Adriana Astuto

Practice Areas

Business Litigation, Arbitration, and Mediation

Career

Adriana Astuto is a senior litigation and arbitration partner with more than 30 years of experience in high-stakes dispute resolution, acting in some of the most complex and commercially sensitive cases in Brazil. A partner and counsel at Bichara Advogados since 2013, she is widely recognised for leading strategic corporate litigation, M&A-related disputes and arbitration-related court proceedings, frequently involving cross-border elements and significant financial exposure.

She is particularly noted for her ability to coordinate multi-forum disputes and design litigation strategies aligned with clients’ broader business objectives.

Professional Memberships

Adriana is admitted to the Brazilian Bar Association in six states. She served as a Board Member of the Brazilian Bar Association – Rio de Janeiro Section (OAB/RJ) from 2007 to 2015, during which time she chaired the Arbitration Commission, the Mediation Commission, and the Commission for Brazilian and Foreign Law Firms, playing an active role in the development of arbitration and ADR practices in Brazil.

Experience

Adriana Astuto has extensive experience advising and representing major Brazilian and multinational groups in disputes involving corporate control, contractual enforcement, collection claims, real state , regulatory approvals, acting before state and federal courts, arbitral tribunals and superior courts.

Her recent experience includes:

• Eldorado Brasil Celulose S.A. – Strategic defense in landmark M&A dispute - Adriana was a lead partner in the strategic legal defense of Eldorado Brasil Celulose S.A. in what is widely regarded as one of the largest and most complex M&A disputes ever litigated in Brazil.

The dispute arose from a 2017 Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) valued at approximately USD 3 billion, executed between CA Investment (CA) and J&F Investimentos S.A. (J&F) for the acquisition of control of Eldorado.

The case involved a highly sophisticated combination of judicial and arbitral proceedings, raising unprecedented legal discussions in Brazil on matters such as:

o enforcement and termination of M&A agreements;

o interpretation of conditions precedent and long-stop dates;

o limits of arbitral jurisdiction and interaction with Brazilian courts;

o compliance with Brazilian foreign investment and land ownership regulations;

o interim relief, injunctions and emergency measures affecting corporate control.

• Complex Civil and Commercial Litigation

• M&A and Shareholders’ Disputes

• Arbitration-related Court Proceedings

• Corporate and Contractual Disputes

• Education Law

• Civil Liability and Regulatory Litigation

Work Highlights

Adriana acted for Eldorado, coordinating parallel proceedings in Brasil, London and Singapure, managing critical injunctions and appeals. After several years of intensive litigation with substantial business and reputational impact, the parties reached a settlement in 2025, bringing final resolution to the dispute.

• Trademark dispute involving “Meta” brand in Brazil, acting for the Brazilian company in a trademark infringement and unfair competition dispute against Facebook (Meta Platforms Inc.), concerning the use and protection of the “Meta” name in Brazil. The matter involved complex trademark coexistence issues, strategy considerations and international IP enforcement aspects, and was resolved through a settlement agreement in 2025, bringing final resolution to the dispute .

Adriana also advises clients such as Votorantim, Auren, Energisa, Accor, JBS, MRS, Ecovias, Afya, YDUQS, Amil, Carvalho Hosken, among others, in high-value and strategically sensitive litigation with significant economic exposure.

Education