Department profile
Machado Meyer

Public Law: The Elite

Brazil Guide 2026 : Brazil

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Machado Meyer

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About

Provided by Machado Meyer

The relationship with the public sector is a key factor for the success of different industries. Rules imposed and regularly updated by governments can completely change the results forecasted for infrastructure projects, corporate transactions, and business operations. Privatizations, concessions, and PPPs bring great opportunities for businesses but require proper strategy and broad experience in public and regulatory law to generate the expected value.

With a long involvement in supporting the structuring and modeling of projects with the public sector, we assist clients in public tenders, concessions, and public-private partnerships, providing advice on all aspects of administrative and regulatory law.

Our biggest difference is our capacity to assist our clients from the design and modeling of the project, its bidding process, and throughout the implementation, management, including the financing, negotiation and drafting of construction contracts, operation and maintenance, off-take agreements, corporate arrangements, shareholders' agreements, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions.

We have a versatile team, specializing in the relationship with regulatory agencies and qualified to meet all the demands of the companies in their new projects, which also involve tax, environmental, labor, and administrative litigation issues.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Public Law: The Elite - Brazil

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Machado Meyer combines the capabilities of a highly performing transactional practice with the cerebral approach needed to handle high-stakes public law matters. Its know-how of privatisation, government contracts and bidding processes has put the firm in the centre of Brazil's government infrastructure investment programme. Both state-owned and private companies from the banking and infrastructure sector frequently rely on this firm for its most important public law demands.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Machado Meyer advised IFC Green Buildings on regulatory frameworks, analysis of current sustainable buildings public programmes and proposition of bills of law about environmentally efficient buildings.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Machado Meyer has had a robust public law department for years, which is recognized by the market. The advice they provided in this case demonstrated in-depth technical knowledge and experience in projects of the same nature.

    Public Law: The Elite respondentBrazil

  • My assessment of Machado Meyer highlights two pillars of excellence: prompt service and technical rigour. They are not merely process executors, but strategic partners who understand the urgency of our needs. Their ability to respond immediately, coupled with technical expertise that proactively mitigates risks, places the firm at a high level of excellence.

    Public Law: The Elite respondentBrazil

  • Machado Meyer's public law team is recognised as top-tier in Brazil for its expertise in administrative law, and they demonstrated this in practice in this major deal we had, helping us navigate complex issues and paying close attention to our business.

    Public Law: The Elite respondentBrazil

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • José Virgílio Lopes Enei
    José Virgílio Lopes Enei

    José Virgílio Lopes Enei

    José Virgílio Lopes Enei enjoys a solid reputation for his handling of public law mandates, such as concessions, infrastructure projects and bidding procedures.

    • José Virgílio Lopes Enei is one of the leading names in infrastructure-related public law matters in Brazil.

      Public Law: The Elite respondentBrazil

    • José Virgilio is a senior public law partner with robust technical knowledge and an extensive portfolio of completed projects. He is very present and active in discussions and document reviews, which is a distinguishing feature.

      Public Law: The Elite respondentBrazil
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  • Rafael Vanzella
    Rafael Vanzella

    Rafael Vanzella

    Rafael Vanzella is a practitioner well regarded for devising complex public law pre-litigation strategies for high-value regulatory disputes. He offers additional capabilities in legal opinions.

    • Rafael Vanzella showed a deep understanding of the legal framework governing the nuances of public law. His role in drafting the technical opinion on our contract was crucial, providing us with a robust legal foundation in our case.

      Public Law: The Elite respondentBrazil

    • Rafael Vanzella stands out for his helpfulness and good understanding of our sector, our business and the regulatory environment in which we operate. He's approachable and participates in discussions with a practical vision.

      Public Law: The Elite respondentBrazil
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Ranked Individuals at Machado Meyer (2)

Brazil

Members

Provided by Machado Meyer

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