Brazil Guide 2026 : Brazil
Ranked Individuals
Provided by Machado Meyer
Regulatory instability, unstable prices, and deterioration of macroeconomic conditions have created uncertainty and challenges for the oil & gas industry. In such a competitive and high-risk market segment, legal advice that understands the complexities of business and can offer quick and effective solutions is essential.
We advise domestic and international companies in the entire oil & gas supply chain that are operating in the country or are interested in entering the Brazilian market. We offer complete solutions that support businesses in the areas of exploration and production, refining, transportation, storage, distribution, importation, and exportation of oil & natural gas.
We also provide assistance to financial institutions and investors in project financing, as well as large enterprises and service providers operating in this sector.
Our professionals also assist in the implementation of gas projects integrated with the energy market. We have teams specializing in these industries, working together to support thermoelectric generation initiatives.
Provided by Chambers
Machado Meyer maintains a pre-eminent oil and gas practice with accumulated experience advising important players in the sector, including local and international client requiring assistance with M&A, joint venture formation and various sector-related agreements as well as with project development and an array of regulatory issues.
Provided by Chambers
Machado Meyer advised PPSA on the planning and implementation of the first E&P rights auction of the non-contracted unitised portions of the Mero, Tupi and Atapu fields, valued at USD2 billion.
Provided by Chambers
Machado Meyer has broad expertise across the oil and gas sector, particularly in natural gas and LNG projects. The team demonstrates competence and credibility in meetings, providing strong legal certainty and playing a significant role in key projects.
Machado Meyer understands our sector very well and is able to identify issues that had not even been mapped internally. The firm supported us on highly complex advisory matters involving a multidisciplinary approach. They demonstrated very deep technical knowledge and gave the matter clear priority, meeting our expectations in terms of depth and level of detail.
Machado Meyer brings unparalleled knowledge of the oil and gas sector combined with strong client service. The team is technically very strong, understands the sector and corporate dynamics, and offers a comprehensive and holistic approach.
Machado Meyer’s advice has been fundamental in supporting and driving our growth. The team has extensive knowledge of the natural gas market and its regulation, and their guidance has been essential to our development.
The law fim demonstrated strong technical expertise and a deep understanding of Brazilian upstream regulation, playing a central role in defining regulatory strategy and leading approvals before the ANP. Machado Meyer's team is highly responsive, organised and solution-oriented, maintaining excellent communication and prioritisation even in complex, multi-front matters.
Provided by Chambers
Daniel Szyfman's clients benefit from his outstanding strength handling oil and gas acquisitions, sales and joint venture agreements in the upstream and midstream spaces. He has additional expertise in the Brazilian new gas market.
Daniel is very approachable, has sense of urgency and gets in touch promptly. He is always helpful and very good at what he does. He knows the market well and quickly understands the problems.
Daniel Szyfman demonstrates extensive knowledge in various areas of law and always seeks to understand the business in order to provide the best alternative for the client.
Daniel Szyfman is one of the best professionals I've ever worked with.
Daniel's participation was especially relevant at the turning points of the work: he brought strategic direction and high-level technical expertise, reinforcing the robustness of the reports and the handling of more sensitive issues. When called upon, he added precise considerations and a focus on solutions, with objective communication.
Fernando Xavier is a trusted adviser to oil and gas clients on upstream and midstream M&A, complex contractual arrangements (including SPAs), and judicial and administrative disputes.
Fernando Xavier combines technical excellence, extensive industry experience, strategic vision and a high level of client service. He stands out for his availability, organisation and clarity of communication. He acts in an extremely responsive manner, especially in critical or highly complex situations, always presenting well-structured alternatives aligned with the client's needs. He demonstrates a deep understanding of the regulatory framework and historical knowledge of the oil and gas sector in Brazil, especially in sensitive upstream matters.
Fernando Xavier always responds promptly to our enquiries. He offers outside the box solutions tailored to each issue, clearly outlining the pros and cons and drawing on relevant precedents. He has a strong understanding of how the ANP operates and provides a level of assurance that few lawyers can offer. His opinion is highly valued.
Fernando demonstrated very solid technical expertise and a high standard of delivery, with well-organised analyses. The key difference was the combination of availability with frank and objective communication, which facilitated alignment and refinements without compromising quality. He contributed with good judgment and pragmatism in conducting the work, including in understanding the impacts of the arrangement.
Maria Fernanda Soares focuses her practice on representing oil and gas sector clients in contractual and corporate matters concerning natural gas sale and transportation. She also handles cross-border M&A and administrative disputes.
Maria Fernanda is an exceptional person and professional. From the first contact, I knew we would be very well represented by her, and that feeling proved true. Since then, we have developed a relationship of trust and admiration. I know we can count on her whenever we need to, and I feel extremely confident about that.
Maria Fernanda Soares has a comprehensive understanding of the sector and is deeply engaged in the market. Her knowledge is distinctive, complemented by a strong commercial perspective developed through years of experience. She is exceptional. Even under tight deadlines, she responds effectively in a robust and consistent manner.
Maria Fernanda understands the financial, contractual and operational impacts of regulatory decisions, offering advice that goes beyond normative interpretation and connects directly with project objectives. She is a technically solid professional with differentiated sectoral experience and a high capacity to add value to complex matters in the natural gas sector. There are few professionals in Brazil today with this profile working in strategic consulting firms focused on the natural gas market, especially in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. This makes her work stand out enormously.
Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas
Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas
Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas
Provided by Machado Meyer
Daniel Szyfman
View profile of Daniel SzyfmanFernando Xavier
View profile of Fernando XavierMaria Fernanda Soares
View profile of Maria Fernanda SoaresGlobal 2026
Practice area: Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas
Location: Brazil
View department profile for Global 2026
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