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The Firm Acknowledgment Practice Areas Clients Team Publications Contact

The Firm

Ráo & Lago Advogados is a law firm that acts exclusively in the criminal area, in all types of cases, with emphasis on those of high complexity. It is formed by renowned lawyers, such as the name partners Sônia Cochrane Ráo, with over 35 years of experience in Criminal Law, and Natasha do Lago, who, in addition to working in the criminal area for more than ten years, has experience in matters relating to Banking Law and Capital Markets. The firm also counts on the talent and dedication of Marina Chaves Alves, a lawyer who has 15 years of experience in Criminal Law.

Ráo & Lago Advogados was founded in 1987 by one of the most outstanding criminal lawyers in Brazil: former Minister of Justice, Mr. Márcio Thomaz Bastos. The firm is known for its highly skilled team, services tailored to the customers’ needs, and extreme care in the monitoring and diagnosis of each case. The firm combines technological resources with meticulous and individualized work.

Ráo & Lago Advogados is even more admired in the market thanks to its discretion and close relationship with our clients.

Acknowledgment

The firm guides its activities by rigorous ethical commitment, which is essential in matters relating to Criminal Law. The careful rendering of litigation and advisory services results from the performance of a highly skilled legal team that is regularly updating themselves.

Legal 500
2023 and 2022

Leading Individual SÔNIA RÁO

Legal 500
2023 and 2022

Next Generation Partner NATASHA DO LAGO

Legal 500
2023 and 2022

Leading Firm – White-collar crime

Legal 500
2024

Recommended Lawyers

MARINA CHAVES ALVES, GIOVANNA TAVOLARO e TARSILA TOJAL

LEADERS LEAGUE
2023, 2022, 2021 e 2020

Excellent, Highly Recommended Firm

LEADERS LEAGUE
2020

Rising Star em Direito Penal Empresarial NATASHA DO LAGO

Análise Advocacia
2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2011, 2010 e 2008

Escritório de Direito Penal mais admirado

ANÁLISE ADVOCACIA
2018-2022

Advogadas mais admiradas em Direito Penal  (2018 – 2022) e no setor econômico Serviços Ambientais e Saneamento (2018, 2020-2023)

GALLERY

Practice Areas

Ráo & Lago Advogados has over 30 years of experience in Criminal Law throughout the national territory, with solid performance in litigation and consultancy for all types of criminal offenses, including the preparation of legal opinions.

The firm works in a personalized manner, with excellency, through its own lawyers and correspondents. The cases are studied in depth by experienced and renowned lawyers, who act quickly, accurately and efficiently in the diagnosis, processing and defense of the clients’ interests.

Ráo & Lago Advogados has a wide-ranging and organized structure which allows us to trail the progress of Police Investigations and Criminal Proceedings at Police Stations, Public Prosecutor’s Offices, State Courts, Federal Courts and Higher Courts, acting on appeals and legal remedies.

Our substantial and successful experience in legal crisis management provides clients with advisory services in due diligence for company acquisition processes or improvement of internal control procedures.

Clients

Ráo & Lago Advogados has clients in Brazil and abroad. The firm’s team of lawyers has extensive experience in matters relating to crimes committed within the corporate environment.

Under Brazilian criminal law, legal entities are only criminally liable for environmental offenses, so most of our clients are individuals, such as executives from companies that are dealing with issues resulting from their activities.

In addition to individuals, Ráo & Lago Advogados also caters to banks, brokerage houses, securities distributors, multinational companies, construction companies, real estate developers, sanitation companies, among others.

Team

Sônia Cochrane Ráo
Sônia Cochrane Ráo
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Partner of the firm since 1990, Sônia Ráo has more than 40 years of experience in diagnosis, defense, and counseling in criminal investigations and lawsuits, many of them of well-known in Brazil. She has substantial experience in all criminal law areas, particularly with matters involving corporate crimes such as corruption, money laundering, crimes against the National Financial System, tax evasion, and environmental crimes.

Bachelor of Laws from the University of São Paulo (USP), Sônia was a member of the Human Rights and Prerogatives Commission of the São Paulo Section of the Brazilian Bar Association – OAB/SP and the Steering Committee of the Institute for Defense of the Right to Defense (IDDD). She was a member of the São Paulo Lawyers Association (AASP) and of the São Paulo Criminal Lawyers Association (ACRIMESP).

Sônia is a member of the Institute for Defense of the Right to Defense (IDDD) and the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM).

Languages
English

Natasha do Lago
Natasha do Lago
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Natasha do Lago acts in the defense and counseling of criminal investigations and lawsuits, having worked on several famous cases. She specializes in financial crimes, money laundering, environmental crimes, tax crimes, crimes against the capital market, and crimes against the Public Administration.  She also has experience with crimes against honor, the Brazilian Anti-Drug Law, the Brazilian Law on Public Tenders, and crimes related to labor violations.

Natasha has a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of São Paulo (USP), holds a Master of Laws degree in Criminal Law from USP, and a specialist diploma in “Money Laundering, Tax Crimes, and Others” from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV/SP). Natasha is also a PhD candidate in Criminal Law at the University of São Paulo (USP).  She is part of the Second Judging Panel of the Prerogatives Council of the São Paulo section of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB/SP).

Natasha is a member of the Institute for Defense of the Right to Defense (IDDD) and the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM).

She is the author of “Corrupção internacional: aspectos jurídicos” (International Corruption: Legal Aspects), published in 2020 by Lumen Juris, and she was a professor at Insper Law School.

Languages
English and French

Marina Chaves Alves
Marina Chaves Alves
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Marina has been working for 15 years in defense and counseling in criminal investigations and lawsuits, including several well-known cases. She specializes in cases involving financial, tax, and money laundering offenses and crimes against the Public Administration. She also has experience with settlement agreements and acting as an assistant prosecutor.

Marina holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of São Paulo (USP), a diploma in Economic Criminal Law from the University of Coimbra, and a diploma in Compliance from the Institute of European Economic Criminal Law. She is part of the First Judging Panel of the Prerogatives Council of the São Paulo section of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB/SP).  Marina is also a member of the Institute for Defense of the Right to Defense (IDDD) and the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM).

Languages
English

Tarsila Tojal
Tarsila Tojal
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Tarsila Tojal acts in criminal investigations and lawsuits, including some famous operations, specializing in crimes against the Public Administration, environmental crimes, tax crimes, and crimes listed in the Brazilian Public Tender Act. She also has experience with property offenses, bankruptcy crimes, crimes against honor and sexual dignity, crimes described in the Statute for Protection of Children and Adolescents, and the Abuse of Authority Act.

Tarsila holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of São Paulo (USP) and a Master’s degree in Criminal Law from USP. She is a member of the Institute for Defense of the Right to Defense (IDDD) and the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM). She is on the editorial board of the magazine Revista de Direito Penal Econômico e Compliance (RDPEC) – Economic Criminal Law and Compliance Review.

In 2018, Tarsila received the award “Best Laureate Thesis in the 2017 Academic Year” and “Best Student of the Daytime Class 186”, both from USP Law School.

Languages
English, Italian, German, and French

Giovanna Tavolaro
Giovanna Tavolaro
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Giovanna Tavolaro acts in criminal investigations and lawsuits, specializing in money laundering, property crimes, financial, tax crimes, and crimes against the Public Administration. She also has experience with crimes against honor, the Anti-Drug Law, and jury trial in homicide cases.

Bachelor of Laws from the University of São Paulo (USP), Giovanna holds a postgraduate degree in Economic Criminal Law from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV/SP). She is a member of the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM).

Languages
English and spanish

Gabriel Almeida
Gabriel Almeida
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Gabriel Almeida acts in criminal investigations and lawsuits, with expertise in crimes against the Public Administration and tax crimes.  He also has experience with property crimes, environmental law, and crimes against honor.

Bachelor of Laws by the University of São Paulo (USP), Gabriel is a member of the Institute for Defense of the Right to Defense (IDDD).

Languages
English

Publications

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PEC da Blindagem pode abalar cláusulas pétreas e travar investigações
Sônia Cochrane Ráo, Natasha do Lago, Marina Chaves Alves
Sócias opinam sobre PEC da blindagem e suas repercussões para o processo penal.
A representação fiscal para fins penais como instrumento de arrecadação
Natasha do Lago, Felipe Salomon
Artigo discute listas divulgadas pela Receita Federal com nomes de contribuintes que teriam praticado crime de sonegação fiscal.
Corruption Charges in Brazil: Dwindling, but Alive
Natasha do Lago
Capítulo aborda temas de interesse envolvendo crime de corrupção no Brasil e possíveis desenvolvimentos para 2024.

Social Responsibility

The firm’s lawyers have a strong sense of social commitment. They are engaged in events and projects of the Institute for the Advocacy of the Right of Defense (IDDD) and the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM).

Ráo & Lago Advogados take on several pro bono initiatives, such as task forces in correctional facilities, to promote access to justice for social institutions or vulnerable populations, ensuring their right to defense.

Contact

Telephone

+55 11 3372 7800

Email

contato@raolago.com.br

Address

Alameda Itu, 852 - 2º andar
São Paulo, SP - Brazil
01421-001