Law practiced with empathy
We base our work on the belief that empathy, understanding and sensitivity are valuable tools for good performance in our work.
JUSTICE FIRST
HOTTA
ADVOCACIA
We are a boutique Brazilian firm focused on environmental law and human rights cases. We work predominantly on consumer side world-changing cases that will forever shape legal history. We have a rotary of high calibre lawyers who fearlessly join our mission as we make Brazil a better and more protected place.
Our fields of practice
Global network*
Justice without fear
Exceptional quality
*Hotta Advocacia maintains an institutional collaboration with Pogust Goodhead, a law firm based in the United Kingdom and with branches in several jurisdictions, observing all the laws and regulations pertinent to the countries involved in this international collaboration.
Why we practice in these fields
Creating a better world
For us, law is a true tool for transformation. Through it we aim to make the world a better place for our clients.
Client appreciation
Our clients are at the centre of all our strategies. Our mission is to bring the best result to those who choose to trust our work.
Environmental Protection
The environment is precious, but it is under fierce attack. We believe that it is our duty to protect biodiversity, and that is why this ideal permeates all of our work.
Our team
We are a team that prides itself on dynamism, vitality, and creativity combined with our experience and expertise.
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- Sócio
- Partner
- Legal directors
- Diretores jurídicos
- Senior Associates
- Associado Sênior
- Litigation Finance Associates
- Associado de Financiamento de Litígios
- Associates
- Associado
- Legal Assistants
- Assistentes jurídicos
Felipe Hotta
Partner
Felipe Hotta
Partner
Felipe Hotta has a degree from Universidade de São Paulo (USP) and holds a master’s in environmental law from Queen Mary University of London. He was a UNESCO Youth Ambassador and a researcher in Civil Rights and Social Actions in the World’s Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ) campaign.
He also has years of experience as a partner managing the activities of the LATAM arm of a prestigious international law firm, with a special focus on human rights, indigenous and environmental law cases.
In this work, he was deeply involved with mass civil liability actions brought against transnational corporations that have been destroying the environment and violating human rights, in addition to providing management and leadership for the team and supporting the business operation and strategy.
Recently, Felipe settled a mass environmental disaster lawsuit on behalf of an indigenous community against Vale S.A., due to the Brumadinho dam disaster. Felipe structured a multimillion-dollar deal to compensate the families and rebuild the village.
Anna Paula Lopes
Legal Director
Anna Paula Lopes
Legal Director
Anna Lopes is an experienced attorney in strategic dispute resolution who has worked for over seven years in judicial and arbitration strategic litigation in one of the biggest Brazilian law firms, including giving consultancy to many national and international companies (pre-litigation assistance). Anna acted in strategic complex disputes concerning contracts, civil liability, business law, bankruptcy, and judicial reorganization law, an area in which she has a unique experience in a transnational dispute to one of the most significant insolvency cases in Latin America.
Bachelor of Law from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (2015), Post-graduated in Business Law (2019), and Master’s in contemporary civil law and legal practice (2023) by the Catholic Pontifical University of Rio de Janeiro State (PUC-Rio). Current member of the International Commission of the Brazilian Bar Association of the State of Rio de Janeiro (2023).
Gustavo Palagi
Legal Director
Gustavo Palagi
Legal Director
Gustavo is a Brazilian Lawyer, admitted to the Brazilian Bar Association in 2018. He graduated with a LLB at the University of São Paulo. Gustavo has experience in litigations involving civil liability, consumer rights, and family and succession law. Having acted in areas involving public law and contracts, he has also experience with advocacy and accounting. During his time at the University of São Paulo, he participated in extra-curricular activities involving support for imprisoned women and students' representation. And acted as a trainee for a Judge in the State Court of São Paulo.
Silvia Gusmao
Legal Director
Silvia Gusmao
Legal Director
Silvia is an experienced attorney in strategic cases before the Brazilian Higher Courts. Former clerk at the Brazilian Supreme Court. Master’s in public law by the Catholic Pontifical University of Minas Gerais State (PUC-Minas). Doctoral student at the University of Brasilia (UnB). Current member of the Higher Courts Commission and the Constitutional Studies Commission of the Brazilian Bar Association of the Federal District.
Yuri Toledo
Legal Director
Yuri Toledo
Legal Director
Yuri is a Brazilian qualified lawyer based in Rio de Janeiro’s Office. He has strong experience in Brazil with environmental licensing, dam safety, crisis management, climate litigation, complex dispute resolution, renewable energy, and biodiversity.
Before joining the firm, Yuri acted in Brazil for 8 years as an associate lawyer in a top-tier firm and in a huge mining company as a specialist on environmental matters. His practice involved administrative and judicial litigation, environmental licensing, dam safety, decommissioning and de-characterization of mining activities, management of contaminated areas, and biodiversity. Yuri also had experience with M&A, due diligence and alternative dispute resolution with environmental agencies, the Brazilian Public Prosecution Office, and third-sector organizations.
Yuri holds a Bachelor of Law degree (LLB) from Universidade Candido Mendes (2013), a Post-graduation in Environmental Law from the School of Judges from the State of Rio de Janeiro – EMERJ (2017) and a LL.M. in Civil Law and Legal Practice from the Fundação Getulio Vargas’ Law School – FGV-RIO (2022).
Karina Denari
Legal Director
Karina Denari
Legal Director
Karina is a fully qualified Brazilian lawyer and Law Professor member of the Justice and Constitution Research Group and the Access to Justice and Disaster Group at FGV São Paulo Law School. She holds a PhD in Law from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and a Master’s degree in Law from the University of São Paulo (USP). She was awarded federal government grants (CAPES-PDSE/Print) for guest research placements at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame (United States) and at the LawTransform at the University of Bergen (Norway). She was a researcher at the Rio Doce Project at FGV São Paulo Law School and she was a Temporary Lecturer at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) Law School. She was awarded a grant to coordinate judicial gender equality studies in a project with Oxford/ Brazilian Federal Judges Association. She is a speaker and lecturer for private and public lawyers, judges, universities, think tanks and civil society initiatives focused on disaster law and structural litigation in Brazil.