Sergio Bermudes Advogados

Sergio Bermudes Advogados, founded in 1969, is nationally and internationally acknowledged as the Brazilian leader in litigation, arbitration, and insolvency law.

With a legacy spanning over five decades, the firm counts among its clients leading national and international conglomerates, financial institutions, and companies spanning various sectors including insurance, energy, oil & gas, mining & metals, aeronautical, shipping, infrastructure, construction, telecommunications, life sciences, media, technology, real estate & hospitality, charitable foundations and organisations.

Senior Partners: Sergio Bermudes, Marcio Vieira Souto Costa Ferreira, Marcelo Fontes, Alexandre Sigmaringa Seixas, Guilherme Valdetaro, Marcelo Lamego Carpenter, Fabiano Robalinho Cavalcanti, André Silveira, Caetano Berenguer, Pedro Marinho Nunes

Main Partners: Roberto Sardinha Junior, Antonio Carlos Velloso Filho, Marco Aurélio de Almeida Alves, Eric Cerante Pestre, Vitor Ferreira Alves de Brito, Frederico Ferreira, Antonella Marques Consentino, Marcelo Gonçalves, Ricardo Silva Machado, Carolina Cardoso Francisco, Philip Fletcher Chagas, Luis Felipe Freire Lisbôa, Wilson Pimentel, Ricardo Loretti Henrici, Jaime Henrique Porchat Secco, Grissia Ribeiro Venâncio, Marcelo Borja Veiga, Adilson Vieira Macabu Filho, Ana Paula de Paula, Alexandre Fonseca, Pedro Henrique Carvalho, Rafaela Fucci, Henrique Ávila, Alessandra Martini, Pedro Henrique Nunes, Gabriel Prisco Paraíso, Guiomar Feitosa Lima Mendes, Guilherme Coelho, Lívia Ikeda.

Number of other partners: 100

Number of consultants: 6

Specialist Areas: Corporate and commercial litigation, energy disputes, tort, contract disputes, tax litigation, administrative and regulatory issues, financial disputes, intellectual property litigation, and antitrust issues.

Languages: Portuguese, English, French, Spanish, Italian, German

Litigation

Consistently topping rankings in specialized legal publications, the firm boasts a rich history of handling significant lawsuits of both national and transnational importance. The lawyers provide comprehensive representation in Federal and State courts, arbitration panels, regulatory bodies, and negotiations, focusing on pre-emptive legal counsel, avoiding and settling disputes.

Alternative Dispute Resolution/Arbitration

With extensive experience even before the enactment of Brazil's Arbitration Law, the firm's ADR team is well-equipped to handle a wide array of domestic and international cases - having grown significantly in line with the increasing demand for arbitration over time.

Backed by postgraduate qualifications from prestigious institutions and training equally in common law and civil law systems, particularly in arbitration and transnational dispute settlement. Moreover, senior partners regularly sit as arbitrators in several domestic and international panels.

Judicial Restructuring, Bankruptcy & Reorganisation

Starting before the enactment of the Brazilian Judicial Recovery and Bankruptcy Law and drawing upon about 30 of experience in the area, the firm conducts clients through complex judicial recovery and bankruptcy proceedings, offering expertise in interpreting and applying Brazilian insolvency laws. Team members actively contribute to the practical application of the current legislative provisions, contributing to their interpretation and development through publications and lecturing at specialized conferences and seminars.

Insurance

Acknowledged as a prominent litigator in the Brazilian insurance law segment, the firm has been involved in pivotal legal disputes within the sector for over 40 years.

Offering legal counsel and representation across all subsegments of the insurance industry, including health and reinsurance, the firm advises national and multinational companies on regulatory, disputes, and arbitral matters.

Energy

The firm boasts a specialized team with extensive experience in regulatory matters within the energy sector. From representing electricity companies before the National Electric Energy Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) and advising on negotiations to administrative procedures and arbitration proceedings, the firm offers comprehensive legal services tailored to the dynamic needs of the energy industry.

The cases range from corporate disputes, tariff revision, the concession/reduction of the energy ballast of hydroelectric and thermal electricity plants, securing the approval of projects for small hydroelectric plants (PCH), disputes before the Electric Energy Chamber of Commerce (CCEE), and others.

The firm serves as a qualified legal counsel to numerous foreign and multinational corporations and financial institutions, representing its clients in cross-border disputes and international arbitration proceedings. With a significant portion of its caseload involving international elements, the firm's partners are actively engaged in proceedings before international courts and tribunals, under the auspices of major international arbitration institutions.

The international experience of the partners is also complemented by postgraduates from prestigious international institutions and serving as foreign associates in leading global law firms.

São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Belo Horizonte.