Arbitration and Foreign Court Rulings in Brazil

Arbitration is essentially a way to settle a dispute without going to court. Two parties can enter into arbitration and hire an arbitrator to resolve the problem at hand. As business grows in Brazil, arbitration has been used more, as it is often employed for disputes that are commercial in nature. Even though the final decision is not made in a court of law, both parties are legally bound to the ruling made by the arbitrator.

Arbitration Principles adopted in Brazil

As business continues to grow in Brazil, more individuals and companies are making foreign investments in the country. Some are investing money, while others are buying property or setting up new businesses there. Such a trend has raised some concern for arbitration, as it is confusing which jurisdiction the settlements will fall under.

While Brazil signed the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards in 1959, it did not technically make it a law until 2002. Also known as the New York Convention, the law requires arbitral awards to be recognized by foreign judgments.

Need an arbitration award recognized in Brazil? We can help.

Dealing with the Superior Tribunal Justice

While arbitration can be handled outside the court, foreign arbitral awards must be recognized by the Superior Tribunal of Justice (STJ). The SJT will check on the validity of the award and recognize it only when it meets all requirements of the civil code and the New York Convention. On the other hand, the SJT can also refuse foreign arbitral awards when:

• The official agreement containing the resolution reached in the arbitration is not valid
• The offending party in the arbitration was not given enough notice of the arbitration meeting, and therefore was not present for the ruling
• The award is not legally a resolution that can be reached with arbitration alone
• The arbitral award is not legally transferrable in the native country of either party
• The award is not binding based on a suspension by an authority in either country
• The dispute is not one that can legally be solved with arbitration alone

In any of these cases, the STJ can refuse enforcement of the award in both countries, and the arbitration will have become invalid. As long as the STJ accepts the arbitral award as valid and legal, the successful party can expect straightforward and timely enforcement in Brazil. Arbitration, even when it deals with foreign parties, is a much faster way to resolve a dispute than going through the Brazilian court system. The convenience of such an option has made arbitration a popular choice in the event of international disputes involving Brazilian parties.

Need an arbitration award recognized in Brazil? We can help.

Legal Advice for Your Foreign Arbitration in Brazil

If you are doing business in Brazil as a foreigner, you might enter into a dispute with a Brazilian party at some point. Regardless of what the dispute is in regards to, you should understand the process of foreign arbitration so that you can be prepared and avoid Brazilian court rulings if possible.

We have attorneys experienced in the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards in Brazil. A Brazilian attorney can discuss the proceedings of foreign arbitration with you, especially if you feel you are in a dispute that might be eligible for such a ruling.

Phone: 214-432-8100

Email: [email protected]