Ranking identifies best law firms and attorneys in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The report highlights 182 teams from 83 law firms, as well as 351 attorneys. The areas analyzed in this latest of three stages of evaluation conducted by Chambers in 2021 are M&A, Banking & Finance (banking law), Real Estate, Investment Funds, Capital Markets, Projects, Tax (Non-litigation), and Venture Capital.

This is the latest in a series of three reports released throughout 2021.

In all, 1,386 teams were analyzed between September 2020 and August 2021, of which 681 were ranked by the directory. Within these teams, the ranking highlights the practice of 1,386 attorneys in 51 practice areas.

THE LEADING FIRMS IN THE RANKING

Chambers independently conducts the survey annually. The UK-based research team analyzes information from the firms, including the main cases and transactions in which they have been involved. The organization also directly contacts the firms’ clients and representatives of major companies doing business in Brazil to collect their feedback on the services provided. Interviews are conducted by phone and through questionnaires.

Each ranking gathers the main teams (departments) that stand out in their areas. They are divided into bands, Band One being the most important. Attorneys are also individually ranked.

In the list, only 6 firms have over 20 recognized areas. Mattos Filho has the highest number of recognized areas, followed by Pinheiro Neto. In addition, 9 firms have more than 30 ranked attorneys, which reverses the first scenario. In this case, Pinheiro Neto leads and Mattos Filho comes immediately after.

BANKING & FINANCE

In this area, Machado, Meyer, Sendacz e Opice is ranked in Band One, together with Pinheiro Neto. Pinheiro Neto attorney Bruno Balduccini stands out in the ranking with the position of Individual Star.

CAPITAL MARKETS

Lefosse Advogados; Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga; and Pinheiro Neto Advogados are ranked as Band One Capital Markets. Attorneys Jean Marcel Arakawa, from Mattos Filho, and José Francisco Pinheiro Guimarães, from Pinheiro Guimarães, are ranked among the top attorneys.

CORPORATE M&A

In M&A, the top ranked firms are BMA – Barbosa, Mussnich, Aragão; Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto; Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga; and Pinheiro Neto Advogados, with highlight to BMA’s Paulo Cezar Aragão, who is ranked as Individual Star.

INVESTMENT FUNDS

In Investment Funds, Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados leads the analyzed area, and its attorney Marina Procknor is also a highlight.

PROJECTS

Machado, Meyer, Sendacz e Opice; and Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga are the top performers in this area. The best attorneys are José Virgílio Lopes Enei and José Ribeiro do Prado Júnior, both from Machado, Meyer, Sendacz e Opice, and Pablo Sorj, from Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga.

REAL ESTATE

In this sector, Band One leaders are Duarte Garcia, Serra Netto e Terra Advogados and Pinheiro Neto Advogados. Marcelo Terra, from Duarte Garcia, Serra Netto e Terra Advogados is ranked as Individual Star.

TAX (NON-LITIGATION)

In Band One, the firms Machado, Meyer, Sendacz e Opice, Mariz De Oliveira e Siqueira Campos Advogados; Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga; and Pinheiro Neto Advogados are highlighted. Attorney Ricardo Oliveira, from Mariz De Oliveira e Siqueira Advogados, is listed as Individual Star.

VENTURE CAPITAL

Regarding Venture Capital, the firms in Band One are Bronstein, Zilberberg, Chueiri & Potenza Advogados; FM/Derraik; and Pinheiro Neto Advogados. Sergio Bronstein and Guilherme Potenza, from Bronstein, Zilberberg, Chueiri & Potenza, and Rodrigo Menezes, from FM/Derraik lead the ranking.

DIVERSITY

The survey also shows that women attorneys are becoming increasingly relevant. Out of a total of 1,384 attorneys ranked in the different stages of Chambers Brazil, 310 are women (22%), 1,074 (78%) are men. The percentage used to be 19% women to 81% men.

At the bottom of the pyramid – associates and junior partners – there are 68 women (40%) to 104 men (60%). In 2020 it was 28% and 72%. On the other hand, at the top of the pyramid the market is even more unbalanced. In Band One, the ratio is 78 women (19%) to 334 men (81%). Nevertheless, it is an improvement. The ratio used to be 16% to 84%.

“We assessed all these sectors, focusing on complexity and sophistication of the services provided, and on the assessment made by representatives of large companies that use these firms and attorneys for their most important transactions. The development of the Brazilian legal market is ongoing and certainly continued despite the pandemic,” says Luís Bulcão.