Rated as one of the top mining and metals practices in the country, Cescon Barrieu is singled out for its ‘deep knowledge of the sector‘, which makes it well placed to advise on the full array of mandates, ranging from consequential M&A and financing deals to administrative and judicial proceedings. The Belo Horizonte-based team is the first port of call for some of the largest mining companies operating in Brazil and several financial institutions. Crisis management matters and tailing dams-related regulatory issues are other core areas of focus. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, Marcelo Mendo Gomes De Souza is a reference in the mining market. He oversees the practice with regulatory and transactional expert Maurício Pellegrino De Souza, whose previous in-house and academic experience is noteworthy; Paula Azevedo De Castro, who is regularly instructed by key mining players in relation to mining dam regulations; and Daniel Ribeiro Pettersen, a contact for real estate and mining contractual matters. Senior associate João Raso regularly works on tax issues and mining assets transactions.

Bringing together over 35 years of experience in the mining sector, Pinheiro Neto Advogados is a popular choice for key industry players seeking advice on high-end deals, and the ever-changing environmental and regulatory scenario. The team is particularly adept in M&A, investments and debt transactions, including alternative methods of financing, but also excels in crisis management, permitting matters and litigation. Mining law and government relations specialist Carlos Vilhena ‘has extensive experience in the mining area, serving both smaller companies and large multinational corporations‘; he maintains a broad practice encompassing mining policy and regulations, contractual matters and corporate transactions. In addition to advising on M&A and financing mandates, senior associate Marina Bertucci Ferreira also assists clients with the development of policies and on the impact of new regulation.

Based in Rio de Janeiro, Veirano Advogados‘ mining team has the breadth of expertise to handle a tremendous range and volume of transactional, regulatory, projects and contentious work for a variety of industry players. The firm – a first choice for high-end mining assets transactions, project financing, and administrative proceedings – stands out for its capabilities in cross-border mining deals, often working in collaboration with market-leading firms in Canada, the US, Latin America, Europe and Australia. Practice head Pedro Garcia, whose experience covers commercial agreements and environmental issues, is a name to note for multi-jurisdictional deals; he oversees the mining group, which benefits from a close relationship with the firm’s real estate, tax, environmental and IP departments. Associate Antonio Albani Siqueira routinely advises on the structuring, implementation and operation of mining projects throughout the country.

At Mattos Filho, the mining practice provides comprehensive advice to its corporate client roster, but is perhaps best known for its transactional capabilities, which see it act for major mining companies in M&A, corporate restructurings, project finance, capital markets deals as well as royalty and streaming deals. Regulatory and ESG-related mandates also feature in the team’s workload, which is further populated by policy-making and legislative matters. The highly recommended Adriano Drummond Cançado Trindade has a wealth of experience in the mining industry, advising on regulatory issues, contracts, projects and transactions. He is based in the Brasília office, and receives key support from São Paulo-based associate Eugênia Pedroso, who focuses on mining and energy transactional matters, including cross-border deals.

Boutique firm William Freire Advogados is well positioned to handle a litany of mining matters, including complex regulatory mandates, mining due diligence, cross-border transactions and the full life-cycle of mining projects. Administrative and judicial proceedings are other areas of activity for the firm, which is based in Belo Horizonte, Brasília and São Paulo. The highly regarded William Freire continues to advise on high-profile contractual issues, crisis management and litigation, while Tiago De Mattos specialises in deals involving mining assets, and often assists clients in interactions with regulatory bodies.

Led by Leonardo Pereira Lamego, the practice at Azevedo Sette Advogados offers assistance to domestic and international clients across the entire spectrum of Brazilian mining law matters. On the transactional front, the Belo Horizonte-based group is often engaged by buyers and sellers in joint ventures and deals involving mining assets. It is also well placed to assess the legal implications and economic risks of potential and current mining projects developed in Brazil. Practice head Lamego has over two decades of experience in environmental and mining law. The department also includes Ana Paula Terra Caldeira, a key contact for M&A and commercial agreements within the mining industry, and senior associate Svetlana Maria De Miranda, an environmental law specialist. Associates Fernanda Nunes and Gabriela Nasser, who bring together experience in litigation, administrative proceedings and regulatory matters, are also part of the core team.

Covering the gold, copper, iron, aluminium and nickel segments, Demarest Advogados acts for mining and metals companies in strategic M&A, joint ventures and commercial agreements. The multidisciplinary team, which blends corporate, finance and tax expertise, has notable experience in administrative appeals related to infraction notices and forfeiture procedures, and environmental and insurance matters in the context of mining incidents. Practice co-head Izabella Reis, who was welcomed to the partnership in January 2023, is a key contact for mining regulations, due diligence, mining concessions and litigation. Fellow co-leader Thiago Maia, who concentrates his practice on M&A and private equity deals, is particularly active in the acquisition and divestment of mining assets. Co-chair Paulo Coelho da Rocha is another practitioner to note for M&A and corporate governance. Guilherme Kawano stands out at the associate level.

Notes for ‘its ability to advise on all fronts of a mining project‘, Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados‘ core strengths cut across regulatory, contractual, financing and M&A matters. The firm – which benefits from a strong network of offices based in key financial hubs (São Paulo and New York), mining hotspots (Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro), and the Brazilian legislative centre (Brasília) – acts for a varied client roster, including major mining companies, investors and financiers, which also seek advice on strategic litigation cases involving mining regulations. Focused on infrastructure projects and natural resources, Pedro Henrique Jardim frequently handles financing deals and regulatory issues. He jointly heads up the team with finance, tax and foreign trade specialist Liliam Fernanda Yoshikawa, a key contact for clients operating in regulated sectors.

Rolim Goulart Cardoso Advogados combines extensive experience in environmental and regulatory matters with in-depth knowledge of the mining sector. The team, which is based in Belo Horizonte, particularly excels in litigation at the judicial and administrative levels, where it acts for domestic and foreign mining companies with operations throughout the country. Thiago Pastor Alves Pereira, who heads up the environmental and mining teams, possesses over 15 years of experience in this space. Fabio Appendino handles M&A, reorganisations and other corporate law matters, with a special emphasis on the mining sector. Marcus Vinicius Neves Vaz coordinates the mining and environmental practices.

Belo Horizonte-based practice Sion Advogados is sought after by mid-size and major mining companies in matters involving the implementation and operation of projects, strategic transactions and compliance. Founding partner Alexandre Sion specialises in mining and environmental law; he leads the practice with Bernardo Pessoa, who has a strong track record in commercial and corporate transactions in the mining sector. Luiza Guerra handles environmental and mining matters, covering litigation and non-contentious work.