“Right now, with an economy that’s strong and more reliable and stable, Brazil is attracting national and foreign investments, and we’re seeing so many companies and law firms that are extremely interested in developing partnerships in Brazil,” said Negrão. “There are and will continue to be a lot of investments in the infrastructure, and also specific investments regarding the World Cup and the Olympics. It’s a very interesting moment.”
Negrão practices at powerhouse law firm Magalhães, Nery e Dias Advocacia in São Paulo, the oldest and largest law firm in Brazil focusing on economics and law. He represents major clients in a wide range of industries, from beverage producers to pharmaceutical manufacturers to energy companies. His focus includes assisting companies with complex mergers and acquisitions, defending antitrust investigations, and litigating trade infringement cases. And, as a certified compliance and ethics professional, a significant part of Negrão’s work involves designing antitrust compliance programs so that corporations do not run afoul of Brazil’s newly strengthened antitrust laws.
“It’s a job I like very much,” said Negrão, who creates specifically tailored programs for each client, and has trained more than 3,000 employees of major corporations in antitrust compliance. The penalties for violating antitrust laws can be severe, including criminal penalties. “The fact is, you are really helping companies to prevent problems before they happen. It’s satisfying, and different from when you are defending a company because someone made the wrong decision.”
Negrão, who was born in Spain but moved to Brazil as a child and speaks fluent English, Portuguese and Spanish, wanted to go to college in the U.S. and chose Brandeis because of its strong economics program and small class size. The son of an economist, he knew he wanted to study in that field, and he enrolled in Brandeis’ intensive BA/MA program. Given his interest in international trade, the program’s global focus—students are required to spend a semester abroad—appealed to him, and through this program, Negrão chose to study in Milan. A focused student, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa as the only “highest honors” graduate in economics in the undergraduate class of 2000. He also received the Morris and Anna Feldberg Prize for Outstanding Work in Economics, and was the class speaker at the Economics Department graduation ceremony.
After completing his master’s degree, he returned to Brazil and decided to sit for the entrance exam for a civil service job with Brazil’s Finance Ministry. To his initial surprise—he didn’t study much—he scored ninth-highest among 3,000 applicants, an achievement for which he thanks his professors at Brandeis. “I really credit Brandeis for that,” Negrão said. “I have no doubt that the reason I did so well is that Brandeis has a really strong faculty that was very organized and dedicated, and a strong program. When I was in the exam, I would remember my Brandeis classes and case studies, and that made the difference.”
While working at the ministry, he studied for his law degree at the Centro Universitário de Brasília, writing a thesis on a cartel among vitamin suppliers in Brazil that expanded on his interest in international trade regulation. “I’ve always liked the mix of law and economics, and what I do now reflects that mixture because of my focus on antitrust and international trade,” Negrão said. “In an antitrust case, you must know the procedural side, which is law, but the discussion on the merits is rooted strongly in economics.”
As Brazil’s economy continues to develop, Negrão plans to be in the heart of the action, working with major companies on compliance matters, and perhaps launching his own law firm. “The fact you can help change the culture of a corporation,” he said, “is very gratifying.”