The team at Azevedo Sette Advogados is a popular choice for corporate and commercial matters in the Minas Gerais market; areas of particular strength include advising on M&A,  joint ventures and infrastructure projects, as well as drafting contracts. Companies from the energy, mining, infrastructure, finance and pharmaceutical sectors feature on the group’s client roster. A trio of partners leads: Fernando Azevedo Sette, who is praised for his negotiation and leadership skills, has expert knowledge on commercial and financial contracts; alongside him, Luis Ricardo Miraglia and Ana Paula Terra Caldeira major on M&A, foreign investments, and corporate mandates relating to the mining and technology sectors. Frederico Bopp Dieterich and Bruna Bouissou, both of whom have extensive experience in infrastructure projects, and M&A and corporate law specialist Roberto Ribas Wilson are additional partner-level names to note. Eduardo Monteiro was promoted to the partnership in January 2022.

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.

Praised for its ‘enormous capacity to understand client problems and provide practical and customised solutions‘, Cescon Barrieu‘s corporate team has particular strength advising clients from the automative, mining, energy and real estate sectors on financial restructurings, corporate governance, IPOs, and M&A, as well as drafting commercial contracts. The group’s national capabilites are strengthened by its close collaboration with the firm’s other offices situated across Brazil. Practice head Frederico Viana Rodrigues is highlighted for his strong performance in capital markets deals, corporate governance and M&A. Partners Alice Brandão and Júlia Lobo focus on capital markets and M&A, and Marcelo Augusto Amim Correia is the name to note at the associate level. Associate Pedro Campos Vasconcellos left the firm in August 2022.

The ‘highly qualified’ corporate team at Freitas Ferraz Advogados handles corporate and equity restructurings, M&A and commercial contractual work for domestic and international clients in the healthcare, fintech, real estate, mining and private security sectors. The practice is jointly led by Bernardo Freitas and Adriano Ferraz, both of whom have a wealth of experience in M&A, private equity, venture capital and joint ventures. Associate Juliana Marcincowski assists the partners across the board.

Rolim Goulart Cardoso Advogados‘s ‘highly qualified’, ‘dedicated’ and ‘multidisciplinary’ team is known for its expertise in commercial contracts, M&A and privatisations. Collaborating closely with the firm’s energy, mining and tax departments, the group is regularly instructed by clients from the automotive, energy, mining, construction and agribusiness sectors. The group is led by the ‘experienced’ and ‘qualified’ Fabio Appendino, who specialises in corporate reorganisations and complex M&A transactions, and Luis Gustavo Miranda, who routinely handles compliance issues, infrastructure and real estate projects. Associate Alessandra Rezende Torres is skilled in M&A, reorganisations and corporate structures, while associate Paulo Teixeira Fernandes is often engaged in infrastructure, compliance and contractual work.

The ‘excellent’ team at Coimbra & Chaves particularly excels in structured transactions and M&A involving companies in the healthcare sector. The group also attracts instructions from clients in the technology, mining, retail and construction segments, and is capable of handling deals of domestic and international relevance. M&A and venture capital specialist Paula Andrade Chaves heads up the department, where Francisco Camilo Gruppioni Côrtes Júnior is a name to note for M&A transactions. Senior associates Loni Mellilo Cardoso and Fernando Ferreira Baptista de Oliveira left the firm in September and December 2022, respectively.

The ‘highly skilled’ team at Gotlib Massara Rocha Advogados offers support in corporate, M&A and contractual matters to clients from a range of sectors, including energy, real estate, construction, healthcare and agribusiness. Additional specialisms include capital markets, venture capital, commercial and financial agreements, private equity, and succession planning work. The practice is led by M&A, corporate and capital markets specialist Renzo Gotlib and David Massara Joanes, who stands out for his experience in IT, digital services and software matters. Pedro Figueiredo Rocha is another name to note for transactional work.

With a strong following of banks and companies from a range of sectors, including agribusiness and real estate, Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados‘ Belo Horizonte-based team has notable strength in capital markets transactions. The ‘dedicated and committed’ group is also well versed in M&A transactions and provides regulatory and general corporate advice to public companies. Singled out for his ‘deep technical knowledge‘, co-head Gustavo Rugani specialises in capital markets and M&A transactions. Fellow co-leader Bruno Costa takes the lead on real estate-related matters. Capital markets deals and related compliance issues are key areas of activity for associate Wagner Duarte.

The expertise of the ‘technically qualified’ team at Vilas Boas, Lopes e Frattari Advogados lies in M&A transactions, contractual matters, arbitration and corporate consulting. Practitioners are regularly retained by companies from the technology, real estate, energy, mining and telecoms sectors. The practice is jointly lead by three individuals: Christian Lopes, who brings together experience in corporate law, contracts and arbitration; Fernanda Galvão, who handles the negotiation of contracts and claims for domestic and international clients; and senior associate Pedro Ernesto Rocha, who is active in M&A transactions.

With extensive experience in M&A, corporate restructurings and corporate governance, Candiotto Valle Advogados is routinely instructed by real estate, energy, banking, manufacturing, agribusiness and logistics companies. Private equity deals and capital markets are other areas of activity for the firm, which is adept at advising foreign clients on their entrance into the Brazilian market. Marcelo Candiotto maintains a broad practice, but is particularly active in M&A and investments. Corporate law specialist Rodrigo Valle is proficient in M&A, corporate restructurings, and succession planning. Associate Maria Luísa Estanislau Reis stands out for her experience in business combinations, corporate reorganisations and strategic partnerships.

Goulart & Colepicolo Advogados is best known for its experience in transactional matters involving real estate assets, most notably shopping centres. The group showcases additional strengths in acting for venture capital and investment funds, shareholders and founders in the purchase and sale of equity stakes in technology companies. The practice is led by tax and real estate specialist Cristiano Silva Colepicolo, João Gilberto Freire Goulart, who handles M&A, investment funds and litigation mandates, and Pedro Paulo Moreira Rodrigues, a key contact for venture capital and capital markets deals.

Guimarães & Vieira De Mello Advogados is skilled at advising company directors on corporate governance matters, investment agreements, corporate reorganisations and joint ventures. Clients work primarily in the mining, gambling, technology and financial sectors. Founding partner Leonardo Guimarães leads the corporate and M&A team alongside partner Helder Fonseca, who is based in São Paulo.

The ‘organised and multidisciplinary’ group at Lacerda, Diniz e Sena Advogados is routinely instructed by clients in the agribusiness, technology, food and beverage, healthcare and real estate sectors seeking support in corporate reorganisations, corporate governance and due diligence matters. In addition, the team also advises on M&A and shareholder agreements. Practice head Rafael De Lacerda Campos, highlighted for his ‘strong knowledge and negotiation skills’, is well versed in M&A, tax, succession and estate planning.

With expertise in the real estate, pharmaceutical, mining and financial services sectors, Maneira Advogados is well positioned to advise on corporate restructurings, M&A, succession planning and IP matters. Department head Pedro Brito, who is widely recommended by clients, is often engaged in corporate and real estate-related deals. Key support is offered by José Elias de Pádua, who has a wealth of experience in domestic and cross-border transactions, and is proficient in corporate governance issues, and Eduardo Caixeta, whose areas of expertise cover M&A, estate planning, private equity, banking and finance contracts.

Manucci Advogados is skilled at handling domestic and cross-border corporate matters, commercial agreements and M&A transactions. The firm is especially sought out by clients from the technology, healthcare, agribusiness, telecoms and mining sectors who wish to invest in Brazil. A group of four partners leads the department: managing partner Daniel Manucci, who is of key importance on matters involving foreign investment in Brazil, joint ventures and M&A transactions; Edson Martins; Guilherme Poggiali and Délber Andrade Gribel Lage.

The ‘highly qualified and experienced’ group at Tavernard Advogados excels in M&A, complex contract negotiations, corporate restructuring, data protection and capital markets work, including the structuring of REITs. The team is regularly sought out by clients from the energy, construction, food, healthcare and real estate sectors. At the helm of the practice, the ‘brilliant’ Mário Tavernard demonstrates ‘extremely high quality leadership’ and brings together expertise in private equity, venture capital, succession planning and capital markets. Other key contacts include dispute resolution practice head Guilherme Martins and public law specialist Murilo Melo Vale.