Luís Antônio Ferraz Mendes graduated at São Paulo University's School of Law in 1984, where he also earned a specialisation degree (certificate) in labour law.

He was admitted to the Brazilian Bar Association (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília chapters). He acted as intern and attorney for some labour unions (chemists, bank employees and plastics industry workers) and, later on, worked at the Villares Group.

Luís joined Pinheiro Neto Advogados in 1992 and became a partner in 1998; currently, he is the head of the labour practice at the firm.

Luís is a member of the International Bar Association (IBA), where he acts as an officer of the Employment and Industrial Relations Law Committee; he is a director of the Trade Association of Law Firms in the States of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (SINSA)

His legal practice spans labour advisory and litigation matters, also encompassing negotiations with labour unions and due diligence work, always on the employer side.

In the administrative area, he has a strong presence in civil inquiries and preparatory proceedings before the Labor Public Prosecutor Office (MPT). He has extensive experience in labour risk assessment for M&A, private equity, asset acquisition deals involving manufacturing, technology, financial, and service companies.