Melhem are also noted.

Brazil > Capital markets Tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados is highly experienced in debenture issuances, including real estate receivables certificates (CRI) and agricultural receivables certificates. Its debt capital markets expertise extends to cross-border bond offerings, where it primarily represents issuers. The team is also heavily engaged in the energy and renewables sector, in which it has assisted with several CRI offerings. Versatile partner Thiago Vallandro Flores leads the team, bringing a range of project finance and banking experience. Ricardo Sanches is strong on regulatory matters, while Gustavo Junqueira advises on energy-related financings.

Brazil > Compliance Tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados regularly advises its clients on anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws and compliance. Practice head Joyce Ruiz Rodrigues Alves combines her vast knowledge of competition law and compliance, and as such is particularly well versed in compliance matters and procedures in the context of public bids from both an anti-corruption and antitrust angle. Labour, immigration and social security partner André De Melo Ribeiro often collaborates with the team in internal investigations.

Tax > Tax advisory Tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados assists a broad mix of domestic and international clients on contentious and non-contentious tax and customs matters. Praised for its ‘very agile and in-depth knowledge of the sector‘, the team is ‘ahead of the facts, and always collaborates in offering the best and most complete information‘. Lead partners include Antonio Amendola, who is ‘without a doubt a deep expert in tax‘. Rodrigo Maito Da Silveira is particularly active on the tax planning and structuring front, while Maurício Chapinoti handles both litigation and advisory work.

Brazil > TMT: Media Tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados excels at advising multinational companies in the video games and e-sports industries. The team provides assistance to clients in all manner of matters including deals involving IP assets, e-sports tournament structures, technology transfers, franchises across different forms of media, and software licensing with a multidisciplinary and commercial approach. The team is co-led by Vanessa Pareja Lerner, who is a video game law expert with extensive experience in the market, and Eduardo Turkienicz, who specialises in the intersection of corporate law, IP, and entertainment.

Brazil > Corporate and M&A Tier 5

The ‘excellent M&A team‘ at Dias Carneiro Advogados continues to expand its client base, and has particular experience in the renewable energy, telecoms, technology and real estate sectors. The practice has a well-established practice in M&A, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, business combinations and spin-offs. Besides its strong capabilities in transactional work, the group also advises a sizeable portfolio of companies on general corporate law and governance matters. Paula Seabra Carvalho Reis is seasoned in M&A transactions in the infrastructure space, and also assists closed and publicly held clients in corporate restructurings. She jointly heads up the department with Artur Fernandes Andrezo, who is rated by clients as ‘one of the best M&A partners in Brazil‘. Débora Trovões Cabral, who has extensive experience in M&A, corporate restructuring and corporate law, was recently promoted to counsel. Senior associate Max Ide Hasimoto joined in January 2022 to boost the department in the fields of foreign investments and corporate disputes. Tathiana Martini Quercetti Moreira Luz is also noted for her involvement in cross-border deals and joint ventures.

Brazil > Labour and employment Tier 5

Dias Carneiro Advogados represents employers from across a wide range of established industries, including energy, life sciences and telecoms, as well as newer areas such as e-sports. The firm is also regularly referred work from major international firms. Its workload covers litigation and consultancy matters, including stock options and compensation plans, compliance, restructuring and labour union negotiations. Versatile practice head André De Melo Ribeiro and recently promoted partner Cynthia Fernandes Guidotti are the main contacts.

Brazil > Public law Tier 5

The public law team at Dias Carneiro Advogados provides legal support in dispute resolution and public procurement to a varied client base. Administrative and judicial proceedings are notable areas of practice for the department, which is also adept in transactional work with regulatory and public law implications. Chairman Ricardo Sanches is seasoned in concessions, PPPs, government contracts and compliance matters. Joyce Ruiz Rodrigues Alves has a strong background in antitrust, internal investigations and anti-corruption issues.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Litigation Tier 7

Primarily focused on commercial and corporate disputes, Dias Carneiro Advogados ‘provides an exceptional service' to a wide range of clients, most notably in the banking, construction, energy, life sciences, agribusiness and insurance sectors. Álvaro Brito Arantes, who ‘has extensive civil and procedural knowledge', specialises in commercial litigation and product liability cases. Laura Mendes Bumachar leads on several matters, especially those related to restructuring and insolvency. Antonio Nachif is particularly sought by energy, construction, pharmaceutical, banking and insurance clients in disputes involving M&A, credit recovery and corporate law.