After a record-breaking number of nominations and voter participation, Best Lawyers expands rankings in Brazil to younger lawyers and new practice areas.

AUGUSTA, Ga., 7 December 2023 – Best Lawyers®, the oldest and most respected legal research and accolades company globally, today expands its Brazilian rankings to include lawyers earlier in their careers in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Brazil™. Additionally, a new practice area was added in this 2024 edition, broadening the scope of the traditional The Best Lawyers in Brazil™  legal rankings.

From its inception to this landmark year touting extended coverage, the unique and comprehensive methodology of Best Lawyers has positioned these accolades as a vital acknowledgement and amplification of the talents of Brazilian lawyers.

“This year's record-breaking nominations and voter participation not only underscore the trust placed in our rigorous methodology but also reflect the unwavering belief of Brazilian lawyers in the strength of objective, peer-reviewed evaluations,” said CEO of Best Lawyers Phillip Greer. “It is a testament to the exceptional talent within the Brazilian legal landscape and reaffirms Best Lawyers' commitment to recognizing excellence. We are honored to be part of this vibrant legal community's journey, and we look forward to continuing to showcase and celebrate the outstanding achievements of Brazilian lawyers in the years to come.”

The record-breaking number of submissions in this 14^th edition of The Best Lawyers in Brazil marks an increase of almost 5% above the previous year’s submissions. The more than 2,400 lawyers showcased, are highlighted based on commendations from their peers, and 103 honorees earned “Lawyer of the Year” distinctions which is awarded to the lawyer with the highest peer-review feedback in their practice area and metropolitan area.

This year, Water Law was added as the newest practice area of 66 specialties in which lawyer accolades could be designated. While we have accepted nominations for Water Law in past editions, this year, due in part to a 53% increase in voter participation, we received sufficient feedback to include it as a recognized practice area. The five practice areas with the largest number of Best Lawyers honorees in the 2024 edition are Corporate and M&A Law, Tax Law, Litigation, Arbitration and Mediation and Intellectual Property Law.

The inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Brazil is researched using the same Purely Peer Review™ methodology as traditional Best Lawyers recognitions. Lawyers are the best equipped resource to provide feedback on the caliber of work performed by their peers, and the honorees on this year’s list have been identified by their fellow constituents as the top up-and-coming legal talent, averaging 3-8 years working in private practice. In the 2024 edition, 211 lawyers working in 16 practice areas were recognized. The specific 16 practices were identified based on the interest levels and available candidates during our research cycle.

The five practice areas with the largest number of “Ones to Watch” honorees in the inaugural edition are Litigation, Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Tax Law, Labor and Employment Law and Arbitration and Mediation.

In addition to the individual lawyer accolades, the national “Law Firm of the Year” honor was bestowed to 18 law firms. “Law Firm of the Year” awards recognize a single top firm for its work in a specific legal practice area nationwide. Awards are determined based on a handful of factors including lawyer feedback, the number of lawyers included in Best Lawyers for that firm and practice area, the number of office locations a firm has, historical analysis of the firm’s “Lawyer of the Year” awards, materials submitted by firms and the firm’s overall scope and areas of expertise.

“Law Firm of the Year” Recipients Include:

Alexandre Wunderlich Advogados  -  Corporate Criminal Law
BMA - Barbosa Müssnich Aragão  -  Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Dannemann Siemsen Advogados  -  Intellectual Property Law
Duarte Garcia, Serra Netto e Terra Advogados  -  Real Estate Law
Lefosse Advogados  -  Capital Markets Law
Machado, Meyer, Sendacz e Opice Advogados  -  Corporate and M&A Law and Project Finance and Development Practice
Mallet Advogados Associados  -  Labor and Employment Law
Mariz de Oliveira e Siqueira Campos Advogados  -  Tax Law
Milaré Advogados  -  Environmental Law
Opice Blum e Bruno Advogados Associados  -  Technology Law
Pellon & Associados  -  Insurance Law
Pereira Neto Macedo Advogados  -  Competition / Antitrust Law
Pinheiro Neto Advogados  -  Banking and Finance Law
Sergio Bermudes Advogados  -  Arbitration and Mediation
Sundfeld Advogados  -  Administrative Law
TozziniFreire Advogados  -  Litigation
Veirano Advogados  -  Natural Resources Law

This year’s awards emphasize the continued commitment of Best Lawyers to recognize and celebrate excellence in the Brazilian legal community. Search Brazilian honorees by visiting www.bestlawyers.com/brazil.