Trench Rossi Watanabe advises NFL at Maracanã
Trench Rossi Watanabe advised NFL International Licensing, on the legal aspects of the National Football League’s first official game held in Rio de Janeiro. The match between the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys took place on Sunday, September 27, at the Maracanã stadium.
The firm’s work covered a broad range of legal areas, including tax, customs, immigration, corporate, contractual, regulatory, consumer protection, data privacy and intellectual property matters, with the goal of aligning the operation with Brazilian legislation requirements. This engagement follows the advisory work the firm previously carried out for the NFL during the games held in São Paulo in 2024 and 2025, and marks the continuation of the relationship between Trench Rossi Watanabe and the league since its debut in Brazil.
The negotiation was led by Anna Mello (pictured left), partner in the firm’s Transactional practice, alongside Thales Stucky (pictured right), partner in the Tax group. The team also included partners Clarissa Lehmen, Renata Amaral and Felipe Ferenzini, counsel Marcia Calafate, and associates João Miguel Damous, Gabriel Valuche, Beatriz Paz and Caroline Strehler.
Hosting the game at a stadium such as the Maracanã reflects a further step in the NFL’s expansion into Brazil, involving coordination with multiple government authorities and stakeholders. The transaction is seen as contributing to strengthening the league’s presence in the country and positioning Brazil as a venue for international sporting events.
