Stocche Forbes Advogados > Sao Paulo, Brazil > Firm Profile

Stocche Forbes Advogados > The Legal 500 Rankings

Brazil > Capital markets Tier 2

Stocche Forbes Advogados represents a variety of high-profile issuers and underwriters, which benefit from the firm’s ‘specialised service', and ‘dynamic and updated professionals'. The team caters to the full spread of equity and debt issues, including regulatory advice and support to investment funds. The infrastructure and renewables sectors provide a rich vein of work for the group, with several high-profile debenture issuances and sustainability-linked offerings. Lead partners include Henrique Filizzola, with over 20 years’ market experience, and Marcos Ribeiro for debt, equity and investment fund offerings. Frederico Moura in Rio de Janeiro is recommended for project finance-related deals, and associate Thadeu Bretas is also developing a good name.

Brazil > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

The highly regarded team at Stocche Forbes Advogados maintains a broad offering in the area of corporate and M&A. Noted for its partner-level involvement and ‘focus on long-term relationships‘ with major clients, the team is frequently engaged in innovative, high-end and complex transactional work, covering the formation of joint ventures, share purchases and sale arrangements and corporate reorganisations in the energy, retail, food and life sciences sectors, to name a few. Private equity is a strong point for the department, which often attracts instructions from local and foreign funds seeking to invest in Brazil. A multidisciplinary team led by capital markets and M&A partners Henrique Filizzola and Rafael Andrade oversees the legal innovation initiatives launched by the firm to optimise efficiency; it recently teamed up with a software development boutique to develop a bespoke AI solution to be utilised during due diligence processes. On the diversity and inclusion front, the firm has developed four internal committes focused on gender (SF Mulher), LGBTQIAP+ (SOMOS), disability (Ultra), and ethnicity and race (Radix) issues. André Mestriner Stocche and Flavio Meyer have been working on corporate law matters and M&A for over two decades; private equity transactions, where they act on both the sell and buy side, is another area of expertise for the pair. Fabiano Milani has considerable experience in cross-border deals involving Latin American jurisdictions. Matheus Campos ‘is tireless and always attentive to every detail of a transaction’. Other noteworthy practitioners include Bruno Bercito and Ricardo Peres Freoa. Emilio Gallucci is a key contact for foreign companies and investment funds, while Alessandra Zequi stands out for her track record in deals involving listed companies. Luciana Stracieri and Teo Silva Galvão were welcomed to the partnership in 2022. Fernanda Cardoso is no longer at the firm.

Brazil > Real estate Tier 2

Stocche Forbes Advogados has a ‘very technically prepared‘ and ‘well structured‘ team, which ‘proposes assertive and efficient solutions‘ in a wide range of complex real estate investment and development projects. This includes build-to-suit agreements, mixed-used developments and a wide range of rural and urban acquisitions. Further multidisciplinary support is provided by the team on related tax, corporate, finance, environmental and litigation matters. Alexandre Laizo Clapis has a good track record in structuring joint ventures and acquisitions across a wide range of asset classes, including residential, industrial, hospitality, retail and logistics. Fellow partner Vilmar Lima Carreiro Filho is particularly experienced in rural and agribusiness-related matters.

Tax > Customs Tier 2

Brazil > Banking and finance Tier 3

Stocche Forbes Advogados is experienced across a wide range of debt transactions, from complex acquisition financings and structured products through to high-profile debenture offerings and project finance mandates. Clients of the firm benefit from its deep bench of partners, including Marcos Ribeiro for debt capital markets, and versatile name partner Guilherme Forbes, Henrique Filizzola and Bruno Gandolfo. The project finance side, which also includes Frederico Moura, was further boosted by the arrival of new partner Marco Aurélio Saliba, a former in-house counsel at Proton Energia. Former partner Miriam Signor left the firm in April 2022.

Brazil > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

With ‘extensive knowledge of the market and precedent’, Stocche Forbes Advogados fields a sizeable and specialised projects team, which attracts instructions from domestic and international clients in relation to project finance, development and restructuring transactions. Projects in the energy and natural resources sectors – including power, oil and gas, and mining  – are a particular focus for the department, which is also seasoned in advising on public law and regulatory matters concerning infrastructure projects in Brazil. Founding partner Guilherme Forbes has a strong background in financial and corporate transactions involving infrastructure assets, and is often engaged by large banks and corporations in the financing and structuring of projects in Brazil. Frederico Moura focuses on project finance and capital markets deals, while Bruno Gandolfo is recommended for M&A in regulated sectors. Marco Saliba, whose areas of expertise include cross-border financing transactions and construction contracts, recently joined from Proton Energia. Miriam Signor is no longer at the firm.

Brazil > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3

Stocche Forbes Advogados has a multidisciplinary restructuring and insolvency practice, with versatile partners handling a broad mix of judicial and non-judicial proceedings. The firm is particularly active on the creditor side, where it regularly assists major banks and bondholders as well as trade creditors. Recently, the firm has been involved in several high-profile mandates in the infrastructure and energy sectors, and also assists investors in matters connected to non-performing loans and distressed assets. Guilherme Gaspari Coelho and Bruno Gandolfo handle both contentious and non-contentious insolvency procedures, working closely with partners in the finance team, including Guilherme Forbes, Frederico Moura and Henrique Filizzola.

Tax > Tax advisory Tier 3

Stocche Forbes Advogados has an ‘excellent technical base that allows a more detailed and realistic analysis of the tax risks‘. Clients also emphasise the ‘exceptional‘ service and ‘availability to listen to the client and provide timely returns‘. The practice handles a healthy mix of litigation and consulting issues. Paulo César Teixeira Duarte Filho heads the indirect tax and customs side, and (alongside his team) is praised for his ‘promptness and technical accuracy‘. Renato Coelho leads on direct tax, and his work includes international tax planning and M&A. Daniel Abraham Loria is praised for his ‘depth in the subject and technical knowledge‘, particularly concerning investment funds. Associate Andreza Ribeiro is also well regarded. Since publication, Marcos Vinícius Passarelli Prado is no longer at the firm.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Litigation Tier 4

Stocche Forbes Advogados strikes a balance between arbitration and judicial proceedings, but particularly stands out for its extensive track record in litigation concerning M&A transactions, construction contracts, energy agreements, environmental law and real estate. According to clients, the group stands out ‘for the quality of the pleadings, legal arguments and in the production of evidence‘. Rafael Passaro is highly regarded for his longstanding experience in dispute resolution, acting for clients in civil, commercial, corporate and contractual claims. These are also key areas of activity for Luis Guilherme Aidar Bondioli. Guilherme Gaspari Coelho is a strong performer in civil litigation. Wilson Newton de Mello Neto, Maria Lucia Cetraro, who is dedicated to civil and administrative disputes, and Laura Bastos de Lima are also part of the core dispute resolution team.

Energy and natural resources > Hydrocarbons Tier 4

Stocche Forbes Advogados is a popular destination for both domestic and international oil and gas clients seeking assistance with large financing and business transactions involving upstream, midstream and downstream assets and companies. The practice, which is noted for its experience in public law-related matters, experienced a recent increase in mandates pertaining to public bids in the context of Petrobras’s divestment programme, interaction with public agencies and regulatory issues. Guilherme Forbes leads on several M&A and financing transactions pertaining to the hydrocarbons sector, while project finance and capital markets matters are some of Frederico Moura and Bruno Gandolfo's legal specialisms. Mariana Saragoça in São Paulo regularly guides clients throughout all stages of public procurement and the regulatory process. Miriam Signor left the firm in April 2022.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity (and renewable energy)

Covering all power segments, including generation from renewable sources, Stocche Forbes Advogados assists clients from the initial development through to the operational stage of electricity projects. Its team members are routinely engaged by top power players in regulatory matters, financing transactions and corporate deals within this industry. Frederico Moura and Bruno Gandolfo in Rio de Janeiro undertake a range of transactional work in the infrastructure space, including M&A and project development. They co-chair the department alongside Mariana Saragoça in São Paulo, who is noted for her extensive experience in regulated sectors, public procurement and privatisations. Recently promoted partner Emilio Pescarmona Gallucci advises companies and investment funds on M&A and the formation of joint ventures, with an emphasis on the energy sector. Frederico Accon stands out at the associate level for his regulatory expertise.

Brazil > Environment Tier 4

Stocche Forbes Advogados has a unique service offering in the Brazilian market thanks to its focus on climate change, sustainable finance, ESG investing and renewable energy. Multinational companies, financial institutions, carbon market players, public entities and non-governmental organisations regularly retain the team in innovative environmental matters involving the assessment of environmental liabilities in high-value M&A, financing and real estate transactions, and the environmental licensing of energy and infrastructure projects at the federal, state and local levels. The highly regarded Caroline Prolo advises domestic and international clients on environmental compliance, climate change and transactional matters. Beatriz de Azevedo Marcico Pereira and Paula Feldmann are also active in the team, especially handling the environmental aspects of transactions.

Brazil > Competition and antitrust Tier 5

Noted for its ‘excellent responsiveness and attention to detail‘, Stocche Forbes Advogados has a good track record in merger filings before the competition authority. In this space, the team has experience advising on deals in a range of industries, including retail, energy and education. 2020 and 2021 saw the firm adding new associates to its antitrust department, including Luisa Marcelino Bono, who joined from Manesco, Ramires, Perez, Azevedo Marques Sociedade de Advogados. The team is led by Ana Paula Paschoalini, ‘a rising star in the sector’, who is ‘constructive in putting together the best antitrust solutions’.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Arbitration Tier 6

Working in close collaboration with other practices within the firm, Stocche Forbes Advogados‘ ‘very responsive, diverse and knowledgeable‘ arbitration group fields specialist teams dedicated to M&A, energy, construction, environmental and real estate disputes. With over two decades of experience in dispute resolution, Rafael Passaro handles commercial, corporate and contractual arbitration; these are also among Luis Guilherme Aidar Bondioli‘s areas of expertise. Guilherme Gaspari Coelho possesses significant experience in debt restructuring and commercial cases. Other names to note include Wilson Newton de Mello Neto and Maria Lucia Cetraro, both of whom focus on strategic disputes.

Brazil > Compliance

Brazil > Public law