EMIS League Table: Who Are the Leading Law Firms in M&A in Brazil?

EMIS League Table: Who Are the Leading Law Firms in M&A in Brazil? 

In an increasingly dynamic, competitive, and strategic market, the role of law firms specializing in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is crucial for the success of complex transactions. EMIS – a leading market intelligence platform – has just released the League Table of Legal Advisors in Brazil, an analysis that ranks the top law firms involved in providing legal support for M&A transactions in the country. 

This report, based on the most recent data, provides insights not only into the number of deals handled by each firm but also into the total financial value of the transactions they advised on — two key indicators that help map out who is truly shaping the business landscape in Brazil. 

📍 Why Is the League Table Relevant? 

The League Table serves as a thermometer for the M&A market, highlighting: 

✔️ Each firm's ability to execute different types of transactions — both in terms of volume and deal value. 
 ✔️ The level of trust placed in these firms by investors, corporations, and financial institutions. 
 ✔️ The degree of specialization and competitive positioning of legal players within the business ecosystem. 
 ✔️ Market dynamics: the most active sectors, transaction types, and how deals are concentrated among top firms. 

For companies, investors, investment banks, private equity funds, and other financial players, this is strategic information — not only for selecting legal partners but also for understanding how the legal market is structured to support high-value and high-complexity deals in Brazil. 

 

🏆 Top 5 Law Firms by Number of Deals 

 

🔍 Analysis: 

• Bronstein, Zilberberg, Chueiri & Potenza Advogados leads the ranking by deal count, reflecting a strategy focused on middle-market transactions, high-growth startups, and a strong volume of deal-making activity — prioritizing quantity over transaction size. 

• Lefosse Advogados, in second place, showcases a hybrid positioning, excelling in both deal volume and high-value transactions, as reflected in the next ranking.
• Full-service powerhouses like Pinheiro Neto, Demarest, and Veirano demonstrate broad expertise with a presence in both domestic and international markets. 
•  

💰 Top 5 Law Firms by Deal Value (USD million) 

 

🔍 Analysis: 

• Lefosse Advogados is the undisputed leader in total deal value, handling over USD 13.3 billion in transactions — a clear indication of the firm’s involvement in high-profile, high-impact deals.
• Mattos Filho, a traditional leader in Brazil’s largest and most complex deals, ranks second, reinforcing its strong presence in sophisticated and often cross-border transactions.
• Pinheiro Neto, Cescon Barrieu, and Tauil & Chequer also rank as key players in high-value deals, demonstrating their capacity to advise on transactions requiring deep legal, regulatory, and financial expertise. 

 

🧠 What Do These Numbers Reveal About Brazil’s M&A Legal Market? 

• The market shows a clear split between firms focused on deal volume (like Bronstein Zilberberg) and those excelling in high-value transactions, often tied to heavily regulated industries, infrastructure, energy, finance, technology, and large consolidation moves.
• Firms like Lefosse, which ranks at the top of both lists, demonstrate highly efficient business models capable of delivering both scale and sophistication.
• The strong positions of Mattos Filho, Pinheiro Neto, and Cescon Barrieu reaffirm the dominance of full-service firms that serve multinationals, private equity funds, and cross-border transactions, maintaining a significant footprint in Brazil’s most relevant deals.
• The concentration of deal value among a few players underscores the demand for legal advisors with deep regulatory, contractual, and tax expertise capable of navigating the most complex transactions in the market. 

 

📣 Why Follow the EMIS League Table? 

For investors, companies, and market professionals, this ranking is more than just a snapshot — it’s a strategic tool to: 

• ➡️ Select the right legal advisors based on the profile and complexity of the transaction.
• ➡️ Understand which law firms are most active in specific sectors or markets of interest.
• ➡️ Track M&A market trends in Brazil and across Latin America.
• ➡️ Monitor consolidation, expansion, and transformation movements in key industries. 

 

🚀 Discover More Insights with EMIS! 

EMIS Insights provides access to data, rankings, market analyses, industry reports, and strategic information on companies, M&A transactions, and economic trends in Brazil and across 197+ countries. 

👉 Want to learn more about how our solutions can support your market strategies, investment decisions, and competitive intelligence? Talk to our specialists.

 

 🔎 Note:

The EMIS League Table is based on M&A transactions that meet specific criteria, including a minimum deal value of USD 1 million (or USD 5 million for commercial real estate) and an equity stake of at least 2%. Deal values marked as undisclosed are considered zero unless reliable estimates are available. Data is compiled from advisor submissions, public sources, and EMIS research. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, some eligible deals may not be captured due to reporting limitations.