Corporate/M&A: Highly Regarded | Brazil: Transactional

Well-regarded firm KLA Advogados maintains a solid M&A track record. The team is well equipped to handle a wide range of corporate matters and is particularly noted for its performance of due diligence. Additionally sought after to handle joint venture agreements, corporate restructuring and investments. Client portfolio encompasses significant domestic and international corporations from the energy, paper and food industries.

Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown is a solid and growing force in the market. The firm handles complex and high-end M&A, offering an international platform and the reach of a global firm. The team is occasionally seen in top deals and is building a solid portfolio of high-end cases, competing for big tickets. New additions to its client portfolio are Happag Loyd and Sucafina Brasil Industria Comercio e Exportação.

Vella Pugliese Buosi e Guidoni Advogados is a well-respected firm often representing major companies from the healthcare and technology sectors. The firm regularly assists clients with acquisition and disposal of controlling and minority stakes, including divestment proceedings. It also possesses solid experience conducting due diligence, and domestic and foreign investments. Additionally, the team is equipped to handle cross-border matters due to its association with international firm Dentons. Recent additions to its portfolio of clients are Banco Votorantim and Hon Hai Technology Group.

Campos Mello Advogados is a seasoned firm benefiting from its association with an international firm. The team advises on the full range of corporate mandates, including joint ventures, corporate reorganisation and contractual issues. Its portfolio includes companies from the energy, automotive, mining and pharmaceutical industries.

Mello Torres is an active boutique firm with capabilities to advise clients on an array of corporate mandates, namely involving M&A transactions. Equipped to assist both national and international companies from the insurance, healthcare and power sectors. Regularly acts on sophisticated investment agreements and is often sought after by private equity groups. Casa dos Ventos Holding and FIAP are new clients added to its portfolio.

Ulhôa Canto, Rezende e Guerra Advogados is a firm that offers capabilities to assist with a plethora of corporate-related mandates. It often handles middle-market acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate reorganisation proceedings. The experienced team continues to be frequently retained by private equity groups and players from the mining and real estate sectors. It also possesses a long track record advising on corporate governance, investments and conducting sophisticated due diligence.

Vieira Rezende maintains a well-known practice and is noted particularly for its financial acumen. The team has experience conducting sophisticated due diligence, foreign investment proceedings and acquisitions involving distressed assets. Additional capabilities are acting on corporate reorganisation, acquisition and disposal of stakes. The firm also regularly advises players from the banking and retail sectors. New additions to its client portfolio are Aliansce Sonae Shopping Centers and Brasilcap Capitalização.

CGM Advogados is a skilled firm often handling corporate restructuring, investments and conducting sophisticated due diligence. It is sought after by an array of companies, including domestic and foreign players from the automotive, entertainment and foods sectors. The team is well equipped to assist with corporate governance, shareholders and partnership agreements. Clients also benefit from the firm's experience acting on joint ventures. Sony Music Publishing and Richemont are two new client wins for the team.

Chediak Advogados offers a solid track record advising on the negotiation of shareholders' agreements and M&A. The team is equipped to represent clients from the technology, energy and education sectors. It is also skilled to act on corporate restructuring, joint ventures and acquisition of equity stakes. Ocean Drop Comércio and Light SA are some of their most recent clients.

Mundie is an established department regularly assisting clients with joint venture agreements, divestment of assets and contractual mandates. The team also handles foreign investment matters and mid-market transactions as well as restructuring proceedings. It is also sought after to act on private equity matters involving regulated sectors. Companies from the agribusiness, energy and telecommunications industries feature in its client list.

Azevedo Sette is well equipped to assist clients with a plethora of corporate mandates ranging from complex transactions to day-to-day mandates. The firm is experienced representing private and publicly owned companies from the banking, retail, technology and food sectors. It offers solid capabilities acting on foreign investments, acquisition and disposal of minority stakes, reorganisation proceedings and contractual matters. New client wins include Black Opal Investment and Atlas Schindler.

Bocater, Camargo, Costa e Silva, Rodrigues Advogados Associados maintains a noteworthy practice group offering a solid track record acting on joint ventures, reorganisation matters and M&A transactions. Its client portfolio comprises key national and international players from the oil and gas, energy, aviation and banking sectors. Banco Semear is a new client.

Bronstein, Zilberberg, Chueiri & Potenza Advogados is a law firm able to advise clients on M&A mandates, as well as those related to corporate governance. It is particularly acquainted with clients active in the technology sector. The firm also can provide assistance with investment issues. Tenda and Lightrock are two of their new client wins.

Candido Martins Advogados is a law firm routinely retained by players from the healthcare and energy sectors to act on transactional matters including middle-market M&A. It is experienced handling joint ventures and acquisition of equity interests. Its client portfolio also comprises companies from the pharmaceutical and agribusiness fields. New client wins are COPAG and Grupo Zelo.

Restructuring specialist Felsberg Advogados is also noted for handling a range of corporate work, including M&A. Its client portfolio comprises players from the healthcare, transportation and technology arenas, among others. The department also assists promising start-up companies. Vammo and Space Bar are two of the team's new clients.

Graça Couto, Sequerra, Levitinas, Bucudo, Leal & Abby Advogados is a dynamic practice group offering a solid track record representing corporations from the technology sphere. The firm is well equipped to assist with a range of corporate mandates, including M&A, joint venture and investment rounds. Outback and Melhoramentos are two new additions to their client portfolio.

Huck, Otranto, Camargo Advogados has a lengthy track record representing clients in a diverse range of corporate mandates. The team regularly advises on joint ventures, M&A, capital investments and shareholders' agreements. It is experienced acting as counsel to financial institutions and players from the pharmaceutical, insurance and paper industries. It has additional experience handling corporate governance and conducting due diligence. A new client win is Associação Brasileira de Designers de Interiores.

Abe Advogados joins the ranking this year after demonstrating skills in assisting clients with M&A, including cross-border transactions. The firm is also experienced in dealing with corporate restructurings and offering advice on regulatory topics. Its client portfolio is composed of companies active in the health, food & beverages and technology sectors, while it also advises investment funds. New client wins include Cajueiro Indústria e Comércio de Alimentos and ABCASA.

asbz assists a plethora of players ranging from the banking and aviation to food and beverage sectors. It regularly represents clients on M&A, joint ventures and both investment and disinvestment agreements. The firm also conducts due diligence and corporate structuring mandates.

Dias Carneiro Advogados represents companies from the technology, agribusiness and consumer goods industries in a diverse range of corporate matters. It frequently acts on mid-size M&A deals, joint ventures and shareholders' agreements. The firm also assists start-up companies with investment rounds. Albioma Participações Brasil and Celcoin Instituição de Pagamentos are two additions to its client portfolio.

FCAM - Ferraz de Camargo e Matsunaga Advogados represents clients in M&A, including due diligence, negotiation of contracts and regulatory and antitrust issues. It is also able to advise on corporate reorganisation.

Franco Leutewiler Henriques Advogados is acquainted with M&A mandates arising within the middle market. The firm is able to advice clients active in the agribusiness, health, and finance sectors of the economy. Further abilities are in handling matters related to joint ventures and antitrust.

FreitasLeite maintains a well-regarded department handling M&A deals and shareholders' agreements. It offers a strong track record representing foreign and domestic clients from the financial sector, including investment funds, private equity firms and banks. Eletrobras and GTEX Brasil are new client wins for the team.

Souto Correa Advogados makes its ranking debut in consequence of its work advising clients on M&A transactions. It is also able to assist with corporate restructuring and joint venture. The team is familiar with clients from the energy, technology and agribusiness sectors. New additions to its client portfolio include Vitru Educação and Log Commercial Properties.