Derraik and Menezes

What Derraik and Menezes does

FM/Derraik (legally FM/Derraik Advogados), commonly associated with the names "Derraik and Menezes," is a São Paulo-headquartered boutique law firm operating as a sociedade de advogados under Brazilian law. Founded through the convergence of professionals from different firms brought together by a shared client (a publicly traded company pursuing an innovation agenda), the firm has continuously served the Brazilian venture capital and M&A ecosystem since 1998, with its founding partners recognized as pioneers of the Brazilian VC market. The firm serves VC and PE funds and managers, startup and technology companies (including unicorns and deep tech ventures), corporate venture capital arms, search fund entrepreneurs, and impact investors, providing legal counsel throughout the deal lifecycle from startup formation through exits and IPOs.

The firm's product surface spans 14 distinct practice areas, with core offerings in Venture Capital Legal Advisory, Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Venture and Innovation, Search Funds, Strategic Conflict Resolution, Intellectual Property and Data Protection (LGPD/GDPR), Corporate and Contracts, Tax Advisory, Labor Law, Real Estate, Infrastructure and Energy, a Climate Desk (covering carbon markets, ESG compliance, and sustainable finance), Third Sector Organizations, and Impact Investing and Social Business. The firm has implemented technical and organizational security measures consistent with ISO 27001 frameworks and is fully compliant with Brazil's LGPD and GDPR for international data transfers. Underlying technology consists of standard legal practice tooling—the firm explicitly operates without proprietary technology platforms, with no public APIs or applications.

Commercially, FM/Derraik runs a sales-led boutique model where partners engage clients directly through industry networks, referrals, and reputation in the Brazilian venture and M&A ecosystem. Revenue is generated through hourly billing rates, fixed fees for specific transactions, and success fees for M&A and investment transactions; pricing is quote-based depending on transaction complexity, matter type, and client scope, and is not publicly disclosed. The firm has mapped approximately 200 VC/PE deals and averages more than 100 Search Fund transactions annually, with a team of approximately 30 professionals out of a total 51–100 headcount that includes administrative staff. Strategic partnerships with Endeavor Brasil, ABVCAP, and Anjos do Brasil integrate the firm into the institutional fabric of Brazilian entrepreneurship, while Chambers Band 1 (2024), Legal 500, Latin Lawyer 250, IFLR 1000, and Leaders League recognitions anchor its standing in the regional legal market.

Name

Derraik and Menezes

Legal name

FM/Derraik Advogados

Website

https://fmderraik.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

FM/Derraik is a São Paulo-based boutique law firm specializing in venture capital, M&A, and corporate legal advisory, serving Brazilian startups, VC/PE funds, corporate venture arms, and search fund entrepreneurs across 14 practice areas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate and Venture Capital Legal Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Transaction Services (Financial, Tax & Commercial Due Diligence) (BPAHAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Due Diligence Advisory (Commercial/Financial/Operational) (BPAHADAE), Due Diligence & Investigative Research (BPAHALAI)

Keywords

• Venture capital law
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Corporate legal advisory
• Search fund transactions
• Intellectual property law

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Advisory Services: Professional legal services billed through hourly rates, fixed fees for specific transactions, or success fees for M&A and investment transactions. Services span venture capital, M&A, corporate law, dispute resolution, tax, intellectual property, and climate/ESG advisory.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

FM/Derraik is a Brazilian boutique law firm providing end-to-end legal advisory services spanning venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, corporate venture and innovation, search funds, strategic dispute resolution, intellectual property/data protection, climate/ESG, tax, labor, real estate, infrastructure and energy, family office succession, and third-sector matters. Services are billed via hourly rates, fixed fees, or success fees, and the firm represents Brazilian and international VC funds, startups, corporations, PE/search fund actors, and family offices across more than 100 VC/PE transactions annually.

Product overview

FM/Derraik is a Brazilian law firm offering comprehensive legal services with a focus on venture capital, M&A, and corporate law. The firm operates as a unified platform of specialized practice areas rather than a single product, providing integrated legal advisory across 14 distinct service lines. The core offerings center on Venture Capital and M&A transactions, supported by specialized practices in Climate/ESG, Intellectual Property, Labor, Tax, Real Estate, and Dispute Resolution. The firm is recognized as a pioneer in Brazilian venture capital legal services, with over 25 years of experience advising startups, investors, and corporations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Venture Capital Legal Advisory Legal advisory services for venture capital transactions, including fund formation, investment agreements, and portfolio company representation from seed through exit stages. For VC funds, angel investors, startups, and portfolio companies in Brazil.
• Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Comprehensive M&A legal services covering due diligence, transaction structuring, negotiation, and closing for domestic and international deals. For acquirers, targets, and PE/search fund actors.
• Corporate Venture and Innovation

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #1 in VC transaction rankings in Brazil
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Endeavor BrasilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Founding partner Fabiana Fagundes helped structure Endeavor Brasil in 2000 and continues as mentor. The firm actively supports Endeavor's scale-up programs and corporate hub initiatives, participating in acceleration programs and providing legal expertise to the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• ABVCAPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner Rodrigo Menezes serves on the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Seed Capital Committee of ABVCAP (Brazilian Venture Capital Association), contributing to industry development and policy discussions.
• Anjos do BrasilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner Rodrigo Menezes serves on the Board of Anjos do Brasil, supporting angel investment ecosystem development in Brazil.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Barbosa Müssnich Aragão (BMA): Major Brazilian corporate/M&A firm with a leading VC and startup practice and active search fund exposure; one of the closest direct competitors in the same Chambers/Legal 500 rankings.
• Lefosse Advogados: Boutique-leaning corporate and M&A firm with strong VC and private equity coverage in Brazil; competes for the same mid-market venture and growth-stage mandates as FM/Derraik.
• Stocche Forbes Advogados: São Paulo-based boutique with a similarly VC- and M&A-focused practice serving Brazilian startups, funds, and searchers; comparable in scale and specialization, often appearing alongside FM/Derraik in VC transaction rankings.

Broad incumbents

• Pinheiros Neto Advogados: Premier full-service Brazilian firm with strong corporate, capital markets, and VC practices; typically a competitor for large-cap and cross-border Brazil-related transactions.
• TozziniFreire Advogados: Full-service Brazilian firm with strong VC, technology, and innovation practices; regularly appears alongside FM/Derraik on VC deal league tables.
• Demarest Advogados: Top-tier full-service Brazilian law firm with active M&A, venture capital, and private equity practices; competes for mid- and large-cap Brazilian transactions.
• Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr. e Quiroga: Largest full-service Brazilian law firm with a deep corporate, M&A, and capital markets practice; competes for top-tier VC, PE, and IPO mandates across Brazil.
• Veirano Advogados: Large Brazilian full-service firm with significant corporate, M&A, and cross-border capabilities; competes with FM/Derraik for mid-market and large-cap VC/M&A mandates.
• Cescon Barrieu Flesch & Barreto Advogados: Major Brazilian corporate/M&A firm with deep private equity and capital markets expertise; overlaps with FM/Derraik on mid- and large-cap M&A mandates in Brazil.
• Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice: Major Brazilian firm with one of the country's leading M&A practices; regularly competes for the same VC, PE, and corporate transactional mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fmderraik
• Instagraminstagram.com/fmderraik

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Derraik and Menezes