Overview

Rafael focuses on domestic and international project and acquisition financings, restructurings, and other debt and equity financing transactions involving infrastructure and energy projects. Rafael has more than ten years of experience in Brazil (Pinheiro Neto Advogados) and the United States (Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Vinson & Elkins LLP). He is qualified to practice law in Brazil and New York. He received an LL.M. Degree, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, from Columbia Law School.

The following is a list of representative matters in which Rafael has assisted.

Experience

  • A fiber company in connection with its inaugural senior secured green loan for the construction and development of an independent fiber-to-the-home network

  • Lenders in connection with a successful Chapter 11 purchase of certain bitcoin mega-mining data center facilities located in Nebraska and Texas

  • Lenders in connection with a project financing to a data center company

  • A private equity fund and its portfolio company in connection with the development and financing of a transmission line, in a 2022 deal of the year

  • Lenders in connection with certain mezz, construction and tax equity financings for certain solar assets, in a 2021 North American solar deal of the year

  • Sponsor and borrower in connection with a construction financing of a natural gas storage facility located in Texas

  • A private equity fund in connection with the acquisition of Nova Transportadora do Sudeste – NTS, a natural gas transporter, from Petrobras, in a 2017 deal of the year

  • A Japanese trading company in connection with the acquisition of Petrobras Gás S.A -Gaspetro, a holding of 18 local gas distribution companies, from Petrobras

  • An Ad-Hoc Committee of Bondholders in the restructuring and DIP financing of the largest private oil and gas company in Brazil, in a 2013 restructuring deal of the year

  • A private equity fund in connection with certain aspects of the acquisition of Refinaria Landulpho Alves (RLAM) refinery in Brazil from Petrobras

  • A German company in the negotiation and formation of a consortium with a Brazilian supplier for the export of FPSO Modules to Petrobras

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Credentials

Education

  • Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ, Bachelor of Laws, 2012
  • Instituto Brasileiro de Mercado de Capitais – IBMEC, Executive MBA – Finance, 2015
  • Columbia Law School, Masters in Laws (LL.M.) (Honors: Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar), 2019

Admissions

  • New York
  • Brazil
News & Achievements

Deals & Cases

Soluna Secures $100 Million Facility from Generate Capital to Expand Green Data Centers

Vinson & Elkins served as counsel to affiliates of Generate Capital, PBC in connection with their roles as sole lender, administrative agent and collateral agent, in the negotiation of a financing of up to $100,000,000 in connection with certain large-scale data center facilities located in Briscoe County and Willacy County, Texas, with Soluna DVSL ComputeCo, LLC, Soluna DVSL II ComputeCo, LLC, and Soluna KK I ComputeCo LLC acting as the borrowers.

September 16, 2025

September 16, 2025 • 1-minute read

Deals & Cases

Skyborn Enters US Offshore Joint Venture

Vinson & Elkins advised Global Infrastructure Partners in connection with the entry into an advanced US offshore wind joint venture by its portfolio company, Skyborn Renewables (“Skyborn”), whereby Skyborn completed the acquisition of a 50% stake in the Revolution Wind and South Fork Wind projects from US utility Eversource Energy.

October 1, 2024

October 1, 2024 • 2-minute read