Under the leadership of Beatriz Kestener, Kestener e Vieira Advogados remains at the forefront of the life sciences market, fielding a team that is 'made up of extremely qualified professionals'. Founding partner Kestener is highly regarded for her expertise in the healthcare sector, though she acts for the entire range of industry players, including food, cosmetics, medical devices, and agricultural tools clients. The practice regularly handles matters before  Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA), as well as other regulatory authorities, and is routinely instructed in litigation and regulatory matters. Co-leading the practice alongside Kestener is fellow founding partner Fabio Alonso Vieira, who leads on mandates involving contractual issues and corporate transactions, and the 'extremely technical and detail-oriented' Flávio Spegiorin Ramos, who is recommended for administrative, regulatory and contentious issues for pharmaceutical companies. Senior associate Daniel André Salgado works closely with Vieira and focuses on the oil and gas industry and multinational pharmaceutical companies. Associate Guilherme Gieron Fonseca e Silva provides key support on regulatory matters relating to food, health, cosmetics, and tobacco.

One of the premier life sciences practice’s in Brazil, Pinheiro Neto Advogados shaped the domestic life sciences landscape through its new approaches to regulatory issues and the inclusion of biotechnology and biodiversity as part of its service offering. Boasting top-notch regulatory, advisory and transactional skills, the team regularly advises on matters before regulatory agencies, including recalls of products under ANVISA’s regulations and pricing issues, and proceedings (including appeals) before the Drug Market Regulation Chamber (CMED) and MAPA for the drug and food industries. Founder of the practice Angela Kung is a key reference in the market for complex regulatory and transactional work; she assists both established multinational life sciences companies and emerging players in Brazil, covering the pharma, medical devices, health services, biotech , and biodiversity segments. Camila Martino Parise draws on her strong regulatory knowledge to advise companies on the setting up of operations in Brazil. Senior associate Nicole Aun is active in technology transfer projects concerning pharma products, while IP issues affecting pharma companies are handled by associate Laura Oliveira Barboza.

'Made up of highly qualified professionals' who are 'experts in the field', the life sciences and healthcare practice at Lefosse Advogados handles a mix of advisory, regulatory and contentious work for a varied client base. The team is particularly active in the pharma sector, where it advises clients on public bids, and issues concerning second use patents and the registration of continuous use of drugs, among others. Practitioners are also experienced in the food, medical equipment and chemical industries, and are strong performers in proceedings before ANVISA, MAPA, and the Brazilian courts. Life sciences expert Rubens Granja brings over 17 years of experience assisting companies from the pharma, medical devices, and cosmetics services with complex regulatory issues. Counsel Natássia Misae Ueno is also part of the core team; she routinely handles regulatory matters, public procurement and government contracts in this space.

Benefitting from strong working ties to the firm's other departments, including litigation and antitrust, full-service outfit Mattos Filho is home to a life sciences and healthcare practice that provides legal support in the entire spectrum of sector-related mandates. The firm's multidisciplinary allows it to be present in a variety of key segments, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare services. Multinational and domestic players regularly turn to the team for its strong expertise in regulatory and contractual matters. Singled out for her knowledge of the regulatory requirements affecting companies wishing to develop their presence in Brazil, Ana Cândida Sammarco has a wealth of experience in the structuring of healthcare plan agreements and in the implementation of new technologies, including medical cannabis. Gustavo Swenson Caetano 'has an exceptional understanding of the industry and always provides practical and thoughtful advice’; he is a key contact IP-related mandates, and regulatory and contractual in the food and beverage industry.

Anderson Ribeiro leads the life sciences practice at Souto Correa Advogados, which stands out for its expertise in sector-related regulatory issues. Present in all key segments, from pharmaceuticals and medical devices, to food and healthcare, the team is particularly well equipped to handle matters concerning rare diseases and gene therapies,  under the leadership of Ribeiro, rated for his 'strategic vision, deep knowledge of laws and ANVISA regulations'. In addition to regulatory issues, its service offering also covers pricing, contracts, clinical trails, and transactions. A former in-house counsel for major pharmaceutical companies, Paulo Rosito focuses on IP-related issues and commercial matters. Associate Matheus Montecasciano is the go-to for food and drug law issues, and has represented a number of clients in public procurement and administrative proceedings before ANVISA.

Noted for its ‘knowledge of the market‘, ‘flexibility in negotiation and innovation in solutions’, ‘SPLaw combines IP, life sciences, and technology expertise to advise multinational and Brazilian life sciences companies on an array of legal matters. Typical mandates for the firm include advising on transactions, regulatory issues, disputes, IP mandates, and clinical trials. Benny Spiewak is highly regarded for his experience in IP matters; he has regularly assists clients from the pharma, medical devices, biotech, and other life sciences segments with patents issues, such as post-grant oppositions, and appeals before the public trade mark office. The recent addition of  Guillermo Glassman, who previously worked in-house at EMS Pharmaceuticals, has bolstered the team’s litigation capabilities. Senior associate Daniela Jambor is a specialist in Brazilian regulation of genetically modified organisms and medical cannabis.

Fialdini Einsfeld Advogados is a litigation boutique with a strong track record in life sciences matters. With a strong track record in cases involving price regulation issues related to CMED, the team handles a mix of clinical trial issues, termination of distribution contracts, and patent infringements. Practice heads Pedro Sergio Fialdini Filho and Alexandre Einsfeld mainly focus on contentious issues within the pharma, consumer goods and animal health industries. Associate Ivan Fernandes De Cunha and Thiago Adorno Albigiante are key to matters which involve regulatory issues, IP law, and public contracts. Associate Fernando Markunas regularly advises pharma companies on commercial and regulatory mandates.

Specialised in IP-related issues for life sciences clients, Licks Attorneys is a firm to note for companies requiring assistance with patent-related litigation. Typical cases handled by the team include patent invalidity lawsuits, cross-border disputes relating to patent ownership and infringement, and patent term adjustments. The practice also fields strong regulatory capabilities in this sector. Founding partner Otto Licks is an expert in life sciences-related litigation and regularly represents international biotech, agrochemical, and medical devices companies. Fellow founder Eduardo Hallak is a notable patent litigator, while Ricardo Campello focuses on food and drug law, often advising clients on regulatory issues in relation to clinical trials. Roberto Rodrigues and Tatiana Machado are no longer at the practice.

TozziniFreire Advogados is led by life sciences expert Marco Aurélio Torronteguy, who is praised for his knowledge of regulatory and contractual issues. He routinely assists clients with administrative proceedings before health regulation authorities, and offers support in new product launches, import and export, and licensing issues. The team draws on the firm's strong transactional credentials to advise life sciences and healthcare players on M&A deals, and is singled out for its expertise in tech transfer agreements and industry-related data protection matters. More recently, the practice has seen notable activity in drug pricing cases, product recalls, and advertising mandates. Senior associate Victor Hugo Callejon Avallone works closely with practice head Torronteguy in key cases, and is well versed in health legislation and M&A in the healthcare sector.

Trench Rossi Watanabe has a notable life sciences practice, which shines in corporate transactions, technology transfer agreements, IP-related issues, and regulatory matters. The team is regularly sought out by major international clients from the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and cosmetics sectors. Team lead and public law expert Henrique Frizzo is especially active in the healthcare sector, advising on healthcare regulations and proceedings before regulatory authorities, most notably ANVISA. Co-head Marcela Trigo frequently represents companies in patent litigation, and advises on trade secrets, and compulsory licensing. An integral part of the team, Felipe Zaltman is noted for his patent litigation expertise related to pharmaceuticals.

BRZ - Barbosa, Raimundo, Gontijo, Câmara e Zanotta Advogados‘s life sciences practice is co-led by Jorge Raimundo and Aline Coelho, with Raimundo utilising his previous expertise working for Pfizer and Glaxo do Brasil to advise a range of pharmaceutical companies on matters before ANVISA. Coelho leads on advisory, administrative and judicial litigation mandates, with a particular focus on pharma and healthcare companies. The practice routinely handles price regulation issues and matters related to the registration of new medicines and regularisation of drugs.

Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper specialises in advising life sciences and healthcare clients from the US and Europe on their regulatory, transactional, and litigation issues in Brazil. Associate Juliana Marcondes de Souza provides medical technology manufacturers and other medical product-related companies with pre-litigation advice. Former co-head Bruna B. Rocha left the firm in November 2024.

Life sciences matters at Demarest Advogados are handled by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in IP, dispute resolution, regulatory and public law. The firm assists clients operating in a variety of segments, such as tobacco, food and pharmaceuticals, with product liability cases, investigations, import and export of regulated products, and proceedings initiated by ANVISA. Bruno Aurélio, Claudio Mattos, and Monique Guzzo all co-lead the practice focusing on different aspects of life sciences: Aurélio is the go-to for public law-related matters; Mattos is knowledgeable of biotech mandates, including issues involving genetically modified organisms; while Guzzo handles regulatory and corporate matters in this space.

An array of life sciences clients regularly turn to Felsberg Advogados for advice on regulatory matters, M&A, corporate restructurings, and sanctioning administrative proceedings before ANVISA and ANS. Practice head Marianne Albers offers legal support in commercial transactions, and assists pharmaceutical companies with the review and drafting of contracts involving issues such as manufacturing, licensing, and supply and distribution agreements. Senior associate Thais Fernandes is key contact for pharma and chemical clients seeking advice on licensing, registration, and permits for their products in Brazil.

The life sciences, healthcare, and digital health practice at Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados assists medtech, biotech, pharma and food companies with a range of regulatory issues. The firm has seen an uptick in work concerning technology-related healthcare issues, including technology transfer agreements, health databases and CAR-T products. Renata Rothbarth, who has notable experience in emerging areas of life sciences, from digital health and telemedicine, to wearable technologies and bio printing, chairs the practice. Giovanna Pasquini Malfatti stands out at the associate level for her involvement in regulatory matters pertaining to the healthcare industry.

Veirano Advogados acts for pharmaceutical, medical devices, and biotech companies in a range of corporate, transactional, and regulatory issues. Recent highlights have seen the firm advising on contract negotiations, clinical trials, licensing arrangements, as well as acquisitions and joint ventures in the life sciences and healthcare spaces. The team is also skilled in new product launches and compliance issues. 'With extensive expertise in life sciences', Renata Fialho de Oliveira is experienced in M&A and contractual law, and often assists healthcare companies with their corporate transactions.

Food law specialists at Zeigler Advogados are skilled at advising major supermarkets and food companies in regulatory, administrative and compliance issues. The firm is well positioned to handle administrative proceedings before MAPA as well as appeals before the Special Commission for Agricultural Defence Resources. As part of the wider life sciences practice, the team also advises the pharmaceutical and biosciences industries with health authority regulations. Silvia Zeigler leads the practice alongside Gerardo Figueiredo Junior; Zeigler is particularly experienced in food law issues and commercial matters, while Figueiredo Junior focuses international food law matters.