Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper > Sao Paulo, Brazil > Firm Profile

Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper > The Legal 500 Rankings

Brazil > Real estate Tier 1

Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper has extensive expertise across all areas of real estate law, which is a core area of focus for the firm. Drawing on the firm’s cross-border cooperation with DLA Piper and strong network of offices across Brazil, the team offers comprehensive guidance to both domestic and international investors, construction companies and developers engaged in mandates involving the retail, residential, hospitality, offices, agriculture, industrial, and logistics segments. With nearly five decades of experience in the real estate space, co-founder Bernardo Buarque Schiller is a recognised authority in the market who maintains an active practice covering non-contentious and contentious issues. Partner Ivandro Trevelim, who handles a mix of contractual, transactional and development matters, and managing partner Fabio Perrone Campos Mello are praised for their ‘fantastic technical knowledge‘. Rafael Jordão Bussière, who has previously worked at the Secretariat of Coordination and Governance of the federal government’s real estate assets, has recently acted for prominent clients in strategic shopping centre acquisitions. Maria Eduarda Bérgamo undertakes a variety of transactional work, most notably the purchase and sale of logistic and commercial real estate properties.

Brazil > Insurance Tier 2

A strong performer in domestic and international insurance and reinsurance mandates, Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper provides comprehensive assistance across regulatory compliance, corporate affairs, coverage, and claims. The firm’s association with international outfit DLA Piper helps facilitate a streamlined service for cross-border claims. Clients appreciate the team’s ‘great expertise in M&A in the sector’ and acknowledge the ‘excellent technical level’ of the core insurance partners. These include practice head Marcella Hill, who divides her time between London and São Paulo, and Jaqueline Suryan, who has considerable experience in non-contentious insurance matters. Mariana Cavalcanti Jardim, a seasoned of counsel based in Rio de Janeiro, is recommended for corporate and regulatory matters.

Brazil > Compliance Tier 3

Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper has a ‘team full of in-depth and strategic knowledge’, capable of providing advice on the entire spectrum of compliance matters. On the advisory front, the team frequently assists in the structuring and development of compliance programmes, contractual reviews and integrity risk assessments. In the investigations’ arena, the compliance practice is well-versed in internal investigations and negotiations with regulatory authorities. Clients operate in a variety of sectors, including energy, construction, healthcare and technology, to name a few. Practice head Ricardo Caiado Lima provides preventative anti-bribery and anti-corruption advice to clients, often assisting with due diligence on M&A projects, and the drafting and review of integrity policies. Antonio Tovo is well-versed in crisis management, while associate André Sampaio Lacerda Ferraz specialises in compliance and corporate criminal mandates.

Energy and natural resources > Hydrocarbons Tier 3

Praised for its capabilities in regulatory and M&A matters, the oil and gas team at Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper offers legal support to a range of clients operating in the upstream, midstream and downstream segments in Brazil. In addition to asset and stock deals, financings and contractual matters, the team is also proficient in guiding oil and gas companies in their energy transition efforts, covering advice on carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), bio-CCS, hydrogen, and offshore wind. Transactional and regulatory partner Alexandre Calmon has over two decades of experience acting for clients in the oil and gas and wider energy sectors. He oversees the team with Marcelo Frazão, who is recommended for M&A, financings and multi-jurisdictional projects involving offshore infrastructure, ships and maritime terminals, and dispute resolution specialist João Marçal Martins. Senior associate Patricia Winter undertakes a range of contractual work in this space, ranging from engineering, procurement, construction and installation contracts to bareboat charters. Associate Larianne Sampaio joined from Tauil & Chequer Advogados in May 2022, while former Veirano Advogados‘ partners Rogerio Campos and Marcelo Mattos arrived in July and September 2023, respectively.

Tax > Tax advisory Tier 3

Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper has a highly experienced tax team comprised of ‘reliable lawyers’, who are adept in indirect and direct taxation, tax planning, restructurings and contentious matters. Clients operating in a variety of sectors, notably technology, energy, mining, life sciences and agribusiness, regularly turn to the practice for advice on the tax aspects of cross-border transactions. The versatile team is jointly led by litigator Humberto Marini, who has notable experience in oil and gas-related tax issues, and Alex Jorge, who advises on cross-border transactions, tax planning, transfer pricing, and M&A-related taxation. Renato Lopes da Rocha fields a strong reputation in contentious matters. Flavia Ganzella, who joined from Felsberg Advogados in November 2022, reinforced the group’s tax litigation capabilities. Victor Kampel left the firm in June 2023.

Tax > Tax litigation Tier 3

Brazil > TMT: Cybersecurity and data privacy Tier 3

Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper assists both Brazilian and international clients from a variety of industries, such as technology, automotive and media, in data protection and privacy issues. The practice is prepared to advise on the processing of personal data, LGPD compliance matters, and in the drafting and review of privacy clauses. The firm also takes advantage of its corporate criminal law expertise to provide preventive and reactive assistance in the context of cybersecurity incidents. Paula Mena Barreto, who is especially active in the implementation of privacy policies and compliance matters, jointly leads the group with Ricardo Caiado Lima, who coordinates all preventive compliance advice. Associates Ana Paula Pitta de Moura, Gisela de Lamare de Paiva Coelho and Ana Luisa Bastos Ramos are also noted for their experience in LGPD-related matters.

Brazil > Banking and finance Tier 4

Praised by clients for its ‘technical knowledge, availability and assertiveness’, Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper maintains a versatile banking and finance practice, which is well versed in both transactional and regulatory mandates. Drawing on its association with an international heavyweight, the firm consistently facilitates cross-border transactions for major banks and borrowers, including multilateral agencies, private credit funds, and financial services companies. Roberto Vianna do R. Barros, whose expertise spans capital markets, project finance, structured finance, and regulatory matters, and Jorge Luiz Barbieri Gallo, who handles debt capital markets, non-performing loans, securitisations, and restructurings, jointly head up the department. Flávia Cavalcanti Ferreira stands out at the associate level. Former Veirano Advogados‘ partners Rogerio Campos and Marcelo Mattos joined the firm in July and September 2023, respectively.

Brazil > Capital markets Tier 4

Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper has an experienced capital markets team that is praised for its ‘technical knowledge, availability and assertiveness in providing services’. The firm’s extensive global network makes it popular among domestic and international clients seeking advice on multijurisdictional mandates. Covering debt and equity products, the group provides assistance to banks, as issuers and underwriters, and corporates across multiple industries. The ‘highly trained, experienced‘ Roberto Vianna do R. Barros and Jorge Luiz Barbieri Gallo, both of whom are noted for financial and capital markets transactions, lead the team.

Brazil > Corporate and M&A: High-end Tier 4

With its ability to draw on the resources of its international partnership, Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper is a popular choice for high-end domestic and cross-border M&A, corporate reorganisations, buy-outs and strategic alliances. The team has undertaken an impressive series of transactions of late, including several M&A and private equity deals across a wide variety of sectors, most notably energy, telecoms and sports. Senior partner Fabiano Gallo is retained by both buyers and sellers, particularly for big-ticket transactions involving the power and infrastructure sectors; in addition to his strong deal-making capabilities, he is also proficient in corporate governance. Gallo jointly oversees the practice with Miriam Machado Kleissl, who maintains a broad practice focused on M&A, contracts and corporate law, and often advises media and advertising clients. Kleissl and Mirella Kaufman, a seasoned practitioner in commercial contracts, joint ventures and venture capital deals, joined from Felsberg Advogados in November 2022. Other names to note for M&A and private equity matters include Carolina Marcondes Sant’Angelo and Renata Amorim. Rafaella Chiachio leads on telecoms-related work, while Oduvaldo Lara Júnior is regularly sought out by private equity funds, corporations and shareholders in relation to investments and corporate governance issues. Norlan Navarro stands out at the senior associate level.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity (and renewable energy)

Covering both conventional and renewable sources, Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper undertakes a variety of work in the electricity sector, but is perhaps best known for its involvement in the structuring and negotiation of PPAs, distributed generation structures, tender procedures and M&A transactions involving power assets. Led by Fabiano Gallo, who excels in net metering and self-production projects, the team also includes Marcelo Frazão, who routinely advises on contractual issues related to hydro, wind and solar power, and Alexandre Calmon.

Brazil > Environment Tier 4

Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper brings together environmental law specialists who are well placed to assist domestic and international companies operating in the oil and gas, agribusiness, infrastructure, real estate and energy sectors in an array of matters, including crisis management, risk assessments, environmental licensing and litigation. Rated for its ‘ability to deal with complex issues‘, the group is under the joint leadership of two partners based in Rio de Janeiro – Paulo De Bessa Antunes and Vilmar Gonçalves – and São Paulo-based partner Ana Paula Chagas, who has a wealth of experience in protected areas, waste management, climate change, ESG and carbon markets. Antunes and Gonçalves are strong performers in judicial and administrative proceedings. Other key individuals include Nathália Almeida in Rio and Carina Cancela in São Paulo, both of whom maintain a broad environmental practice, covering non-contentious matters and negotiations with environmental agencies, public prosecutors and state authorities.

Brazil > TMT: Media Tier 4

Focused on media, entertainment, IP and data protection matters, Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper provides the gamut of consulting services to an array of domestic and international industry players. Typical mandates for the team include licensing agreements, commercial contracts, IP disputes and free speech litigation. A key contact for media and entertainment companies, Paula Mena Barreto is a seasoned practitioner active in regulatory matters, production and advertising agreements, and IP enforcement. She oversees the team which is also adept at handling the launch of streaming and entertainment apps in Brazil. Associates Ana Paula Pitta de Moura, Ana Luisa Bastos Ramos and Vanessa Azambuja all assist on IP-related media matters.

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Litigation Tier 5

Entrusted by a mix of domestic and international heavyweights operating in a range of sectors, including retail, IT, financial services, infrastructure and real estate, Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper represents clients in a litany of contentious matters. Drawing on its association with the international DLA Piper network, the group is particularly well placed to handle cross-border litigation, especially cases involving the US and UK. São Paulo-based partner Felipe Hermanny, whose strong background in administrative and judicial litigation is noteworthy, stands out for his capabilities in civil liability cases. He oversees the practice with Leandro Rinaldi in Rio de Janeiro, who is particularly skilled in court-supervised restructurings. João Marçal Martins is another key contact for judicial lawsuits in the São Paulo office, which was strengthened by the arrival of Leonardo Ribas from Felsberg Advogados in November 2022; Ribas has a strong following in the energy, construction and healthcare industries.

Brazil > Labour and employment Tier 5

Covering both contentious and non-contentious mandates, the labour department at Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper is frequently sought out by domestic and international clients operating in a range of industries, including TMT, energy, retail, aviation, and real estate. Leading the practice, Mauricio Tanabe specialises in collective dismissals, industrial actions and class actions, while litigation specialist Marcio Meira de Vasconcellos regularly handles pensions, benefits and expatriation-related matters, with a particular focus on the infrastructure, oil and gas, and real estate sectors. Widely recommended by clients, associate Flavio Luduvice is experienced in litigation before labour courts, due diligence procedures, and employment agreements. The team was strengthened by the arrival of Ana Cristina Valentim in November 2022 from Felsberg Advogados.

Brazil > Competition and antitrust

Brazil > Dispute Resolution: Arbitration

Brazil > Intellectual property

Brazil > Life sciences

Brazil > Public law

Latin America: International firms > Capital markets

DLA Piper LLP (US) has a well developed Latin America capital markets team spread across its offices in the region and in New York; moreover, many of its practitioners are dual-qualified lawyers in both the US and one-or-other Latin American jurisdiction. The firm has an established record in high-yield debt, medium-term notes, asset backed securities and project bonds, while structured finance and securitisation (including diversified payments rights securitisations) are also fortes for the team - which worked intensively on debt restructurings and liability management transactions during 2022. The group benefits from outstanding links to Latin American corporates and financial institutions. New York partner Christopher Paci is an immensely experienced capital markets specialist with a strong focus on Latin America. Managing partner of the Buenos Aires office Marcelo Etchebarne, who splits his time between Argentina and New York, and is also an experienced capital markers expert. Roberto Vianna do Rego Barros is another key figure at Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper in São Paulo.