São Paulo, January 19, 2026 – TozziniFreire, a leading provider of legal services in Latin America, begins 2026 with the addition of Gustavo Rugani as partner in the Capital Markets, M&A and Corporate practices, working in São Paulo and Belo Horizonte, and Laura Souza as partner in the Infrastructure and Energy practice, based in São Paulo. With this, the firm, which already has a strong track record in these areas, further elevates its standing in key economic sectors of the country, adding greater value to the services provided to its clients nationwide.
According to Carlos Mello, head of the Corporate and Transactional groups and member of TozziniFreire’s Executive Committee: “Our growth strategy has been designed in a sustainable way. Rugani is a recognized leader in the sector and will be essential to expanding our national presence and strengthening our role in the capital markets, where the complexity of transactions and the need for innovative solutions have been growing exponentially.” Regarding Laura Souza, Carlos adds: “The energy sector is expected to generate many opportunities in 2026, and with Laura’s arrival, we will be prepared to support our current and future clients over the coming years in high-investment projects.”
Fernando Serec, the firm’s current CEO, emphasizes that TozziniFreire remains firmly committed to its strategic plan of consolidating its leadership in the national market. “We are very pleased with the arrival of Rugani and Laura. They will further strengthen our transactional practices, expanding our ability to serve our clients with excellence. We thank both of them for their trust in our project and highlight that this achievement is only possible thanks to the collective effort of our entire team. We begin 2026, our 50th anniversary year, stronger than ever and with many projects underway.”
About Gustavo Rugani
Gustavo Rugani has more than 20 years of experience and served as head of the Capital Markets practice at one of Brazil’s largest law firms, establishing himself as one of the country’s leading references in the sector. He also led the Belo Horizonte office for over a decade. Recognized for his work in large-scale transactions and for advising publicly-held companies on strategic matters, Gustavo brings unique expertise to the areas in which he practices.
His practice encompasses the design, analysis, and implementation of complex capital markets transactions, as well as consulting on the structuring, planning, and execution of mergers and acquisitions. He also advises on corporate reorganizations, corporate governance, and represents companies and executives before regulatory agencies. Among his most notable cases, he recently advised JBS on the dual listing of its shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and B3, Brazil’s Stock Exchange, in São Paulo.
Gustavo holds a bachelor’s degree in Law from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, an LL.M. degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and gained international experience at Clifford Chance US LLP in the United States between 2010 and 2011.
He is highly recommended by national and international legal directories such as Chambers Brazil and Global (Capital Markets and Corporate), Legal 500 (Capital Markets and Corporate – Leading Partner), IFLR1000 (Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions), Latin Lawyer 250 (Capital Markets), and Análise Advocacia, reinforcing his position as one of the most influential lawyers in the market.
About Laura Souza
Laura Souza has more than 25 years of experience and is recognized as a leading authority in law applied to the electric power sector and related transactions. Her practice includes strategic support in project structuring, guidance in mapping different business models within the sector, as well as consulting for foreign companies starting operations in Brazil. She also has solid expertise in energy regulatory matters. Throughout her career, Laura has provided legal support to clients across the entire electricity chain (generation, transmission, distribution, and trading), as well as to energy-intensive industries, large consumers, and organizations from various industries that incorporate power generation into their operations.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Law from Universidade Cândido Mendes, a postgraduate degree in Tax Law from Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, and an LL.M. degree in Commercial Law from Fordham University School of Law, United States. Laura is also a member of the Brazilian Institute of Energy Law (IBDE).
Laura is recommended by the most relevant international legal directories: Chambers Brazil and Global (Power), Legal 500 (Electricity and Renewable Energy – Leading Partner), IFLR1000 (Project Development, Energy and Infrastructure). She is also referenced in the national guides Análise Advocacia and Análise Advocacia Mulher. Most recently, she advised BRF on the acquisition of an equity interest in five wind farms owned by Auren Energia.
About TozziniFreire Advogados
TozziniFreire is a leading legal services organization in Latin America, operating in all areas of Business Law and with a relevant track record in serving local and foreign companies from the most diverse industries. With branch offices in several cities in Brazil (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Porto Alegre, and Campinas), including in New York, TozziniFreire strives to provide a unique standard of service quality and the same facilities to its clients throughout the country. We have played a key role in many of the most significant transactions in the Brazilian market, contributing to the growth of the country's economy in recent decades. The relevance of our work has been recognized by specialized national and international publications, considering independent research interviews with professionals from the largest companies in the world. TozziniFreire and its partners are constantly referred to as leaders handling notable matters in the most varied business law practices. For further information, follow us on our social media channels and check out our website at www.tozzinifreire.com.br.
