Environmentally sensitive sectors including mining, forestry, agribusiness, renewable energy, and oil and gas are the playground of Demarest Advogados, which provides comprehensive support in M&A and capital markets transactions, as well as corporate expansion, providing guidance on impact assessments, regulatory compliance, licensing requirements, and environmental liability. Incident and crisis management are further areas of strength, particularly in scenarios with cross-border and substantial financial implications. The São Paulo team is led jointly by Luiz Fernando Henry Sant’Anna, a premier environmental law specialist ‘with extensive experience in a wide range of topics’ noted for his detailed knowledge of waste management, take-back systems, and crisis management, and star of the firm’s ESG offering Fernanda Vianna Stefanelo, who excels in infrastructure project licensing, climate change, and carbon credits. From the associate ranks, Isabelle Carvalho Gonçalves stands out for her thorough grasp of ESG and carbon market issues, while Manuela Motta Zini assists with M&A deals, and disputes involving federal, state, and municipal entities. Senior associate Nicholas Krajnc left the firm in June 2023.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘We worked together to develop a prominent and quite peculiar real estate project. All along, the Demarest team sought to think 'outside the box' and solve the problems identified.’
‘Fernanda Stefanelo is a very good lawyer. One of the best I have ever dealt with. Easy to deal with, very experienced and, above all, understands the client's pain and is dedicated to resolving it.’
‘The firm provides an excellent service, always presenting excellent defence theses and high-quality legal work, as well as promptly responding to our requests. The team is very well structured, contributes a lot to our environmental issues and works in a great partnership with us.’
‘Luiz Fernando Sant'Anna is an excellent professional, with extensive experience in a wide range of topics and a lot of technical knowledge, in addition to always serving us with the speed and quality necessary for the topics addressed.’
‘Technical excellence.’
Key clients
- Bayer (Monsanto do Brasil)
- Pfizer
- CGG do Brasil Participações
- Syngenta Seeds
- Nouryon Pulp and Performance Industria Quimica
- Greenwood Resources
- Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES)
- 3M
- Syntagma Capital
- Azul Linhas Aéreas
Work highlights
- Advised Bayer on the development of different ESG projects for farmers who meet specific sustainability prerequisites in their production.
- Advised Syngenta on the creation and structuring of the Reverte 2.0 Project, an initiative to expand sustainable agriculture in the Brazilian Cerrado region.
- Advised Nouryon on environmental liabilities related to the operation of current and former sites.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Luiz Fernando Henry Sant’Anna, Fernanda Vianna Stefanelo