City focus - Brasilia
Rafael Barroso Fontelles, founding partner of BFBM – Barroso Fontelles, Barcellos, Mendonça & Associados, has more than 20 years of experience in dispute resolution and a strong track record in high-value litigation before courts nationwide, including the superior courts. He is particularly focused on representing leading Brazilian banks, such as Banco Bradesco, and advises on commercial, consumer, and constitutional disputes. Fontelles also acts for clients in the construction, digital, and telecoms sectors.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Rio de Janeiro Elite
Profile
Work Department
Litigation
Position
Partner
Career
Rafael has more than 19 years of experience in law and is a founding partner at BFBM. His practice is strongly focused on the banking sector, in which he represents the major Brazilian players. His main areas of practice are Civil, Commercial, Consumer Law, and Constitutional Law, in which he works both as a consultant and conducting litigation. He acts on strategic, high-value litigation cases and in all courts across Brazil, especially the High Courts (STF and STJ).
Languages
Portuguese and English
Education
He holds an LL.B. from the Pontifical University of Rio de Janeiro – PUC/RJ (2003); a post-graduate degree in Consumer Law from the same university (2005); and an Executive MBA in Dom Cabral Foundation (2022).
Content supplied by BFBM – Barroso Fontelles, Barcellos, Mendonça & Associados
Key clients
- Banco Pan S.A. Cazé TV Produções LTDA (LIVE MODE) Swap Meios de Pagamentos Instituição de Pagamento S.a. Lm Transportes Interestaduais Servicos e Comercio S.A
Work highlights
Representing Banco Itaucard, a credit card administrator, in a public-interest lawsuit (class action) proposed by Rio de Janeiro’s Attorney General’s Office to declare the alleged abusiveness of certain clauses inserted in credit card contracts.