Szazi, Bechara, Storto, Reicher e Figueirêdo Lopes Advogados — Brazil

About

Founded in 2002, Szazi, Bechara, Storto, Reicher and Figueiredo Lopes Advogados (“SBSA”) is a pioneering law firm specialized in charities, social responsibility, environment and human rights, that connects the experience its partners – Eduardo Szazi, Erika Bechara, Paula Raccanello Storto, Stella Camlot Reicher, Lais de Figueiredo Lopes and Aline Gonçalves Videira de Souza, who since mid-1990s have been working in the field of civil society organizations (CSO). The firm respects persons with disabilities, gender, ethnic-racial, sexual, and religious diversity. It values sustainability by encouraging the recycling of materials and the purchase of organic and local products. It encourages freedom of expression and opinion. SBSA also cares about the work environment and adopts practices aimed at avoiding discrimination, harassment, and constraints. Women are a majority among the partners and team members. In internal relations, hiring and relationships with stakeholders, the firm respects diversity and repudiate all forms of discrimination. Involved in consultancy and advocacy, SBSA partners directly participated in the formulation of laws affecting civil society organizations and human rights, such as Law 9.790/1999 (OSCIPs Law), the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2006 and Law 13.019/2014 (Legal Framework for Civil Society Organizations – MROSC). They have also been involved in other legal initiatives to enable a better environment for civil society organizations, in matters involving tax exemptions, tax incentives, and labour and voluntary work regulation, at national, state and municipal levels. They are professionals with significant experience in the field, acting as lecturers and teachers in undergraduate and graduate courses related to the subjects they work with, and participate in research and consulting projects of renowned educational institutions such as PUC/SP, FIA/USP and FGV. The firm’s clients are leading national and foreign associations and foundations operating in various fields, such as environmental, educational, sports, cultural, assistance, health, human rights, local development, information technology, protection of children, adolescents, people with disabilities and the elderly, among others. The clients are also companies from different economic sectors, especially those aligned with ESG practices, B corps, those maintaining corporate institutes and foundations, and those adopting corporate social responsibility, diversity, and inclusion programs. In 2018, its longstanding practices and values were consolidated in its Compliance Program, Integrity Policy and Code of Ethics and Conduct, and the firm’s expertise in this field is also offered to its clients. SBSA practices combine deep knowledge on charities and the non-profit sector with comprehensive understanding of case law and precedents in matters concerning social business and human rights law. Legal practice in this field is still quite rare. What most prominently distinguishes SBSA’s from other law firms in Curitiba is that we focus on CSO demands, social business and human rights law, providing legal advice through a team of extremely specialized attorneys. ### Languages - English (fluent) - Portuguese - Spanish - Hebrew - French ### Memberships - CESA - Law Firm Studies Center ### Staffing Figures - 7 Partners - 20 Associates - 2 Interns - 1 Paralegal - 4 Administrative

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Practice areas

Lawyers in this office

Aline Goncalves Videira de Souza

Mrs. Souza is a lawyer with experience in the field of public law, anti-corruption, third sector and social business. She advises civil society organizations and sector 2.5 initiatives in their corporate structure, on formatting projects and regarding their contractual relations with companies and public authorities. She helped building the agenda for the Regulatory Framework for Civil Society Organizations, a topic that she continues to work, both as a legal profession and through academic activities. · Public Law

Eduardo Szazi

Mr. Szazi is a noted lecturer and commentator on issues of NGO law, taxation and international law, both in Brazil and abroad. His studies of the different legal frameworks for civil society organizations led him to be a speaker/lecturer in several seminars, congresses and colloquiums in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Mexico, US, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, South Africa and Australia. Some of his studies on regulation resulted in the first Brazilian guide of governance best practices for CSOs (ISBN 9788599645314) and in a book about the best international practices for regulation of CSOs, this last one coauthored by Jose Eduardo Sabo Paes (ISBN 9788588401709). He is currently serving as Vice-President of the International Law Commission of the Brazilian Bar Association in Paraná (OAB/PR) and as Board member and Financial Director of the Instituto de Advogados do Paraná. · Nonprofit / NGO Law

Erika Bechara

Mrs. Bechara has extensive professional experience in advising companies on issues related to compliance with environmental and consumer legislation, and civil foundations and associations on matters related to corporate regulation. She also advises contractual relations with companies, public authorities, and others non-profit institutions. · Environmental Law

Lais de Figueiredo Lopes

Mrs. Lopes has almost 20 years of legal, regulatory, and procedural management experience in the field of non-profit law, advising civil society organizations and governments, especially regarding the implementation of participatory public management and anti-corruption mechanisms. Lecturer in national and international events and postgraduate courses on civil society organizations, partnerships with the State, transparency, participation and anti-corruption mechanisms, human rights, people with disabilities, freedom of association and democracy. · Public Law

Paula Raccanello Storto

Lawyer with extensive experience in Public Law and outstanding performance in providing legal services to civil society organizations (CSO). She advises CSO partnering with the State, in a preventive manner, and litigating in administrative and judicial claims. She regularly participates and contributes to debates on the legal framework for the field of non-profit entities in Brazil and Latin America, as well as concerning restrictions on freedom of association in the interaction of CSO with the State. · Public Law

Stella Camlot Reicher

Lawyer with extensive experience with projects and initiatives focused on human rights, with emphasis on the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. She also advises civil society organizations, companies and public bodies in structuring and implementing policies, programs and projects of public interest. · Human Rights