Ranking tables

Corporate/M&A: The Elite | Global

Brazil

This broad category covers both public company and private equity (including venture capital) matters. The chapter includes company acquisitions and dispositions, capitalisations, entity selection and formation, operating and partnership agreements, and governance matters. Also covers those transactions designed to help restructuring within companies and their subsidiaries by change of ownership. Priority is placed on primary representatives, those acting for buyers and sellers. Non-transactional corporate advice is perfectly acceptable with the exception of contentious matters i.e. commercial litigation or arbitration which is only considered in the Dispute Resolution section (see below).

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. BMA – Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão
    1
    BMA – Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 1 | 4 Years Ranked
    BMA – Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão maintains a top-of-market M&A practice. Its experienced bench frequently assists domestic and international companies operating in a range of sectors, including energy, technology and education, with acquisitions of majority and minority stakes, mergers and divestments. The team also handles sensitive corporate governance issues arising from company reorganisations, with notable expertise representing publicly listed companies. Its corporate offering is enhanced by the firm's strong merger control practice.
  2. Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados
    1
    Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 1 | 4 Years Ranked
    Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados has a stellar corporate department demonstrating exceptional capabilities providing counsel to domestic and multinational companies from a myriad of industries, as well as private equity groups. It is particularly active in handling major transactions in the pharmaceutical, energy and healthcare sectors. It boasts an outstanding track record in M&A, with experience advising on hostile takeovers and strategic carve-outs. It is also well versed in domestic and cross-border deals involving publicly listed companies. It routinely assists with joint venture agreements and the formation of SPVs.
  3. Mattos Filho
    1
    Mattos Filho
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 1 | 4 Years Ranked
    Mattos Filho is one of Brazil's most acclaimed law firms, and its front-running corporate practice plays a key role in ensuring the firm's prominence. The team advises all sorts of blue-chip companies and has top-notch expertise to handle complex matters for listed companies. Mattos Filho acts on many of the most prominent transactions in Brazil, and its bench strength is such that the firm is capable of handling multiple key transactions simultaneously. The department is a one-stop shop which benefits from the firm's leading expertise in a high number of industries and practices.
  4. Pinheiro Neto Advogados
    1
    Pinheiro Neto Advogados
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 1 | 4 Years Ranked
    Pinheiro Neto Advogados is a long-standing market leader that responds to increasing competition by doubling up its capabilities. Its prime M&A team frequently leads some of the most sophisticated deals in the country. The firm is particularly respected for advising prominent international clients with key businesses in Brazil. Its distinguished team does not shy away from complex deals and is also noted for taking a long-term strategic approach to matters. Pinheiro Neto's multidisciplinary capabilities also mean companies relying on the team for strategic deals will find one of the best-equipped firms in Brazil to handle a wide array of matters, from disputes to key regulatory issues.
2

Band 2

  1. Demarest Advogados
    2
    Demarest Advogados
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 2 | 4 Years Ranked
    Demarest Advogados is a highly regarded full-service firm with a sizeable corporate offering, frequently retained by major Brazilian and multinational corporations as well as private equity groups. It demonstrates strong transactional work advising on high-end and mid-market deals in an array of industries. It is well versed in cross-border M&A for both private and publicly held companies. It also assists with complex post-transaction corporate reorganisations as well as joint ventures.
  2. Lefosse Advogados
    2
    Lefosse Advogados
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 2 | 4 Years Ranked
    Lefosse Advogados is an esteemed firm with a strong corporate practice representing key clients in a variety of high-end domestic and cross-border deals. The team excels in complex acquisitions of publicly listed companies and is also well equipped to handle corporate reorganisations, mergers and spin-offs. The lawyers have a solid track record negotiating strategic joint venture agreements. Its client roster comprises prestigious names from the beauty, energy and healthcare industries, as well as sovereign and private equity funds.
  3. Machado Meyer
    2
    Machado Meyer
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 2 | 4 Years Ranked
    Machado Meyer is an acclaimed full-service firm with a respected corporate practice frequently retained by major private and publicly held Brazilian and multinational corporations to advise on high-value transactions. It has notable expertise in handling complex divestitures involving the privatisation of public assets. Its strong bench has in-depth experience advising on domestic and cross-border acquisitions and mergers, and is equally comfortable representing the buyer or the target. The firm also assists with post-transaction restructuring and ongoing corporate governance matters.
  4. Stocche Forbes Advogados
    2
    Stocche Forbes Advogados
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 2 | 4 Years Ranked
    Stocche Forbes Advogados has a dynamic corporate practice with exceptional strength acting as counsel to Brazilian and international asset management firms and private equity funds, as well as their portfolio companies, on sophisticated M&A deals. It is also known to assist publicly listed multinational corporations with transactional and regulatory mandates. It has considerable expertise in the energy and infrastructure sector, as well as in the real estate and telecommunications fields. Lumina Capital and Kinea are two additions to its client portfolio.
3

Band 3

  1. Pinheiro Guimarães
    3
    Pinheiro Guimarães
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 3 | 4 Years Ranked
    Pinheiro Guimarães is a seasoned practice with a solid track record acting for asset management firms, investment funds and major multinational banking groups on high-end and mid-market M&A and corporate finance deals. It also represents Brazilian and international companies, notably in the energy sector. Its lawyers are particularly adept at drafting stock purchase, joint venture and shareholder agreements. It has complementary strength in capital markets.
  2. Veirano Advogados
    3
    Veirano Advogados
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 3 | 4 Years Ranked
    Veirano Advogados is a respected corporate player particularly noted for its experience handling sophisticated cross-border M&A arising in various sectors, notably education, technology and energy. Its sizeable team is also capable of assisting clients with the structuring of strategic joint ventures. It boasts a distinguished track record in foreign investment mandates, with significant activity involving asset deals and private equity funds, advising investors on complex transaction structures and share purchase agreements. Intertek and Gallagher Insurance are two new client wins for the team.
  3. Lobo de Rizzo Advogados
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 3
4

Band 4

  1. Madrona Fialho Advogados
    4
    Madrona Fialho Advogados
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Madrona Fialho Advogados is frequently retained by corporations from the pharmaceutical, agribusiness, food and technology sectors. The firm has experience advising on mid-market deals but also equipped to assist with high-end mandates including acquisition of majority and minority stakes. It also handles foreign investment deals, reorganisation and governance structuring.
  2. 4
    Spinelli Advogados
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Spinelli Advogados is a law firm that has cultivated a respected practice adept at dealing with complex M&A operations and joint ventures. The firm is capable of providing assistance with the negotiation and drafting of agreements and relevant capital markets and corporate governance issues. It is also familiar with buyers and sellers, including important private equity firms.
  3. TozziniFreire Advogados
    4
    TozziniFreire Advogados
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 4 | 4 Years Ranked
    TozziniFreire Advogados is a renowned full-service firm with extensive national coverage and a celebrated history in foreign investment mandates. It has noteworthy expertise representing multinational companies and private equity groups. It acts as local counsel on large global M&A deals involving Brazilian assets. It also assists with strategic joint venture agreements and is increasingly active in venture capital work. BNP Paribas and PerkinElmer are two new client wins for the team.
  4. Trench Rossi Watanabe
    4
    Trench Rossi Watanabe
    Corporate/M&A: The Elite
    2024 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Full-service firm Trench Rossi Watanabe is skilled to act on diverse corporate mandates ranging from share acquisitions and joint ventures to due diligence and reorganisations. The firm's impressive client portfolio comprises major players from the food, consumer goods, agribusiness, and oil and gas industries. It also benefits from its association with international firm Baker McKenzie to advise on cross-border transactions.