A foreign company that operates in Brazil, through a subsidiary, a distributor or only with customers, needs someone to represent it where the law requires, to read and draft its contracts under Brazilian law and to handle disputes when they arise. For most operations, this work fits a law firm acting as the local legal department, reporting to the parent company in its own language.
The service brings together the legal representation of the foreign shareholder before the state commercial registry, the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service and the Central Bank of Brazil, including receipt of service of process and court notices; the corporate and foreign exchange maintenance of the Brazilian company, with minutes, amendments to the articles of association and foreign capital filings; commercial contracts; employment and regulatory guidance; and day to day tax coordination alongside the accountant.
The relationship with the parent company follows an authority matrix defined at the outset, setting what the firm decides on its own, what requires consultation and what the parent reserves for itself. An attorney responsible for the account receives requests through a single channel, answers within agreed deadlines and sends periodic reports, which also serve the auditor at year end.
Service is provided in Portuguese, English, Spanish, French and Italian, with a fixed monthly retainer for ongoing work and separate quotes for projects and litigation. The firm's article on the representation of foreign companies in Brazil describes the service in detail.