Brazil’s Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados has lured away partners from local rivals Tauil & Chequer Advogados, in association with Mayer Brown, and Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados to strengthen its tax, intellectual property and technology practices.
Thais Rodrigues has left Tauil & Chequer to join Mattos Filho’s tax practice based in Rio de Janeiro, while Luiz Felipe Di Sessa joins both the intellectual property and technology, innovation & digital business practice areas in São Paulo after nearly two decades at Cescon.
The hirings bring Mattos Filho’s total partner count to 121.
In a statement, Mattos Filho managing partner Roberto Quiroga said that the duo’s arrival serves to bolster the firm’s strategy of “following market trends and planning for continuous, sustainable growth.”
Rodrigues is a specialist in direct taxation with an extensive background in cross-border transactions. According to her LinkedIn profile, she spent seven years at the Brazilian affiliate of Deloitte before joining Tauil & Chequer in 2011.
“Mattos Filho is renowned both in the tax sector and in the legal market as a whole, especially for the excellent service it offers its clients,” Rodrigues said of her decision to make the move.
The Brazilian tax system is notoriously complex, making that practice area one of fierce and ongoing competition for talent. Meanwhile, demand for advice on data protection, cybersecurity and other next-generation needs, such as artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency and the Internet of Things, is on the rise in Brazil.
Di Sessa said he hopes to contribute new ideas to Mattos Filho, which is one of Latin America’s largest law firms by headcount.
Commenting on the departures, a Cescon spokesperson said that Di Sessa left on good terms and that the firm wishes him “success in this new position.” The firm added that its technology and intellectual property area remains strong under the coordination of partner Tania Liberman, who joined Cescon in October from full-service Brazilian firm KLA-Koury Lopes Advogados.
Tauil & Chequer managing partner Victor Galante said his firm wishes Rodrigues success at her new firm.
