Rafael Teixeira

Rafael Teixeira has more than 18 years of experience in transactional law and has built a distinguished practice in M&A, advising both large corporations and middle-market companies. He has received individual recognition from LACCA Approved, published by the Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (LACCA), as well as from Leaders League.

He has practiced Corporate Law since 2008 and, prior to joining BVA, built his career at leading law firms, including Veirano Advogados, Madrona Advogados, and Stocche Forbes. He also earned an LL.M. from New York University School of Law.

Rafael has extensive experience leading high-profile M&A, Private Equity, and Venture Capital transactions, representing both domestic and international clients across a wide range of industries. His experience includes transactions involving companies such as JSL, Grupo Vamos, Pátria, Safra, Eldorado Papel e Celulose, Comau, Allianz, Oakberry, Alubar, Hapvida Notre Dame, BTG Pactual, Kovi, Apex Partners, Nuvini, Ambev, Wine.com.br, CVC, Kinea, Helisul Aviation, Pátria Investimentos, Alper Seguros, Grupo Cataratas, Cidade Matarazzo, Gafisa Properties, Scotiabank, Minerva Foods, Singu, and V4 Company, among many others.

As Head of BVA’s M&A, Corporate, and Venture Capital practices, Rafael has played a key role in strengthening these practice areas within the legal market. Over the past four years, the teams under his leadership have been recognized by leading national and international legal directories, including Chambers Global, Chambers Brazil, Chambers Transactional, IFLR1000, The Legal 500, and Leaders League. During the same period, according to TTR Data, BVA also became one of the law firms handling the highest volume of transactions in Brazil.

Rafael also serves as a guest professor at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) and teaches postgraduate courses in M&A at Faculdade de Direito de Vitória and Trevisan Business School. He is the author of legal articles and publications in both Portuguese and English and is a frequent contributor to leading business publications, including Valor Econômico, Exame, Estadão, and Capital Aberto, among others.

Rafael serves as Brazil’s National Representative to the AIJA – International Association of Young Lawyers, and is a member of the International Bar Association (IBA) and the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB).

• Paper Excellence and Eldorado Brasil Celulose – Advised Paper Excellence on the acquisition of a 49.41% equity interest in Eldorado Brasil Celulose, one of the world’s largest pulp producers, in a transaction valued at BRL 3.8 billion. Press coverage: Forbes
• Elfa Medicamentos and Medcom – Advised Elfa Medicamentos, one of Brazil’s leading distributors of pharmaceutical products and hospital supplies and a portfolio company of Pátria Investimentos, on the acquisition of 100% of the equity interest in Medcom Medicamentos e Materiais Hospitalares. Press coverage: Fusoesaquisicoes
• CVC Viagens (B3: CVCB3) Shareholders’ Agreement – Advised Apex Partners and several investment funds in negotiating the formation of the controlling shareholder group of CVC Viagens, Latin America’s largest travel company and a publicly traded company listed on B3, together with the Paulus family and GJP Fundo de Investimento Financeiro em Ações. Also advised in connection with the Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting that approved the waiver of the mandatory tender offer requirement and the company’s poison pill provisions, as disclosed in the Material Fact and Notice to the Market published on April 10 and May 5, respectively. Following the transaction, the controlling shareholder group held an aggregate 35% equity interest in CVC. The funds represented included Carbyne Travel Fundo de Investimento Financeiro, BRM Carbyne Voyage Fechado Fundo de Investimento Financeiro em Ações, Apex Vessel Fundo de Investimento Multimercado, AM Latitude Fundo de Investimento Financeiro em Ações, Propósito Previdência Fundo de Investimento Multimercado Crédito Privado Responsabilidade Limitada, BRM Carbyne Jaguar Fundo de Investimento Financeiro em Ações, as well as Fernando Antonio Kulnig Cinelli, who was elected to the company’s Board of Directors. Press coverage: Valor
• Atem Distribuidora and Amazonas Distribuidora de Energia – Advised Atem Distribuidora on the acquisition of Amazonas Distribuidora de Energia through the Oliveira Energia–Atem Consortium. Press coverage: Gov.br
• Pátria Investimentos and Netbr – Advised Netbr and its shareholders on the sale of the company to SEK, a Pátria Investimentos portfolio company. Press coverage: Valor
• Elfa Medicamentos and Biohosp – Advised Elfa Medicamentos on the acquisition of 100% of Biohosp Produtos Hospitalares. Press coverage: Fusoesaquisicoes
• Safra and Autocerto – Advised Autocerto and its shareholders on the sale of 100% of the company’s equity interest to Safra Financeira, part of the Safra Group.
• Elfa Medicamentos and Mostaert – Advised Elfa Medicamentos on the acquisition of Comercial Mostaert Ltda. Press coverage: Fusoesaquisicoes
• Cruzeiro do Sul and Hapvida NotreDame – Advised Cruzeiro do Sul and its shareholders, one of the largest private healthcare groups in the State of São Paulo, on the sale of the entire business to Hapvida NotreDame, one of Brazil’s largest healthcare companies. Press coverage: Visao Oeste
• Atem Distribuidora and TAG Distribuidora – Advised Atem Distribuidora de Petróleo, one of Brazil’s leading fuel distribution and production companies, on the acquisition of TAG Distribuidora de Combustíveis. Press coverage: Brasil Energia
• Cidade Matarazzo and Vectis Gestão de Recursos – Advised Cidade Matarazzo, through BM Varejo S.A., on the issuance of BRL 343 million in Real Estate Receivables Certificates (CRI), together with Vectis Gestão de Recursos. Press coverage: Exame
• Digital Colony and UOL – Advised Digital Colony, one of the world’s largest digital infrastructure investment managers, on the BRL 1.5 billion acquisition of UOL Diveo, UOL Group’s data center and infrastructure business. Press coverage: Valor
• The Led and Kinea – Advised The Led and its shareholders on Kinea’s BRL 150 million private equity investment in the company. Press coverage: CNN Brasil
• The Led and Bradesco BBI – Advised The Led and its shareholders on the issuance of BRL 60 million in Commercial Notes, with Bradesco BBI acting as lead coordinator. Press coverage: Money Report
• The Led and Galapagos Capital – Served as deal counsel to Galapagos Capital, The Led, and its shareholders in connection with the issuance of debentures coordinated by Galapagos Capital. Press coverage: Veja Negócios
• One Digital and Publicis Groupe – Advised One Digital and its shareholder on the sale of the company to Publicis Groupe, one of the world’s largest advertising and marketing conglomerates. Press coverage: Meio&Mensagem
• GEDU – Global Education and IE Intercâmbio – Advised UK-based GEDU – Global Education, one of the world’s largest education groups with more than 70,000 students, and its UAE-based subsidiary Meta Apply, on the acquisition of IE Intercâmbio, Brazil’s leading international education agency. Press coverage: InfoMoney
• Apaete and Alubar – Advised Apaete on the acquisition of a 10.76% equity interest in Amazônia-Eletronorte Transmissora de Energia from Alubar. Press coverage: CanalEnergia
• Scotiabank Uruguay and Minerva Foods (B3: BEEF3) – Advised Scotiabank Uruguay S.A. on a credit facility of up to USD 21 million granted to three subsidiaries of Minerva S.A., one of the world’s largest beef producers.
• Comau and Grupo GPS – Advised Comau do Brasil, a Stellantis group company, on the sale of its industrial maintenance and maintenance engineering business to Grupo GPS. Press coverage: Valor
• Helisul, Ecocopter, and Itaú BBA – Advised Helisul, Latin America’s leading helicopter operator, on the BRL 200 million acquisition of Chilean operator Ecocopter and the related acquisition financing provided by Itaú BBA. Press coverage: Valor
• Helisul and Grupo Cataratas / Advent – Advised Helisul on the acquisition of a 10.4% equity interest in Grupo Cataratas, an Advent portfolio company and operator of the Iguaçu Falls, Fernando de Noronha, and Tijuca National Forest parks. Press coverage: Relatório Reservado
• Cox ABG Group and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – Advised Cox ABG Group, a Spanish company specializing in water infrastructure development and management, on a financing transaction with CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. Press coverage: Latin American Lawyer
• Cox ABG Group and Allianz Capital Partners of America LLC – Advised Cox ABG Group, a Spanish company specializing in water infrastructure development and management, on a financing transaction with Allianz Capital Partners of America LLC, part of one of the world’s largest private equity, infrastructure, and renewable energy investment groups. Press coverage: The Latin American Lawyer
• Cox ABG Group and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – Advised Cox ABG Group, a Spanish leader in water infrastructure development and management, on a financing transaction with CAF. Press coverage: Latin American Lawyer
• Elfa Medicamentos and Majela – Advised Elfa Medicamentos on the acquisition of Majela Medicamentos. Press coverage: Lavca
• Apex Partners and Stark Investment Banking – Advised Apex Partners on the acquisition of 100% of the equity interest in Stark Investment Banking. Press coverage: Neofeed
• Transportes Ávila and Serra Diesel (Ultra Group) – Advised Transportes Ávila on the sale of assets to Serra Diesel, a member of Ultra Group.
• Simpar and Autostar – Advised Simpar, the parent company of JSL, Movida, and Vamos, on the acquisition of Autostar dealerships. Press coverage: SIMPAR
• Simpar and Vox Frotas – Advised Simpar on the acquisition of Vox Frotas. Press coverage: SIMPAR
• Simpar and Sagamar – Advised Simpar on the acquisition of Sagamar. Press coverage: SIMPAR
• Simpar and TruckPad – Advised Simpar on the acquisition of TruckPad. Press coverage: SIMPAR
• Simpar and Truckvan – Advised Simpar on the acquisition of Truckvan. Press coverage: SIMPAR
• Fadel Transportadora and Simpar – Advised Fadel Transportadora and its shareholders on the sale of the company to Simpar. Press coverage: SIMPAR
• The Led and Invian – Advised The Led on the acquisition of Invian’s operations in Brazil and Peru. Press coverage: Exame
• Routeasy and NS Tech – Advised Routeasy and its founders on the sale of 100% of the company’s equity interest to NS Tech. Press coverage: Exame
• Oakberry and Fazenda Flor do Açaí – Advised Oakberry, a global healthy food franchise network, on the acquisition of Fazenda Flor do Açaí, a leading açaí producer and processor.
• Safra and Saurus Software – Advised Safra on the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Saurus Software. Press coverage: Valor

• Graduated in Law – Uiversidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie
• Specialization in Corporate Law – Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV)
• LL.M. in Corporate Law – New York University School of Law

Rafael Teixeira is recognized for his strategic practice in M&A, Corporate Law, Venture Capital, Private Equity, Capital Markets, and cross-border transactions, combining technical excellence, international experience, and a practical understanding of the needs of companies, investors, investment funds, and entrepreneurs involved in complex transactions.

His career has been marked by individual recognition from leading national and international legal directories. Rafael has been recognized by LACCA Approved, published by the Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (LACCA), in the Corporate and M&A categories, including consecutive annual recognitions. He has also been recognized by Leaders League for his work in transactional matters and innovation.

At BVA, his leadership has contributed to the growth and recognition of the firm’s M&A, Corporate, and Venture Capital practices in leading legal rankings, including Chambers Global, Chambers Brazil, Chambers Transactional, IFLR1000, The Legal 500, and Leaders League. Under his leadership, BVA has also consistently ranked among the most active law firms in Brazil by transaction volume, according to TTR Data.

In addition, Rafael is the author of legal publications and contributes to international guides, including Chambers and Partners’ Corporate/M&A guide for Brazil, reinforcing his role in technical discussions involving the Brazilian transactional market and his ability to advise both domestic and international clients and investors.

Among his principal individual recognitions and the institutional accolades earned by the practices under his leadership are:

LACCA Approved

• Corporate
• M&A
• Consecutive individual recognition in annual editions of the directory

Leaders League

• Venture Capital
• Technology & Innovation
• Individual recognition among the professionals ranked by the directory

Institutional Recognition of the Practices Under His Leadership at BVA

• Chambers Global
• Chambers Brazil
• Chambers Transactional
• IFLR1000
• The Legal 500
• Leaders League
• TTR Data

Rafael’s practice combines deep experience in Corporate Law and M&A with a strong transactional mindset and close alignment with the business objectives of companies, investors, and entrepreneurs. His client portfolio includes both domestic and international clients involved in strategic and highly complex transactions, particularly in M&A, Private Equity, Venture Capital, corporate reorganizations, investments, joint ventures, and cross-border transactions.

Throughout his career, he has advised both public and privately held companies, institutional investors, investment funds, asset managers, middle-market companies, business groups, and domestic and international entrepreneurs across industries including financial services, logistics, healthcare, pulp and paper, energy, infrastructure, textiles, mobility, technology, and others.

His experience in M&A, Private Equity, and Venture Capital includes advising on some of the Brazilian market’s most significant transactions, representing clients in buy-side and sell-side mandates, minority and strategic investments, investment rounds, acquisitions, divestitures, business combinations, and corporate reorganizations.

Rafael is the author of legal articles and publications in both Portuguese and English, focusing on M&A, Corporate Law, Venture Capital, Private Equity, foreign investment, cross-border transactions, and capital markets. He also contributes analyses on trends shaping the Brazilian transactional market.

As a professor, he teaches postgraduate courses in M&A and Corporate Law, including programs at Trevisan Business School and Faculdade de Direito de Vitória. He also participates in technical discussions and academic initiatives focused on the transactional market.

Rafael is frequently sought out by leading news outlets and specialized publications to comment on M&A, corporate transactions, corporate governance, capital markets, and the Brazilian business environment. His insights have been featured by publications such as Valor Econômico, Exame, Estadão, and Capital Aberto, among others.

Among his publications and contributions, notable highlights include his authorship of the Brazil chapter of Corporate M&A 2026, published by Chambers and Partners, as well as articles and institutional publications related to transactions handled by BVA.

Additional publications and contributions include:

• Chambers and Partners – Corporate M&A 2026: Brazil Law and Practice chapter.
• Capital Aberto – “The Ultimate Test for Mergers and Acquisitions”: Contributor to an article discussing the importance of legal due diligence in M&A transactions.
• International Bar Association (IBA) – “Cayman Islands Amend Their Beneficial Ownership Regime”: Publication addressing regulatory developments affecting international structures and investors.
• Startups – “Media for Equity”: Article examining media-for-equity arrangements as a strategic alternative for startups seeking growth and market exposure.
• Valor Econômico / Pipeline – “How to Protect Against Litigation Arising from Shareholder Expulsions”: Publication addressing legal strategies to mitigate disputes involving shareholder exclusions.