Drawing on its full-service structure, Demarest Advogados is noted for proposing ‘assertive and intelligent solutions’ to address clients’ compliance issues and concerns. Internal investigations are at the core of the practice, which regularly handles highly sensitive matters concerning corruption, fraud, moral and sexual harassment. The group is also a popular choice for clients, including companies from the healthcare, natural resources, energy and technology sectors, seeking assistance in investigations before the Brazilian General Comptroller Office (CGU) and administrative liability proceedings. Other areas of activity for the team include compliance due diligence in the context of M&A transactions, and, increasingly, asset tracing analyses. Co-head Eloy Rizzo is a ‘brilliant professional’, who ‘stands out for his extensive knowledge and experience in internal investigations’, with an emphasis on cross-border matters relating to possible violations of anti-corruption laws. Fellow co-leader Fabyola En Rodrigues has over 20 years’ experience in criminal defence matters. At senior associate level, André Luis Leme is well versed in administrative liability proceedings, while associate Victoria Arcos boasts significant experience in multijurisdictional anti-corruption and anti-fraud investigations.

Rated for its ‘technical vision‘ and ‘great understanding of management and business‘, the compliance and corporate ethics practice at Mattos Filho is a popular choice for companies seeking assistance in crisis management, corporate governance and investigations. Working in close collaboration with the firm’s M&A and capital markets practices, the team is particularly active in anti-corruption due diligence and risk management on large-cap transactions. A diverse client roster, featuring major domestic and international companies from the worlds of technology, pharmaceuticals, real estate, and energy, among others, regularly instruct the group in internal investigations, administrative enforcement proceedings, leniency negotiations and in the review and implementation of compliance programmes. Marcel Ribas, dual qualified in both Brazil and New York, and Brasília-based Thiago Jabor Pinheiro are names to note for internal investigations, while Kevin Altit in Rio de Janeiro focuses on transactional work, including cross-border M&A and take-over defences. Renato Portella often acts in administrative inquiries and disciplinary procedures. Former state attorney Thiago Luís Sombra, who sits in the Brasília office, brings a unique perspective to public anti-corruption investigations. Senior associates Luiza Mussoi Cattley (Rio de Jarneiro) and Laura Carneiro de Mello Senra (Brasília) possess significant experience in anti-corruption compliance matters. All practitioners are based in São Paulo, unless stated otherwise.

A ‘leader in the compliance and investigations market in Brazil’, TozziniFreire Advogados has a strong presence in large corporate investigations. The firm is home to a ‘dynamic‘ group of anti-corruption experts who, in addition to their skills in internal investigations, are also active in administrative lawsuits and crisis management. Major companies often seek the team’s advice on leniency agreements with the Brazilian Federal Prosecution Office, and compliance due diligence on M&A deals across a range of industries. The firm ‘has a powerful compliance offering with Shin Jae Kim and Giovanni Paolo Falcetta in the lead’; Kim – co-founder of the Latin American Compliance & Investigation League (LACIL) and board member of The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) – coordinates cross-border mandates, including internal investigations and due diligence, while Falcetta, who splits his time between Brazil and Italy, specialises in internal investigations into corruption and fraud. Besides her strong performance in investigations, Renata Muzzi Gomes de Almeida boasts particular expertise in the negotiation of leniency agreements. Karla Lini Maeji focuses on internal investigations, regulatory and criminal enforcement. Marcelo Zenkner, a former public prosecutor in the state of Espirito Santo, draws on over 25 years of experience in compliance and anti-corruption policies to assist clients facing possible sanctions following investigations.

Azevedo Sette Advogados is sought out for its expertise in consulting services aimed at preventing, detecting and combating corruption and money laundering. The firm fields a team of anti-corruption and anti-bribery experts equipped to assist with risk assessments, internal investigations, due diligence and compliance training. Anti-corruption expert Isabel Franco leads the team alongside Glaucia Ferreira, both of whom are ‘very experienced’ in the coordination of sensitive investigations and compliance due diligence. Luiz Eduardo Salles brings together experience in compliance, economic law and international trade. Other noteworthy individuals include associate Viviane Prospero Joao and recently promoted partner Lucas Mandelbaum Bianchini.

Devoted to compliance, investigations and government enforcement, Maeda, Ayres e Sarubbi Advogados is regularly engaged in high-profile and complex investigations related to corruption, money laundering and accounting fraud. The firm possesses vast expertise in internal investigations involving multijurisdictional implications, acting on behalf of multinationals and Brazilian companies from the infrastructure, construction, automotive and technology sectors, among others. Advising on the implementation of compliance programmes and on the negotiation of leniency agreements are other areas of strength for the team. Experts Carlos Ayres and Bruno Maeda have a wealth of experience in independent investigations and compliance in general. Erica Sarubbi regularly represents domestic and international companies in a variety of anti-corruption matters. Fernanda Bidlovsky and Beatrice Yokota are other names to note.

Drawing on the firm’s full-service model, the compliance practice at Pinheiro Neto Advogados often works alongside its market-leading M&A practice in the due diligence of high-value corporate transactions and post-closing integration. The group, which stands out for its strength in the negotiation of leniency agreements with the Brazilian Office of Comptroller General (CGU) and the Attorney-General of the Union (AGU), is also well versed in administrative proceedings and in the design and review of compliance programmes and internal policies. José Alexandre Buaiz Neto combines expertise in antitrust, anti-corruption and litigation, while Ricardo Pagliari Levy specialises in anti-corruption, administrative improbity and compliance matters. Experienced litigator Vicente Coelho Araujo, who is based in Brasília, focuses on appellate litigation. Former Chief of Police for the state of São Paulo Mário Panseri Ferreira is a key contact for criminal matters. Daniel Costa Rebello frequently handles investigations in the healthcare, automotive and banking sectors. Lourival Lofrano Júnior, who acts in corporate criminal cases, and Amanda Athayde are also part of the core team.

Praised for its ‘unique knowledge of international compliance legislation‘, boutique firm Saud Advogados demonstrates notable strength in cross-border anti-corruption and compliance matters, benefitting from its cooperation with Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP. Practitioners are adept at assisting companies throughout all phases of the design and implementation of their compliance programmes, and also possess solid credentials in internal investigations and enforcement proceedings before governmental authorities. Salim Jorge Saud Neto, dual qualified in both Brazil and New York, has expert knowledge of FCPA-related matters, anti-corruption compliance and enforcement. With extensive in-house experience in the public and private sectors, Patricia Zebulum is especially active in the energy, mining and oil and gas segments, the latter of which is a sector focus for Ana Carolina Chaves and Antonio Pimentel. Caroline Rosa is proficient in leniency agreements, administrative proceedings and general compliance issues under the Brazilian Clean Companies Act, while Luis Gustavo Vagos shines in due diligence, internal investigations and compliance training.

Tauil & Chequer Advogados ‘is a top choice for any compliance and investigations matter in Brazil’.  Some of the country’s largest companies and several international household names in the technology, infrastructure and energy sectors, among others, turn to the firm for assistance in internal investigations, administrative liability proceedings and in the review and enhancement of their compliance programmes. Former Attorney-General of Brazil Luis Inácio Lucena Adams, who is based in Brasília, heads the practice alongside Michel Sancovski in São Paulo, ‘a seasoned expert who can easily handle the most complex and sophisticated cases‘, including cross-border investigations which require cooperation with Brazilian and US authorities. Key support is offered by a strong team of associates: Maria Eugenia Kanazawa has extensive experience in anti-corruption and tax-related compliance matters; Marcelo Ramos Leite is singled out for his track record in internal investigations; and Rio de Janeiro-based Luiz Santiago focuses on enforcement actions, investigations and due diligence. All practitioners sit in the São Paulo office, unless stated otherwise.

Trench Rossi Watanabe marries expertise in compliance, corporate and public law to advise on complex domestic and multijurisdictional cases and investigations, drawing on the firm’s association with Baker McKenzie. Composed of ‘extremely qualified professionals‘, the group is ‘capable of leading complex situations‘ for multinational clients, including administrative proceedings, FCPA and anti-corruption cases. The team’s ESG capabilities are also noteworthy; practitioners have recently been busy carrying out ESG due diligence and risk assessments for domestic and international clients. Heloisa Uelze coordinates internal and criminal investigations, including matters with cross-border elements. She heads up the practice with Felipe Ferenzini, who played a key role in the Federal Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry-CPI related to the Brazilian government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Fernanda Casagrande is also active in the department.

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.

Bringing together expertise in compliance, antitrust, labour and data protection, the multidisciplinary practice at Cescon Barrieu has considerable experience in the creation of anti-corruption and compliance programmes. The team, which often collaborates with the firm’s M&A specialists, is well positioned to handle due diligence to assess compliance risks in the context of acquisitions and other corporate transactions. On the contentious front, the group acts in litigation and in negotiations with administrative authorities. Dedicated to anti-corruption and money laundering issues, practice head Luciano Inácio De Souza, who is based in Brasília, takes the lead on internal investigations and due diligence exercises. Since publication, former co-head Yuri Sahione has left the firm, while white-collar crime and investigations specialist Filipe Magliarelli joined from KLA Advogados, effective as of January 2024.

‘Specialised and business-orientated‘ Lefosse Advogados combines expertise in compliance, white-collar crime, competition and antitrust matters to provide a multi-faceted service to companies from a variety of industries. The firm’s compliance capabilities were bolstered by the arrival of renowned expert Adriana Dantas in August 2022, who joined from her own boutique firm; internal investigations, crisis management and the design, implementation, and monitoring of compliance programmes are among her key legal specialisms. The practice was further strengthened by the addition of Marcelo Ribeiro from the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office in 2023, ‘who is also extremely qualified and active in the market‘. The recent expansion of the compliance department has allowed for an increased intake of matters, such as independent monitorships, representations before the World Bank sanctioning system, and administrative sanctioning procedures before the CGU. Drawing on the firm’s strong profile in the M&A market, the group is also a well-regarded choice for integrity due diligences in the context of corporate transactions. This is a key area of focus for senior associate Astrid Lima Rocha. Another key partner in the team is Juliana Daniel, who advises on internal investigations and the structuring of corporate ethics programmes.

Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados is noted for its ‘assertiveness, experience and broad knowledge of legal issues’, including compliance and white-collar crime. The team often advises on compliance programmes and crisis management, and stands out for its experience in internal investigations and government enforcement. Clients from the financial, technology, real estate, chemicals and mining sectors, among others, regularly instruct the team in the assessment of anti-corruption risks in the context of high-profile capital markets and M&A deals. Juliana Sá de Miranda has a ‘deep understanding of compliance‘, covering non-contentious and litigation matters. Associates Gabriela Silveira Viana and Gabriela Estefania Paredes Arcentales often advise on integrity due diligence and risk assessments. Former co-head Marcos Paulo Veríssimo left the firm in April 2023.

Praised for its ‘technical quality‘ and ‘highly qualified team‘, Warde Advogados focuses its practice on anti-corruption, compliance and litigation. The firm is regularly seen representing clients in administrative proceedings before the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) and in investigations before the CGU. Former Chief Minister of the CGU Valdir Moysés Simão is highly regarded for his considerable experience in federal disciplinary administrative proceedings, internal investigations and government enforcement actions. Founding and managing partner Walfrido Jorge Warde Júnior is a key name for disputes. Other key individuals include former Director-General of Brazil’s Federal Police Leandro Daiello Coimbra and Renato Polillo. Silvio Luiz de Almeida  left the firm in January 2023 to become Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship.

Internal investigations and negotiations with Brazilian authorities are typical mandates for Barros Pimentel, Alcântara Gil, Rodriguez e Vargas Advogados, which is retained by major companies from a range of sectors in sensitive compliance matters. The group is under the joint leadership of six practitioners: Caio Farah Rodriguez, who is proficient in internal investigations; Fabio Coutinho de Alcantara Gil; Bruno André Bredda Carrara, a key name for commercial contracts and joint ventures in regulated industries; and William Akira Minami, Adriana de Moraes Vojvodic and Lucas Esper Berthoud, all of whom are active in contentious matters.

BMA Advogados acts for clients from highly-regulated sectors, namely asset management firms, fintechs and healthcare companies, in a range of issues related to corporate governance and compliance. A key contact for financial institutions, investment funds and fund managers, Anna Carolina Malta Spilborghs has a wealth of experience in internal investigations concerning anti-corruption, internal fraud and harassment. She oversees the practice with André Macedo De Oliveira, who regularly represents clients before government agencies and the superior courts, and José Guilherme Berman, whose solid experience in public law make him a first-choice for administrative misconduct matters. Senior associate João Rodrigues da Costa Bonvicino is experienced in sensitive corporate investigations.

KLA Advogados fields a compliance team of ‘highly qualified professionals with in-depth knowledge’ of investigations, monitorships, and compliance programmes. Integrity due diligence and risk assessments are other areas of activity for the group, which benefits from close links to the firm’s labour and public law practices. Focused on compliance and antitrust law, Guilherme Person regularly assists with risk assessments and enforcement actions. Former practice head Filipe Magliarelli left the firm in January 2024.

Stocche Forbes Advogados fields a ‘high quality compliance team’ which is retained by corporates from the mining, retail, energy, oil and gas, and food and beverages sectors in relation to internal investigations into corruption, fraud and harassment. Singled out for its ‘deep knowledge of complex M&A‘, the group is proficient in compliance issues arising in the context of corporate and capital market transactions. Camila Pepe, ‘an attentive and careful lawyer when it comes to assessing risks and the possibilities of mitigating them pre-investment‘, focuses on anti-corruption compliance matters, while Barbara Kreutzfeld brings together experience in the implementation of compliance programmes, internal investigations and white-collar crime cases.

Clients regularly choose the ‘very technical and knowledgeable‘ team at Veirano Advogados to assist with their compliance-related issues, including corporate investigations and enforcement proceedings before the Brazilian authorities. Noted for his international experience, Alberto Monteiro assists in high-profile internal investigations and is the key contact for anti-money laundering matters for clients from the retail, luxury goods and financial sectors. Vitor Jorge, whose areas of expertise include investigations, enforcement actions and prosecutions by domestic and foreign authorities, and Livia Gandara, a strong performer in investigations into corruption, fraud and corporate misconduct, stand out at the senior associate level. Former practice head Rafael Gimenes and Marta Saad left the firm in April 2023. Criminal law specialist Pedro Simões joined from Duarte Garcia, Serra Netto e Terra Advogados in May 2023.

Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados possesses a ‘highly technical knowledge‘ of regulatory compliance, standing out for its experience in undertaking due diligence for major companies engaged in high-value M&A and investments. The practice is also frequently instructed in the drafting of compliance policies and internal investigations involving fraud and moral harassment. The team is led by corporate and compliance specialist Denise Chachamovitz Leão de Salles, who is sought out by financial services, healthcare and infrastructure clients in relation to investigations, due diligence, risk assessments and compliance training. Associate Fernanda Kassab Nunes Silva offers key support in compliance due diligence, with a focus on M&A transactions.