Brazil

PGLaw was founded in 2014 and since then has become a multidisciplinary law firm specializing in corporate governance. It has a Brazilian office in São Paulo and an international office in Palo Alto. The corporate M&A practice area is led by Carlos Portugal Gouvêa. 

Focusses / specialisms 

M&A matters are a focus for the firm, who represent strategic acquirers, sellers and private equity firms. Partners work across a wide variety of industries, including technology, engineering, consumer goods, chemicals and education. The firm also has a dedicated restructuring and insolvency team that works with clients in a myriad of industries.  

Key clients 

Key clients include Suzano Papel e Celulose, Quest Software, Cardpay Holdings, Orion Engineered Carbons and Ormuco. 

Research period review: 32nd edition (2021/2022) 

Over the research period, PGLaw was active in M&A and restructuring and insolvency.   

The M&A team advised companies on mergers, private equity and asset acquisitions in technology sectors. The firm represented more acquirers than sellers. 

The restructuring and insolvency team mainly advised debtors in restructurings, maintaining a presence across multiple sectors. 

Deal highlights: 32nd edition (2021/2022) 

ALE Brasil/Mammoet BrasilGuindastes merger 

Renuka do Brasil R$3.3 billion restructuring 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2021/2022) 

Financial restructuring 

"The firm is informative and accommodative." 

Insolvency 

"They are very up to date on insolvency matters" 

Restructuring: Corporate 

"Excellent work with proposals for restructuring our company leadership and governance. They have the expertise and experience with non-profit organization constitution and regulations according to Brazilian law." 

Restructuring: Restructuring and insolvency 

"Unlike most law firms in Brazil, it has a structured and truly specialized insolvency area. The firm's insolvency team is very attentive and always available to clear up our doubts and explain every detail of the case they are working on for us, especially the implications and liabilities involved." 

Andressa Kassardjian 

"Speaks English." 

Carlos Portugal Gouvea 

"Expertise and experience in the field." 

Maria Fabiana Santana 

"She has an interest channel on Instagram." 

"As one of the partners leading the firm's specialized insolvency area, she is keen to get personally involved in the daily work of the team. She is highly regarded by the insolvency law market and peers, having been invited as speaker to several lectures, conferences, webinars and other events." 

Thomaz Santana 

"As one of the partners leading the firm's specialized insolvency area, he is keen to get personally involved in the daily work of the team. He is highly regarded by the insolvency law market and peers, having been invited as speaker to several lectures, conferences, webinars and other events." 

"He is an expert in the restructuring and insolvency area, particularly focused on conflict resolution, debt restructuring, negotiation and recovery of assets. He has actively participated in some of the most important insolvency cases in Brazil before joining the firm and as he is the coordinator of the Bankruptcy Law Commissions of the Brazilian Institute of Business Law and of the Lawyers Institute of São Paulo, and has been previously nominated by the Brazilian government to join a commission of jurists responsible for the elaboration of a new insolvency procedures law to micro and small companies, we take his legal opinions very seriously. "