China Desk

Barbieri Advogados acts in Brazil-China operations through a practice that combines investment structuring, cross-border contracts and bilingual litigation. China’s consolidation as Brazil’s principal trading partner and the sustained growth of Chinese investment in strategic sectors — infrastructure, energy, mining, agribusiness — define the contemporary context of the practice. The firm acts for Chinese companies expanding into Brazil and Brazilian companies with commercial and operational interests in China.

The China Desk operates in Mandarin, with direct communication between the firm, the client and counterparties in China through Shang Chun Huang, a member of the firm fluent in Mandarin. This direct way of working — without linguistic intermediaries — reduces legal and cultural risks and lends precision to the conduct of cross-border business and litigation. The firm has published, in Mandarin, the Legal Guide — Manual de Direito Brasileiro, addressed to Chinese companies and professionals interested in the Brazilian legal environment. The book is available for download on this page.

The practice is structured around three main pillars. In Chinese investment in Brazil, the firm advises on corporate The practice is structured around three main pillars. In Chinese investment in Brazil, the firm advises on corporate structuring, sector-specific regulatory authorisations, foreign-capital registrations with the Central Bank of Brazil, and compliance with the regulatory frameworks applicable to each operation. In internationalisation and exports to China, the firm advises Brazilian companies on the structuring of commercial and contractual operations with Chinese counterparties, including the drafting of export contracts, international supply contracts and related instruments, with prior analysis of legal and regulatory risks. In cross-border litigation, the firm acts in disputes involving Chinese parties, with bilingual management of documents and communications; in institutional arbitrations conducted at Chinese arbitral institutions, as designated by the arbitration clause of the contract; and in coordination with local counsel where the case so requires.

The practice works in close coordination with International Contracts on foreign-trade operations and cross-border contracts, with Corporate on investment structuring, with Tax on tax implications of international operations, and with Arbitration on disputes resolved by institutional or ad hoc arbitration.