Environment | Brazil: Industries & Sectors

São Paulo-based Milaré Advogados is an outstanding environment boutique with a formidable track record of advising on high-stakes contentious mandates. The team handles high-profile administrative proceedings before IBAMA and also advises on licensing matters.

Pinheiro Neto Advogados' environment team has a bench strength like no other to handle some of the most complex matters in the market. It forged its talents within its widely admired career development programme and went on to be the home of some of the most respected practitioners in the sector. The team's track record of handling large-scale environmental disasters, mining projects near protected areas and waste disposal management is enviable. The firm also excels at handling licensing matters related to the development of infrastructure projects. Pinheiro Neto caters to an impressive roster of clients from Brazil's most prominent industries.

Demarest is a distinguished full-service firm displaying superb capability in environment mandates. Its track record handling issues like reverse logistics plans, contaminated land matters and reforestation projects makes it a go-to firm in the market. The firm has additional experience assisting with administrative proceedings before regulatory agencies, air emissions compliance, and environmental licensing matters.

Graça Couto, Sequerra, Levitinas, Bicudo, Leal & Abby Advogados is widely respected for its environmental practice. Throughout the years it has advised major oil and gas companies on sensitive matters and high-stakes litigation. It continues to be regularly called upon to assist on issues arising out of major environmental disasters, in addition to both contentious and non-contentious matters. The team also handles licence and waste disposal management matters and is also known for its expertise on administrative proceedings before IBAMA. It has particular know-how on dealing with environmental damages related to the marine ecosystem.

Machado, Meyer, Sendacz e Opice has an acclaimed environmental practice, noted for its experience assisting with crisis management related to large-scale environmental disasters. The team acts for an enviable client portfolio of major names from the mining, energy, agribusiness and pharmaceutical industries. Its track record handling high-stakes environmental litigation is widely noted across the legal market. The team is also seasoned in helping with preventive regulatory mandates, including licence matters, GMO release, construction projects and due diligence.

Mattos Filho's environmental practice is emerging with strength, powered by the firm's superb full-service capabilities and remarkable talent attraction force. The department is well equipped to advise on high-level contentious mandates. It has built solid experience handling matters arising out of soil contamination and large-scale environmental disasters. Companies from the chemical, mining and beverage industries feature highly in Mattos Filho's expanding client roster. The firm also furnishes advice on reverse logistics systems, protected areas and environmental compliance.

TozziniFreire Advogados is a renowned full-service firm well equipped to assist with high-level regulatory and contentious environmental matters. It provides counsel on routine issues, including due diligence, licensing and infrastructure projects, in addition to complex cases involving waste disposal management, reverse logistic systems and land contamination cases. The team also benefits from the firm's capabilities in other capital cities in Brazil.

Trench Rossi Watanabe is a respected full-service firm with solid expertise assisting with regulatory mandates arising from the environmental arena. It is known for servicing an array of domestic and international clients, including players in the mining, oil and gas and agribusiness areas. It is highly experienced advising on oil spill accidents, licensing and the due diligence of major M&A transactions and infrastructure projects.

BMA – Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão is a dynamic, full-service firm offering advice on both contentious and non-contentious environmental mandates. It is often retained by players from the energy, construction and food industries to assist with complex environmental licensing issues and sector-related compliance and construction matters. The firm also advises on litigious matters arising out of environmental damage claims.

Lobo de Rizzo Advogados is a respected firm with an impressive portfolio of clients from the automotive, mining and food industries. Its expertise spans reverse logistics, licensing and waste management issues, in addition to due diligence arising from M&A. The firm also acts before the administrative authorities and the judiciary on environmental damage cases related to air emissions and chemical spills.

Tauil & Chequer Advogados is a highly regarded full-service firm boasting strong experience advising significant players from the agribusiness, mining and oil and gas industries. It is respected for its ability to manage high-profile environmental crises, in addition to matters concerning indigenous areas and solid waste management. The team offers complementary capabilities representing clients in administrative proceedings before the relevant authorities.

Bichara Advogados' experienced environmental department provides services encompassing consultancy and sector-related disputes. It is often retained by domestic and international clients from the construction, energy and telecommunications sectors to assist with administrative proceedings before IBAMA, environmental damages and licence disputes. The team has additional capabilities advising on air pollution matters.

Felsberg Advogados' well-regarded environmental department has key experience advising on a wide range of waste disposal mandates. The team is frequently instructed by significant players from the food and beverage, technology and pharmaceutical sectors to assist with reverse logistic systems, sanitation management and environmental risk assessments. It is also seasoned representing clients in cases before the Superior Courts.

Silveira, Athias, Soriano de Mello, Bentes, Lobato & Scaff – Advogados is a Belém-based department often retained by significant players from the energy and natural resources sector to assist with environmental matters in the North Region of Brazil, offering particular insight into the specific regulations of the Amazônia Legal area. Practice is focused on representing clients in contentious mandates arising from waste management and water contamination.

Veirano Advogados is a well-reputed firm handling both contentious and consultancy mandates. The firm is often retained by key players from the chemical, mining and energy sectors to assist with complex land contamination, protected areas and licensing matters. It has additional capabilities advising on waste management, reverse logistic systems and corporate environmental compliance consultancy.

Verri Paiva Advogadas is a respected environment practice, well known for assisting clients from the mining, energy, agribusiness and logistics sectors. The firm is able to advise on both contentious and non-contentious issues and administrative proceedings. The team is also well versed in regulatory fines and licensing.

Azevedo Sette Advogados is a multidisciplinary team that wins acclaim for its expertise in the mining sector. The firm has a sophisticated client portfolio and frequently represents clients from the energy, infrastructure and O&G industry. The team provides legal assistance with environmental settlement agreements, representation in environmental disaster lawsuits and administrative proceedings. Azevedo Sette is noted for its representation in national civil actions, such as the widely known tailings dam collapse in Mariana in Minas Gerais.

Rio de Janeiro-based Campos Mello Advogados is a robust group, regularly engaged by important clients from the beverage, chemical and agribusiness industries. The firm is renowned for its assistance with licensing, litigation and negotiation with agencies and public prosecutors in matters related to environment. The team is also skilled on general environmental counselling.

Cescon Barrieu is a well-recognised team in this space, which routinely handles sophisticated environment work. The team is well placed to handle complex licensing procedures as well as regulatory compliance issues. Beyond this, the group frequently defends clients in high-profile litigation, including administrative proceedings, class actions and police investigations.