Our professionals represent defendants and individuals under criminal investigation, act for victims in private prosecutions, and provide comprehensive criminal law advisory services that extend beyond litigation.
Although traditional criminal defense focuses on representig the accused, we also represent individuals and companies that are victims of crime. To address the corporate dimensions of these matters, our team has also specialized in internal investigations and compliance, with expertise in the pre-trial phases of internal investigations and audits, assisting in the investigation of facts and the collection of evidence that will later be used in criminal proceedings.
Our practice covers the following areas.
Our Economic and Property practice include crimes against the National Financial System (Law No. 7,492/86), money laundering crimes (Law No. 9,613/98), tax evasion and crimes against the economic order (Law No. 8,137/90), crimes in bidding and administrative contracts (Law No. 14,133/21), crimes of fraud, embezzlement, simulated duplicate invoices, fraud against creditors and other illicit acts.
These are typically crimes under the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts or specialized courts, such as the 1st and 2nd Specialized Courts for Tax Crimes, Organized Crime, and Money Laundering in the capital of São Paulo, and require a strong litigation strategy both in the main proceedings and in personal and asset-related precautionary measures.
We consider corporate criminal matters to include all criminal law issues related to the business activities of companies, whether they involve advisory work, litigation, or ongoing legal support.
Corporate advisory services include legal opinions and guidance on transactions and activities that may give rise to criminal exposure. They also encompass the monitoring and conduct of internal investigations and audits in cases involving irregularities by officers, employees, or suppliers.
Corporate litigation includes the defense of partners, directors, and employees of legal entities in investigations and criminal proceedings related to business activity. We also represent victims, identifying crimes and promoting the accountability of perpetrators. In both cases, these claims typically involve property crimes, crimes against consumer relations, environmental crimes, unfair competition crimes, copyright infringements, crimes against honor, among others.
Corporate legal support demands encompass situations that don't fit into the previous categories, where corporate clients, despite not being victims or defendants, need to respond to demands and requests from the Judiciary, Public Prosecutor's Office, and Judicial Police. Through this service, we help ensure the integrity, accuracy, and effectiveness of transmitted information, the timely compliance with such requests, the mitigation of risks, and the avoidance of unnecessary conflicts with public and private entities.
Our partners began their careers in renowned law firms and have been practicing criminal law for over 30 years. A significant part of this experience has been devoted to traditional criminal matters, representing clients in cases involving offenses against property, life, public faith, and other legally protected interests.
We have a special connection with the Jury Court, built through consistent work and the handling of over 150 jury trials. Among these, we highlight our firm's decisive and successful role in the longest jury trial in the history of the Brazilian Federal Justice system, held in 2022 and lasting 18 days.
Our experience in traditional criminal law is part of the firm’s DNA and has enabled us to build close professional relationships with all participants in the justice system, including defendants, victims, judges, and court personnel. This background led us to adopt the bespoke and individualized structure that defines our firm today.
Developments in Brazilian criminal law and criminal procedure have also given rise to new situations that, by their nature, may still be regarded as traditional criminal matters and are likewise handled by our firm.stalkingThese include situations involving the application of the Maria da Penha Law, both in defense of the accused and the victims, urgent protective measures, and the crime of stalking. Also noteworthy are offenses against honor, such as slander, defamation, and insult, which have taken on broader significance with the popularization of social media and the dissemination of harmful statements through these platforms.
With the expansion of criminal law and the growing use of custodial sentences, our professionals identified a gap in the legal market: criminal enforcement has historically not been a central area of focus for law firms specializing in criminal law.
Our firm, in contrast, has always worked on criminal enforcement proceedings, initially on a pro bono basis and later as one of its specialties. Due to this constant involvement, we have developed experience and knowledge in the field, both in judicial and administrative matters, including the application of legal mechanisms such as sentence remission and pardon, which may significantly affect the length of the sentence to be served.
