Labour in Brazil

Rossi, Maffini, Milman & Grando Advogados

Rossi, Maffini, Milman & Grando Advogados is one of the first destinations in Porto Alegre for companies seeking assistance in employment disputes, including administrative proceedings before the Ministry of Labour and cases in the Superior Labour Court. On the advisory front, the group excels in risk management, employment contracts, union relations and labour matters related to M&A transactions. The team is particularly active in the banking, sports, real estate and pharmaceutical industries. Benoni Canellas Rossi, who has more than 20 years of experience in labour law matters, leads the practice. Other core team members includes Monica Canellas Rossi, a specialist in both labour and and procedural law, and social security expert Daniel Machado de Oliveira.

Practice head(s):

Benoni Canellas Rossi

Key clients

Banco Regional de Desevolvimento do Extremo Sul (BRDE)

Lear do Brasil Indústria e Comércio de Interiores Automotivo

Saint Gobain do Brasil Prod Inds e Para Construção

Xerox Comércio e Indústria

Rede D’or Santa Cruz

Centro de Integração Empresa Escola – CIEE

Grêmio Football Porto Alegrense

Associação Dos Juízes Do Rio Grande Do Sul (Ajuris)

Spe Holding Beira Rio – Brio

Arauco Indústria De Painéis

Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceição

Cristália Produtos Químicos Farmacêuticos

Lamb Construções e Engenharia

Arauco Indústria De Painéis

Work highlights

  • Represented BRDE in an action, where it was held that the bank did not disrespect employee guarantees.
  • Acted for Lear do Brasil in a claim in which the claimant sought to be reinstated alleging she had been dismissed on discrimination grounds.
  • Assisted a company from the healthcare sector in a R$400m case before the Superior Labour Court.

Souto Correa Advogados

A popular choice for international and domestic clients from the energy, construction, manufacturing, tech and pharmaceutical segments, the labour team at Souto Correa Advogados is noted for its broad expertise, which covers class actions, collective negotiations and employment contracts. In addition to its strength in administrative and judicial litigation, the group is seasoned in alternative dispute resolution, often acting for tech companies in mediation proceedings. On the compliance front, the practice offers services, including risk assessments and advice on data protection policies, aimed at preventing high-stakes claims. Union relations expert Paulo Roberto Souto oversees the department with associate Eduardo Mascarenhas, who is well versed in cases before the Ministry of Labour and the Superior Labour Court. Also recommended is associate Geraldo Korpaliski Filho, who has extensive expertise in complex labour disputes and contracts.

Practice head(s):

Paulo Roberto Souto; Eduardo Mascarenhas

Testimonials

‘Souto Correa has supported us in labour matters with considerable success.’

‘Negotiations are carried out with care and in a friendly manner. This makes the process much easier.’

‘Mediation is an instrument that the firm uses successfully in many processes.’

‘Geraldo Korpaliski and Rodrigo de Moraes are professionals with great attitude and resolute. They offer solutions and options informing the risks involved in each case. They are committed to the company and have excellent technical knowledge.’

‘Qualified and updated professionals. Punctuality and cordiality’

‘All professionals are very competent.’

Key clients

Dell Computadores

Lenovo Tecnologia

Honeywell do Brasil

Celulose Irani

Santo Antonio Energia

Abbott Laboratórios do Brasil

Santos Brasil Participações

Cinemark

Vale

Habitasul Florestal

Grupo Ruta

Vogel Soluções em Telecomunicações e Informática

Rede Duque

Nelogica

WMB Supermercados do Brasil

Airbnb Serviços Digitais

Solví Participações

Object Edge

Launch Pad Tecnologia e Serviços (Hotmart)

Grupo CCRR – Colacril

Aeromot – Aeronaves e Motores

Associação Escola Panamericana de Porto Alegre

CITIC Construções do Brasil

AVL Aplicativos (Wildlife Studios)

Work highlights

  • Represented Dell in labour claims and advised on the negotiation of collective agreements with unions from different regions where the company has operations.

CMT – Carvalho, Machado e Timm Advogados

CMT – Carvalho, Machado e Timm Advogados is noted for the breadth of its labour law practice, which is geared to handle an array of matters, including collective bargaining agreements, complex litigation and the transfer of employees abroad. Its client base is equally broad, featuring companies from the pharmaceutical, tech, IT, banking and cellulose industries. Natalia Schnaider Serro Mies, who is recommended for compliance investigations and mass litigation, heads up the department with social security law expert Martha Macedo Sittoni and Michele Bertoletti, both of whom advise on collective claims and public-interest civil actions.

Practice head(s):

Natalia Schnaider Serro Mies; Martha Macedo Sittoni; Michele Bertoletti

Testimonials

‘Very dedicated team, with great technical knowledge and vast experience.’

‘Very good professionals, very capable.’

‘What differentiates the firm is the availability of the team, regardless of the size of the client. The firm assists me with strategies to reduce liabilities.’

‘Natalia Schnaider Serro Mies and Michele Bertoletti are excellent professionals, always ready to help.’

‘Qualified professionals and service with attention to clients’ needs.’

‘I would like to highlight the partner Natalia Schnaider Serro Mies, who manages the team that assists our company. She is always available to discuss our concerns.’

Key clients

John Deere Brasil

PPG Industrial do Brasil (Revocoat)

Mundial

Parker Hannifin Indústria e Comércio

Grupo NC

Prudential do Brasil

Indigo – Administradora Geral de Estacionamentos

CMPC – Celulose Riograndense

Katoen Natie do Brasil

Yara Fertilizantes

HCL (Brazil) Tecnologia da Informação EIRELI

Banrisul – Banco do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul

Thoughtworks

Associação Escola Panamericana de Porto Alegre (Pan American School)

Granjas 4 Irmãos SA Agropecuária Industria e Comércio

Multi Armazéns

Scalzilli Althaus Advogados

Scalzilli Althaus Advogados is particularly known for its strong expertise in real estate, where it assists clients in litigation and administrative proceedings before the Regional Labour Department, contingency programmes and the monitoring and reduction of labour liabilities. The group is also proficient in mediation and trade union matters such as industrial action and negotiations. Department head Marcelo Nedel Scalzilli is counsel of choice for clients from the real estate, food and beverage, and agribusiness sectors in relation to HR management issues and collective actions. He receives key support from corporate law specialist Veronica Althaus and Gabriele Chimelo, the latter of whom focuses on corporate restructuring and insolvency.

Practice head(s):

Marcelo Nedel Scalzilli

Testimonials

‘The firm has always guided and assisted us.’

‘I use the firm a lot for consultations in order to avoid labour liabilities, which helps a lot in decision-making.’

‘They are fast, clear and agile. Always quick with answers.’

‘Regarding the labour team, we deal with Marcelo Nedel Scalzilli. He is always available, providing fast and accurate guidance.’

‘Defences are well founded, always achieving good results even in hostile environments. Lawyers are fighters, they seek results.’

‘Scalzilli Althaus has an information system that makes them extremely organised, especially regarding deadlines.’

Key clients

Goldsztein Cyrela Empreendimentos Imobiliários

Tlantic Sistemas de Informação

Pronto Ducatio Consultoria de Imóveis

LPS Sul Consultoria de Imóveis

Brasil Broker Participações

Coperativa Central Aurora Alimentos

MRV Engenharia

Fábrica de Móveis Florense

Cigam Software Corporativo

Work highlights

  • Represented Goldsztein Cyrela Empreendimentos Imobiliários in a labour contract claim filed by a real estate broker.
  • Acted for Tlantic Sistemas de Informação in an employment dispute.
  • Assisted LPS Sul Consultoria de Imóveis in an employment claim.

Silveiro Advogados

A popular choice for companies in metallurgy, Silveiro Advogados' employment team is also active in the cellulose, food and beverage, telecoms, and retail sectors, where it handles both advisory and contentious work. As part of its offering, the team excels in collective agreements, union negotiations, compliance matters and collective actions. Guilherme Guimarães, who has a strong background in complex individual and collective litigation, leads the group. He is supported by Camila Forest, who is well versed in preventive strategies and risk management, and associate Fernanda Borges Darós.

Practice head(s):

Guilherme Guimarães

Testimonials

‘High quality technical service, and always available and accessible to clients.’

Key clients

Gerdau

Taurus Armas

Grupo RBS

Bebidas Fruki

Lins Ferrão Artigos do Vestuário

Metasa SA Indústria Metalúrgica

Grupo Zanc

CMPC – Celulose Riograndense

Grupo AEGEA

IMDEPA Rolamentos Importação e Comércio

HT Micron Semicondutores

Localiza Rent a Car

Goldsztein Cyrela Empreendimentos Imobiliários

Grupo Peccin

Fortbras Autopeças

Work highlights

  • Assisted Gerdau with the development of a new thesis which limited a claim in time, securing the dismissal of approximately 1,500 individual actions.
  • Represented Metasa SA Indústria Metalúrgica in a claim in which the Union of Metalworkers requested the annulment of an alteration in the health insurance and compensation for collective moral damages.
  • Acted for Localiza Rent a Car in a collective claim filed by the Union of Freelance Agents of the State of Rio Grande do Sul involving a collective agreement.

TozziniFreire Advogados

With notable strength in the energy, telecoms, tech, manufacturing and pharmaceutical segments, TozziniFreire Advogados undertakes contentious and non-contentious work. The team is often engaged in complex collective negotiations with trade unions, employment matters related to M&A transactions and individual and collective claims. Litigator Maurício De Carvalho Góes oversees the practice.

Practice head(s):

Maurício de Carvalho Góes

Testimonials

‘Excellent service. Lawyers are very well prepared and up-to-date on matters.’

‘Confidence, quick feedback and broad knowledge of the subjects.’

‘The firm stands out for its professionals, who have excellent technical knowledge in their areas of expertise, providing services in a personalised way.’

‘Focused on serving the client with quality and availability.’

‘Negotiations are integrated with other departments.’

‘Maurício de Carvalho Góes is very knowledgeable and didactic.’

Key clients

Braskem

BRK Ambiental

Escola Panamericana

Foxter Cia Imobiliária

FRAS-LE

Kavo Kerr

Lojas Colombo

Mineradora Fagundes

Pirelli

Portocred

Prometeon Tyre Group

Radio E Tv Bandeirantes

Randon

RGE Sul

CGT ELETROSUL

CPFL ENERGIA

Nexteer

Banco de Lage Landen

Grupo RBS

SoloNetwork

Veirano Advogados

The labour and immigration team at Veirano Advogados is well versed in HR management, risk assessments, compensation plans and employment contracts. Strategic litigation is another pillar of the practice, which handles administrative and judicial disputes, public civil acitons, and collective and class claims. Luiz Afrânio Araujo , a name to note for contentious and non-contentious employment matters, leads the group alongside São Paulo-based Luiz Antonio Dos Santos, who is specialised in collective bargaining agreements and union relations.

Practice head(s):

Luiz Antonio dos Santos; Luiz Afrânio Araújo

Testimonials

‘The team is very knowledgeable and navigates all levels of the judiciary with competence.’

‘Highly competent, excellent lawyers, fast, accurate and super available. Excellent communication with the clients.’

‘The service provided by Veirano Advogados is of excellent quality. They have complete control of the cases, being able to answer questions about the cases at any time. On the advisory side, the agility and quality of responses stand out. Whenever we need an opinion from the firm, whether informally or formally, the answer arrives promptly and quickly. I consider Veirano a true business partner.’

‘Luiz Afrânio Araújo stands out in terms of the advice provided and knowledge of our business.’

‘The practical experience, technical knowledge and commercial mindset offered by the team are unparalleled in the local market and rarely found in the international market. From union negotiations and collective disputes to crisis management and general advice on the matter, Veirano is certainly a market leader in the area.’  

Key clients

Eli Lilly do Brasil

Philip Morris Brasil

Yara Fertilizantes

Merck Sharpe & Dohme

TAP Maintenance & Engineering Brazil

GlaxoSmithkline

Stihl Ferramentas

Tok&Stok

Prati Donaduzzi

Bristol Myers Squibb

Work highlights

  • Acted for STIHL in a case involving a former expatriated worker who was transferred to Germany and claimed to have suffered a salary reduction when returning to Brazil after several years working abroad.
  • Assisted Philip Morris Brasil in  claims filed by employees involving occupational disease.
  • Represented Yara Fertilizantes in all of its labour disputes, including two class actions filled by the Workers Union in Porto Alegre and Canoas claiming that Yara’s profit share programme paid in the last 5 years should be considered as part of employees’ salaries.