Dias Carneiro Advogados > Sao Paulo, Brazil > Firm Profile

Dias Carneiro Advogados > The Legal 500 Rankings

Tax > Customs Tier 2

Brazil > Corporate and M&A: Mid-market Tier 3

Showcasing particular strength in the renewable energy, telecoms, technology, education, life sciences and real estate sectors, Dias Carneiro Advogados is skilled in domestic and cross-border M&A, including deals with ties to the US, China, Japan, Spain and various Latin American countries. On the non-transactional front, the group, which is praised for its ‘deep legal and industry knowledge’, also provides legal assistance in corporate governance issues. Focused on corporate, M&A and venture capital matters, Artur Fernandes Andrezo often acts for investors and start-ups in the purchase and sale of equity interests and assets. He jointly heads up the team with the ‘highly responsive’ Paula Seabra Carvalho Reis, who offers expertise in corporate restructuring and M&A, with a special emphasis on the infrastructure, real estate and energy segments. Débora Trovões Cabral and Max Ide Hasimoto, who were promoted to counsel and senior associate, respectively, in January 2022, are also active in transactional work.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity (and renewable energy)

Dias Carneiro Advogados is a popular choice for conventional and renewable power companies looking for advice on a variety of transactional, commercial and regulatory issues. Singled out for its experience in agreements for the supply, installation and operation of wind turbines, the practice is also well placed to assist in project finance and development, M&A and commercial contracts covering hydro, thermal and solar energy, distributed generation, and transmission. Specialised in public law, anti-corruption and corporate law, Ricardo Sanches routinely acts for domestic and international clients in relation to project finance, public procurement and regulatory matters pertaining to the Brazilian electricity sector. He oversees the team with Thiago Vallandro Flores, who is proficient in M&A and financing transactions. Paulo Leme is another name to note for transactional work in this space.

Brazil > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3

Dias Carneiro Advogados is praised for the ‘experience of its partners and qualifications of the team’, which has strong expertise in bankruptcy cases, judicial reorganisations, out-of-court debt restructurings, and DIP financings. The firm mainly undertakes creditor-side work, but is also well placed to assist debtors in cases where banks are not counterparties. The ‘fantastic’ practice head Laura Mendes Bumachar is a go-to adviser to several clients engaged in reorganisations, company recovery and bankruptcy proceedings. Clients also rate Antonio Nachif, who is skilled in contentious and non-contentious mandates. Partner Álvaro Brito Arantes, who provides legal advice and court representation in the context of distressed situations, is ‘personally dedicated to the cases’ and ‘decisive in agreements’ and hearings.

Brazil > TMT: Cybersecurity and data privacy Tier 3

Dias Carneiro Advogados assists multinational and domestic companies with a slew of cybersecurity matters. Clients, ranging from banks, video game publishers, schools and AI companies, turn to the team for advice on the drafting of privacy policies, data transfer negotiations, audits and crisis management. Vanessa Pareja Lerner, who is at the helm of the practice, regularly works with start-ups and established companies on matters related to the processing and collection of personal data. Focused on technology, data protection and cybersecurity issues, associate Paula Eid Pagani is experienced in the development of data compliance programmes in accordance with the LGPD.

Brazil > TMT: Media Tier 3

A go-to firm for video gaming and e-sports companies, Dias Carneiro Advogados assists a wide range of multinational clients in the drafting of agreements, privacy policies, and protection of IP. Other areas of expertise for the team include technology transfers, franchising and software licensing matters. Vanessa Pareja Lerner, who focuses on the video gaming sector, stands out for her experience in the structuring of major e-sports championships in Brazil. She leads the practice alongside Eduardo Turkienicz, a key contact for entertainment clients. Associate Barbara Emidio Nascimento often advises on the structuring of e-sports agreements and protection of IP assets.

Brazil > Banking and finance Tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados regularly acts as Brazilian counsel to international banks and multilateral lenders in cross-border financings and debt restructurings. The team’s expertise extends to acquisition, trade, and project finance, particularly in key sectors such as energy, natural resources, and agribusiness, where it also represents several borrowers. Practice head Thiago Vallandro Flores is counsel of choice for a variety of clients, including multilaterals and development banks, in an array of financing transactions. With a keen focus on the infrastructure sector, Paulo Leme manages a balanced workload, where project finance features alongside capital markets deals. Covering project, export, acquisition and corporate finance, Gustavo Junqueira is especially active in the energy and infrastructure segments.

Brazil > Capital markets Tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados offers a broad range of debt capital markets expertise, including advice to issuers on cross-border offerings. Practitioners have extensive experience in debenture issuances, and stands out for its skills in CRI offerings linked to the energy and renewables sectors. Thiago Vallandro Flores‘s notable areas of practice include debt offerings and debt restructuring transactions. Ricardo Sanches is the key regulatory contact, while Gustavo Junqueira handles energy-related deals.

Brazil > Projects and infrastructure Tier 4

Jointly led by project finance specialist Thiago Vallandro Flores and public law partner Ricardo Sanches, the ‘extremely competent and specialised‘ team at Dias Carneiro Advogados stands out for its extensive experience in all aspects of projects work in the power sector. With strong credentials in renewable matters, the group also acts for clients from the sanitation, mining, oil and gas, ports, telecoms and financial services industries in the financing of large-scale projects and M&A involving regulated assets. Gustavo Junqueira has a strong track record in financing and restructuring transactions in the worlds of energy, telecoms and ports. Paulo Leme, a key contact for sponsors and equipment suppliers, maintains a broad practice focused on financing, corporate and development mandates.

Tax > Tax advisory Tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados fields a well-regarded team that handles contentious and non-contentious tax and customs matters. The firm acts for a large spread of domestic and international clients, assisting them with related issues at the municipal, state and federal levels. Key partners include Antonio Amendola, the versatile Maurício Chapinoti and Rodrigo Maito Da Silveira, who is active in tax planning.

Brazil > TMT: Tech, innovation and digital business Tier 4

Dias Carneiro Advogados assists technology companies and start-ups in the structuring of new businesses, regulatory matters, licensing issues and commercial agreements. The team is especially sought out by clients from the video game and e-sports sectors in relation to regulations and litigation. Bringing together experience in IP, data protection, technology and contracts, Vanessa Pareja Lerner is the main point of contact for start-ups and technology companies; she assists them with day-to-day matters and strategic transactions. Associate Barbara Emidio Nascimento is also active in the practice.

Brazil > Labour and employment Tier 5

Dias Carneiro Advogados is especially active in handling the employment aspects of the acquisition of greenfield projects, restructurings and cross-border deals. Clients from the technology, pharmaceutical, financial services, construction, telecoms and retail sectors, among others, regularly turn to the practice for advice on non-contentious labour matters and litigation. André De Melo Ribeiro has extensive expertise in judicial and administrative proceedings, while Cynthia Fernandes Guidotti regularly handles collective actions. Maurício Pepe De Lion, who draws on more than 20 years of experience in contentious labour matters, with a particular focus on claims involving executives and expatriates, joined from Felsberg Advogados in October 2023.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Litigation Tier 7

Demonstrating extensive experience in the construction, energy, life sciences, insurance and banking sectors, Dias Carneiro Advogados advises on the prevention and resolution of claims in the corporate and commercial spheres. Practice co-head Laura Mendes Bumachar also leads on restructuring and insolvency mandates. Fellow co-leaders Antonio Nachif and Álvaro Brito Arantes, both of whom are skilled in commercial litigation and credit recovery, are the other points of contact in the team.