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Matheus Ramalho

Attorney At Law

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Matheus Ramalho joined Licks Attorneys in 2021, bringing a sharp focus on consulting services, business law, and transactional matters, particularly in banking, M&A, and corporate advisory. With dual PhDs in Corporate Law from USP and Procedural Law from UERJ, Matheus offers a deep, multi-dimensional understanding of legal frameworks and procedural intricacies, essential for addressing today’s complex business challenges.

Matheus' consulting expertise spans a broad range of business law-related areas, including M&A, distressed asset acquisitions, and transactional risk assessments. He has a proven track record of advising companies on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and structuring strategic transactions. His consulting approach consistently aligns with clients' business objectives, while his background in investment strategies and special situations allows him to excel in risk management and legal enforcement strategies.

In addition to his transactional and advisory capabilities, Matheus has solid litigation experience across various industries, with particular strengths in corporate law, bankruptcies and restructurings, finance, and intellectual property. He is highly regarded for his ability to break down complex legal issues into actionable strategies, helping financial services clients resolve significant challenges efficiently. This includes assessments in areas such as company valuation, damage calculation methodologies in securities litigation, intricate shareholder lawsuits, investor disputes, or IP infringement losses.

Matheus has led numerous significant projects, including setting up companies across diverse sectors in Brazil, negotiating strategic deals, and facilitating the acquisition of complex intangible assets such as software, pharmaceutical licenses, legal claims, and investment opportunities with challenging valuations. His ability to advise on cross-border matters is enhanced by his keen understanding of the synergies and distancing factors that must be considered in decision-making processes across multiple jurisdictions.

Beyond his practice, Matheus serves as President of the Legislative Affairs Consultancy Commission at the Rio de Janeiro State Bar Association, where he advises policymakers on critical legal issues. His unique combination of consulting, litigation, transactional expertise, and cross-border insight makes him an invaluable advisor for clients navigating complex legal landscapes.

+ Languages
  • Portuguese
  • English
+ Practice Areas
  • Banking and Capital Markets
  • Bankruptcy and Insolvency
  • Contractual Relationships and Partnerships
  • Corporate Advisory
  • Dispute Resolution and ADR
  • Litigation
  • Patents
  • Real Estate and Construction Practice
  • Special Sits and Alternative Investment Advisory
  • Tax Customs
+ Representative Cases
  • Represented a small group of European bondholders in the bankruptcy reorganization of a telecommunication corporate group, with a debt of R$ 65 billion;
  • Represented a bank in a lawsuit over R$1.2 billion against the Brazilian Central Bank ;
  • Represented a Brazilian automobile retailer company in a R$400 million bankruptcy reorganization;
  • Design a corporate restructuring strategy to protect over R$300 million in assets from business liabilities;
  • Counseled an international bank on how to monitor more than R$200 million in assets of its debtors that filed for bankruptcy reorganization and liquidation;
  • Represented a financial institution in an over R$120 million shareholder dispute arbitration, including on the enforcement of the arbitral award;
  • Represented a client in an over R$100 million inventory proceeding;
  • Represented a sports club in a shareholder litigation with an investment bank in an over R$40 million dispute;
  • Represented a company in an over R$30 million arbitration regarding the ownership of transmission rights;
  • Counseled a large pension fund in a substantial disinvestment in a greenfield project;
  • Consulted an international consultancy firm in strategic distressed acquisitions and investments, in Brazilian companies that filed for bankruptcy;
  • Represented bankers and board members in investigations regarding the breach of fiduciary duties and/or violations of the Brazilian Securities' Act, conducted before the Brazilian Capital Market Authority;
  • Represented shareholders and directors in derivative lawsuits, as plaintiffs or as respondents.
+ Professional Highlights
  • Legal 500 Latin America – Key lawyer – Life Sciences (2025);
  • President of the Special Committee of Legislative Affairs of Brazilian Bar Association – Rio de Janeiro Section;
  • Coordinator of the Venture Capital & Start-ups discipline at the Superior Advocacy School of Brazilian Bar Association – Rio de Janeiro Section;
  • Coordinator of the Corporate Bankruptcy discipline at the Superior Advocacy School of Brazilian Bar Association – Rio de Janeiro Section;
  • Member of the Committee of Arbitration of Brazilian Bar Association – Rio de Janeiro Section;
  • Member of the Especial Committee of Bankruptcy of Brazilian Bar Association – Rio de Janeiro Section in 2018;
  • Member of the Especial Committee of Studies in Civil Procedure of Brazilian Bar Association – Rio de Janeiro Section;
  • President (2017-2018) and Treasurer (2016-2017) of the Brazilian Association of the Students of Arbitration (“Abearb”);
  • President (2017-2018) and Treasurer (2016-2017) of the Brazilian Association of the Students of Arbitration (“Abearb”);
  • Committee- Member of the Brazilian Bar Association'ss special committee responsible for designing the Bar Admission Exam (2014-2016);
  • Visiting Scholar of the State University of Rio de Janeiro in LLM program of procedural law, lecturing bankruptcy liquidation and reorganization proceedings ;
  • Visiting Scholar of the School of Judges of the State Court of Rio de Janeiro (2015 – 2018).
+ Representative Experience
+ Affiliations
  • Brazilian Bar Association – Rio de Janeiro Section (OAB-RJ);
  • Institute of the Brazilian Attorneys (IAB);
  • Institute of Cultural Studies (IEC).
+ Education
  • Postdoctoral Candidate in Law (focused on securities litigation and shareholder enforcement rights under Brazilian and U.S. law) at State University of Rio de Janeiro;
  • PhD in Law (focus of study: corporate law, finance, restructuring, public utilities) at the University of São Paulo (USP) – Largo do São Francisco;
  • PhD in Law (focus of study: procedural law, bankruptcy reorganization, frictions between creditors' and debtors' rights and due process protections) at State University of Rio de Janeiro;
  • Masters in Law (focus of study: governance, corporate groups risk assessment and contamination and bankruptcy reorganizations) at State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) (2017);
  • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), 2014.

+ Publications
+ Speaking Engagements and Others
+ Articles