Brazilian counsel for international trade and shipping
We represent foreign companies doing business with Brazil — freight forwarders, NVOCCs, exporters, importers, traders and their insurers. Debt recovery, cargo protection, company formation and contracts, handled in English by a team based in Latin America's largest port.
What we do for foreign companies in Brazil
Six fronts where a foreign business usually needs Brazilian counsel — always on the cargo side, never for shipowners, so we are free of conflicts.
Debt collection in Brazil
Extrajudicial demand, protest and court enforcement against Brazilian debtors — and recognition of foreign judgments and arbitral awards.
Read more → Protect cargoBlocking wrongful cargo release
Formal notices to terminals and depositaries, urgent injunctions and carrier liability when cargo risks being delivered without payment or original bills.
Read more → EstablishCompany formation in Brazil
Subsidiaries for foreign groups: entity choice, resident attorney-in-fact, Central Bank registration of capital, licenses and banking.
Read more → ContractContract review under Brazilian law
Dispute clauses that actually work in Brazil, limitation of liability, CISG, INCOTERMS, agency and distribution — before you sign.
Read more → MaritimeMaritime lawyers in Brazil
Cargo claims, demurrage disputes, port and terminal matters — what a maritime lawyer does in Brazil and how to engage one from abroad.
Read more → The lawHow maritime law works in Brazil
No automatic Hague-Visby, domestic carrier liability, the time bars you cannot miss and the Admiralty Court — the guide for foreign parties.
Read more →Everything we do — the complete practice
The full scope of the firm, as offered on the Brazilian site — every front, available to foreign clients in English.
Demurrage & detention disputes
Challenging carrier charges and recovering forwarders’ receivables.
Talk to us → PracticeCargo claims (damage & shortage)
Against carriers and terminals; defense of forwarders and NVOCCs.
Talk to us → PracticeCustoms inspection & grey-channel defense
Cargo held under fraud-suspicion procedures in Brazilian customs.
Talk to us → PracticeCargo forfeiture (perdimento) defense
Administrative and court defense against confiscation of goods.
Talk to us → PracticeCustoms penalties & tariff classification
Infraction notices, NCM classification disputes and fines.
Talk to us → PracticeReefer cargo disputes
Cold-chain breaks, temperature records and perishable cargo claims.
Talk to us → PracticeBreak bulk & project cargo
Stowage, lashing and heavy-lift damage — evidence and liability.
Talk to us → PracticeInternational contracts
Sales, agency, logistics and carriage — drafted to work in Brazil.
Talk to us → PracticeForwarder & NVOCC structuring
Operating in Brazil: entity, ANTAQ registration and contracts.
Talk to us →Brazilian law, explained in English
Practical guides for the questions foreign companies actually search for.
Insight · Brazil Maritime Lawyer in Brazil: When Foreign Companies Need One and How to Choose
Cargo damaged, held or billed with demurrage in a Brazilian port? What a maritime lawyer in Brazil actually does for foreign companies — cargo claims, demurrage disputes, customs retention, port disputes — and how to engage one from abroad.
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Insight · Brazil Debt Collection in Brazil: How Foreign Companies Recover Commercial Debts
A Brazilian company owes you money and stopped answering? How debt collection works in Brazil for foreign creditors — extrajudicial demand, protest, court action, and when a foreign judgment or arbitral award can be enforced.
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Insight · Brazil Maritime Law in Brazil: A Practical Guide for Foreign Companies
How maritime law works in Brazil — the legal framework, why the Hague-Visby Rules do not apply automatically, carrier liability, time bars for cargo and demurrage claims, the Admiralty Court, and what foreign cargo interests should know.
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Insight · Brazil Wrongful Cargo Release in Brazil: How to Stop Delivery Before It Happens
Unpaid seller or forwarder afraid the cargo will be released in Brazil without payment or without the original bill of lading? How to act before terminals and depositaries — formal notice, injunctions and carrier liability under Brazilian law.
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Insight · Brazil Setting Up a Company in Brazil: A Practical Legal Guide for Foreign Investors
Can a foreign company own 100% of a Brazilian subsidiary? Which entity type to choose, what a foreign shareholder needs (resident attorney-in-fact, Central Bank registration), and the steps and timeline to incorporate in Brazil.
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Insight · Brazil Contracts with Brazilian Companies: What Foreign Parties Should Review Before Signing
Signing with a Brazilian buyer, supplier, agent or partner? The clauses that decide disputes under Brazilian law — governing law and forum, arbitration, language, limitation of liability, INCOTERMS and payment protection.
Read →Port-side experience, business language
Gentil Advogados is a Brazilian law firm focused on maritime, customs and international trade law, founded by Fábio Gentil — over 20 years in foreign trade, certified by the Lloyd's Maritime Academy (London) and by Harvard programs in negotiation, professor of maritime contracts and member of the Maritime Law Commission of the Brazilian Bar (OAB Santos). We act exclusively on the cargo side — forwarders, NVOCCs, shippers, receivers and insurers — never for shipowners, so there is no conflict of interest. Based in Santos, acting throughout Brazil.
Tell us about your case in Brazil
Send a short description and the key documents. We reply in English with a first assessment and the recommended route — no commitment.