Bernardi & Schnapp are a multidisciplinary team that focuses on Business Law. Through competent professionals committed to ethics, we create strategic solutions and offer quick, accurate, objective, and innovative answers.

The knowledge built up over the years enables us to anticipate problems and trends, responding quickly and efficiently to meet the needs of our clients and guiding them on a wide range of legal issues.

In order to determine preventive or litigation actions, we offer services in the main areas of Law for the most diversified economic segments. In addition, our extensive network of accredited agents enables us to provide services nationwide and also abroad.

With regards to our team, we not only seek the constant improvement of their knowledge, but also share the same vision of the future, aiming at building a fairer society that enforces its ethical principles and the rights of all citizens.

Aviation

The expertise of our law firm in the area of ​​aviation is highlighted and recognized, both nationally and internationally. For this reason, all areas of practice have developed specific knowledge to serve the aeronautical sector in its branches.

Our Contracts team is prepared to advise clients on matters related to the concession for the operation of airports and air services, wet leases, dry leases and interchange, shared code, general sales agent (GSA), contracts for services auxiliary to air transport, concession agreements for the use of port areas, leasing agreements, and international financing of aircraft contracts, among many others. We also advise on issues related to the interpretation of bilateral treaties on air transport and the privatization of airports.

Regarding the Regulatory aspects, we have vast experience representing clients with government agencies that operate in the aeronautical sector, particularly ANAC – Brazil’s Civil Aviation Agency. We have know-how in advising how to obtain authorizations for the operation of companies in Brazil, requests for authorization to fly, records with the RAB, flight schedule record (HOTRAN), authorizations for code-share and other types of agreements, documentation for the registration of operational specifications, advice on aeronautical regulations, defenses to fines applied by ANAC, monitoring of incidents and aeronautical accidents, among others.

Our Litigation department represents clients in lawsuits that normally affect the industry and strategic processes. We have already advised airlines on more than 20,000 cases related to passenger claims for loss, damage, or delay of baggage, flight delay, breach of contract, tariff and regulatory issues, loss or damage to air cargo. In addition, we represent airlines and aircraft manufacturers and parts in the most important air accidents that have happened in Brazil in the last 15 years.

The Labor & Employment sector advises clients on all types of labor matters, both related to preventive consulting and those related to litigation. We represent our clients in matters of relevance to the aeronautical industry, such as in lawsuits questioning the outsourcing of services and hazard pay for employees working in airports. Our specific knowledge in the field accredits us for quick and effective advice in negotiations and collective bargaining with the Unions representing the employees working in the industry.

Our team specializing in Tax and Customs works in partnership with the Litigation and Contract lawyers. Our experience includes advising airlines on issues related to customs legislation in general, both for consultancy and litigation, including authorizations to operate customs warehouses and special customs regimes, as well as defenses against notices and taxes as a result of the loss of cargo or its non-inclusion in the cargo manifest.

Aircraft Transactions

Our dedicated aviation finance and acquisition practice has acted for global financiers, manufacturers and airlines on commercial and business aircraft financing and purchase transactions in Brazil.

Over the past 19 years, we have advised aircraft financiers and manufacturers in relation to over 300 contracts involving new aircraft orders, aircraft finance and operating lease transactions, and loans secured with mortgages and chattel mortgages; advising on commercial dispute and enforcement of remedies in Brazil, including filing of repossession suits.

Our Firm has also been assisting aircraft financiers, manufacturers, operators and insurance companies in relation to legal discussions involving the major air crashes in Brazil, in the past 15 years.

In view of the deep involvement with the aviation industry in the country, the Firm has actively worked in the most relevant discussions involving the regulation of the Industry in Brazil, especially during the process of implementation and regulation of the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and the Protocol on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment in Brazil.

By representing clients in the industry over the past 25 years, we are recognized for our in-depth legal expertise and commercial knowledge, always driven to achieve the best result for our clients.

Corporate Crisis Management

Crisis situations can lead companies and entrepreneurs to bear great losses. In this moment of adversity, it is our role to assist the client in taking rapid and strategic actions that can minimize or even prevent the occurrence of losses. Our firm is fully prepared to act on behalf of clients when they need it the most.

To do so, we have experienced professionals who are trained not only to suggest efficient and innovative solutions, but also to guide our clients, so that they find the best way to extinguish their conflicts.

Insurance & Reinsurance

Our Insurance practice covers a wide range of services for corporate clients and industry operators, such as insurance companies, reinsurers, agents, and brokers. We advise national and foreign clients on regulatory matters related to insurance and provide legal opinions on various topics.

We are prepared to offer legal support in matters concerning the regulation of claims, property insurance and collaterals, among others. When it comes to litigation, we have the necessary expertise to act in behalf of insurance and reinsurance companies in the most diverse arbitration actions and procedures.

Labor & Employment

Our Labor & Employment area deals with individual and collective issues, both in the preventive and judicial aspects.

In the preventive scope, we developed studies that involve the analysis of clients’ routines vis-à-vis the legislation in force, in order to measure risks and suggest mitigating measures of exposure. This form of action results in a significant decrease in the volume of labor claims and, consequently, has a positive impact on results. We also have expertise in preparing profit sharing plans, stock options, executive compensation, variable compensation, and different types of employment contracts.

Our Labor & Employment litigation is structured to meet mainly employer interests with a group of specialized lawyers and with great experience in the sector.

Still, we are used to representing our clients before Unions and Employee Associations acting in a proactive way, aiming at improving relationships to obtain agreements in collective bargaining. We assist our clients in procedures with the Brazilian immigration to obtain work, temporary, and permanent visas.

Litigation

Our Litigation department operates in all fields of Law, including all types of civil, commercial, corporate, banking, environmental, and consumer cases, both in terms of strategic and high volume litigation.

We are structured to meet all our clients’ demands of interest, either at State or Federal levels, including Special Courts.

Our professionals are highly trained in resolving our clients’ conflicts and safeguarding their interests, not only through procedural exposure analysis, but also through the cost-effectiveness of maintaining litigation. This means that our team is able to suggest alternatives that best meet the interests of our clients in order to ensure a prompt and fair solution for their demands.

We are prepared to provide our clients with management reports and detailed data from the entire process portfolio, which enables, when necessary, business restructuring, risk mitigation, or the development of alternative dispute resolutions of the cases.