Madrona Fialho Advogados > Sao Paulo, Brazil > Firm Profile

Madrona Fialho Advogados > The Legal 500 Rankings

City focus - Belo Horizonte > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Madrona Fialho Advogados is a strong choice for complex domestic and cross-border M&A, corporate restructurings, and joint ventures. It has extensive sectoral experience in mining, energy and infrastructure, and collaborates closely with both the firm’s São Paulo office and its public law, tax, IP and infrastructure departments. The team is led by an experienced group of partners:  M&A, joint ventures and corporate reorganisation specialist Alice Dourado; firm co-founder Érico Andrade, who is well versed in public law matters; Patricia Alvarenga, who handles the structuring of commercial agreements for the sale of equity interests; and Leonardo Canabrava, who is highlighted for his knowledge of the infrastructure market. Other key figures include Anderson Novais, Gustavo Magalhães, Thiago Vieira and Leonardo Birchal, the latter of whom was promoted to the partnership in February 2022.

City focus - Belo Horizonte > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Corporate clients in the engineering, construction, mining, infrastructure, energy and technology sectors routinely turn to Madrona Fialho Advogados for assistance in high-profile litigation and arbitration. Covering both private and public law, the team is singled out for its wealth of experience in regulatory issues and conflicts arising in the context of PPP projects, infrastructure contracts, and public procurement.  Anderson Novais, Érico Andrade and Gustavo Magalhães are key contacts for public law-related contentious matters. Leonardo Canabrava maintains a broad practice, which covers proceedings before judicial courts and arbitration chambers in Brazil and abroad. With extensive experience in both litigation and arbitration, Leonardo Birchal handles complex disputes involving the energy, infrastructure, mining and construction segments. Other noteworthy individuals include senior associate André Martins, who acts for companies and individuals in complex cases, and associate Breno Vaz, who excels in public law disputes.

Brazil > Corporate and M&A: Mid-market Tier 1

In the wake of its recent merger, the newly formed Madrona Fialho Advogados boasts a strong reputation in the mid-market M&A space. Fielding sizeable teams in São Paulo and Belo Horizonte, the firm handles strategically significant deals for both publicly-traded and private companies present in all core economic sectors, and demonstrates particular strength in the technology, telecoms, infrastructure, agribusiness, healthcare and food and beverages spheres. Based in São Paulo, Ricardo Madrona provides support to an impressive client roster in the context of M&A, corporate restructuring and joint ventures, which are also core areas of activity for Milena Coimbra Mazzini. In the same office, Danilo Mininel’s fields of expertise include M&A, corporate law and contractual matters, with a special focus on the retail, education, technology and healthcare sectors. Nair Veras Saldanha acts for domestic and international companies, financial institutions and investors in corporate transactions. Also noted, Luciana Felisbino and Luciano Fialho advise on M&A, private equity and corporate governance, while José Senedesi offers expertise in corporate reorganisations. Sitting in the Belo Horizonte office, Alice Dourado stands out for her knowledge of sector consolidation proceedings and strategic alliances, and Patricia Alvarenga works on domestic and cross-border corporate transactions. Roberto Pary joined the São Paulo-based group from Marcelo Tostes Advogados in August 2022.

City focus - Belo Horizonte > Tax Tier 2

Working closely with the firm’s corporate law specialists, the lawyers of Madrona Fialho Advogados‘ tax group are particularly well versed in tax planning and corporate restructurings. The team’s contentious capabilities are also noteworthy; companies from the mining, energy, food and beverage, healthcare and construction sectors regularly turn to the firm for representation in judicial and administrative disputes involving tax liabilities, benefits and exemptions. Tax litigation specialist Patrícia Lima and recently promoted partner Pedro Magalhães, who handles tax planning and transactional matters, jointly oversee the Belo Horizonte-based group. Senior associate Leandro Vieira is a key contact for tax litigation.

Brazil > Capital markets Tier 3

A combination of issuers, underwriters and investors turn to Madrona Fialho Advogados for advice on debt and equity listings. Standing out for its activity in the asset management sector, the group assists various funds and family offices with fund launches and IPOs. On the DCM front, the team is regularly instructed in mandates involving real estate and agribusiness debentures. Marcelo Cosac, who focuses on debt issuances, and Luis Bellini, who is especially active in agribusiness-related matters, are praised for their ‘great technical and pro-business knowledge’. Leonardo Di Cola possesses extensive regulatory expertise, while Nair Veras Saldanha is strong on the corporate side.

Brazil > International trade Tier 3

Madrona Fialho Advogados provides services ‘of the highest quality’ backed by its ‘in-depth knowledge of laws and regulations’ in international trade. Clients, ranging from major domestic and international companies to industry associations, appreciate the firm’s ‘agility, commitment, punctuality, and team work’. The practice advises on contentious and non-contentious WTO matters, international trade negotiations, policy studies, and trade remedy investigations. Key partners include Belo Horizonte-based Leonardo Canabrava, who specialises in trade and related antitrust issues, and the ‘excellent’ Lucas Spadano in São Paulo, who has a ‘high level of knowledge of national and international laws and regulations’.

Brazil > TMT: Cybersecurity and data privacy Tier 3

Notable for its experience in corporate transactions and the protection of intangible assets, Madrona Fialho Advogados is well positioned to advise on an array of data protection compliance matters. Lucas Spadano leads the IP, data protection and international trade teams. Bernardo Santos, who was promoted to partner in February 2023, often acts for clients in the structuring and development of multijurisdictional privacy compliance programmes; his areas of expertise also cover risk assessments, data sharing and processing agreements. Newly promoted partner Luiza Tângari handles IP-related data protection issues.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity (and renewable energy) Tier 4

The infrastructure, regulatory and public law team at Madrona Fialho Advogados offers a ‘personalised, high-quality and quick service‘ to clients seeking advice on a multitude of power matters, ranging from transactions to contracts and litigation. Rodrigo Machado leads assistance to clients from regulated sectors, bringing together considerable experience in M&A involving power assets, self-production structures, project implementation and regulatory proceedings. He manages the team with Rodrigo Barata, who joined from the São Paulo State Transport Agency (ARTESP) in August 2022. The team was further strengthened by the arrival of senior associate Felipe Zaratini from Cescon Barrieu in December 2021; he focuses on development matters in the power sector, with a special emphasis on renewable generation projects.

Brazil > Intellectual property Tier 4

With a strong presence in Belo Horizonte and São Paulo, the IP practice at Madrona Fialho Advogados acts for large international and Brazilian companies across the automobile, pharmaceutical, technology, engineering, entertainment and fashion industries. Covering a broad base of IP matters, including trade marks, copyrights and patents, the team is particularly well versed in the negotiation of the IP aspects of international trade agreements. The practice is jointly led by Lucas Spadano and Luiza Tângari; Spadano marries expertise in trade regulations and IP, while newly promoted partner Tângari is noted for her experience in trade mark-related work. Bernardo Santos, who was promoted to partner in February 2023, assists with commercial transactions, franchising issues and IP litigation.

Brazil > Public law Tier 4

Following the merger of Fialho Salles Advogados and Madrona Advogados in February 2023, Madrona Fialho Advogados draws on a combination of broad non-contentious and specialised contentious expertise. With a strong portfolio in water, sewage and sanitation, the team frequently handles PPPs, concession agreements and public bids. Based in Belo Horizonte, Anderson Novais focuses on the economic and financial balance of concession agreements, and Gustavo Magalhães supports clients in major regulatory and infrastructure matters. The São Paulo team is headed by Gustavo Uchiyama, who is well versed in complex administrative law matters, Rodrigo Machado, a specialist in the power sector, and Rodrigo Barata, who joined from ARTESP in August 2022 and has 'a deep knowledge of administrative law'. Rosane Menezes Lohbauer left the firm in January 2023.

Brazil > Real estate Tier 4

Combining the forces of Madrona Advogados and Fialho Salles, which merged in early 2023, Madrona Fialho Advogados is noted for its ‘multidisciplinary approach’ and provides clients with a ‘fast and personalised service’. The team routinely assists real estate developers and investment funds with land acquisitions for residential, commercial and retail projects. Build-to-suit deals, sale and leasebacks and corporate joint ventures are core areas of activity for the firm, which is led by the ‘dynamic, creative, intelligent and helpful’ Eduardo Tristão. Tristão is especially well regarded for his ‘in-depth knowledge of the real estate market' and focuses on real estate transactions, including the purchase and sale of urban and rural properties.

Brazil > Competition and antitrust Tier 5

Drawing on the capabilities of its well-established corporate and M&A practice, the antitrust team at Madrona Fialho Advogados is retained by companies from the agribusiness, chemicals, infrastructure, energy, TMT, financial services and healthcare sectors in a wide range of mandates, including merger reviews, cartels, and abuse of dominance investigations. Luís Nagalli specialises in merger control and antitrust investigations. Associate Julia Haddad Niemeyer is noted for her experience in representing foreign and domestic clients in cartel investigations and in the negotiation of leniency and settlement agreements.

Tax > Tax advisory Tier 6

A result of the early 2023 merger between Fialho Salles Advogados and Madrona Advogados, Madrona Fialho Advogados possesses a solid track record in tax planning, consulting and litigation matters, offering support in both direct and indirect tax. Based in Belo Horizonte, Patrícia Lima is a key point of contact for tax litigation matters, while Pedro Magalhães focuses on tax planning. In the São Paulo office, Marcos Tranchesi Ortiz and Paulo Roberto Andrade are singled out for their experience in judicial and administrative disputes. Since publication, Rafael Macedo Malheiro has joined from Felsberg Advogados, effective as of February 2024.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Arbitration Tier 7

A result of the 2023 merger between Fialho Salles Advogados and Madrona Advogados, Madrona Fialho Advogados handles a mix of domestic and cross-border arbitration matters, demonstrating particular strength in engineering, construction and corporate disputes. Leonardo Canabrava has a wealth of experience in arbitration and mediation, and often acts as arbitrator before Brazilian and international chambers. He oversees the Belo Horizonte group with Leonardo Birchal, who maintains a broad practice in dispute resolution and non-contentious matters. Also at the helm of the practice and based in São Paulo, João Carlos Toledo is a key name to note for cases involving M&A and energy supply agreements, while Fábio Alem focuses on corporate and construction disputes. Luciano Velasque Rocha is also noted.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Litigation Tier 7

Madrona Fialho Advogados – the result of the 2023 merger between Fialho Salles Advogados and Madrona Advogados – has a strong track record in public law cases, but its litigation experience also encompasses shareholder, construction and IP disputes. The department is jointly led by three partners in Belo Horizonte: Érico Andrade, a key contact for cases involving public procurement, PPPs and concessions; Leonardo Canabrava, who focuses on corporate law; and mediation, litigation and arbitration specialist Leonardo de Abreu Birchal; and three practitioners in São Paulo: João Carlos Toledo; Fábio Alem; and Luciano Velasque Rocha, the lattermost of whom has a wealth of experience in civil and commercial litigation.