English-Speaking Criminal Lawyer in Brazil, based in Porto Alegre
Facing a criminal matter in a foreign country, in a language you do not master, is overwhelming. Dr. Felipe Germano is a Brazilian criminal defense lawyer who speaks fluent English and handles your case directly, from the police station to the higher courts, explaining every step in your language.
When to call a criminal lawyer in Brazil
- You or a family member was arrested in Brazil
- You were summoned to give a statement at a police station
- You found out you are under investigation while visiting or living in Brazil
- Your passport was retained or you were barred from leaving the country
- You are facing charges and cannot follow a proceeding held in Portuguese
- You were accused of domestic violence or received a protective order
- Your company or your finances are part of a criminal investigation
- You live abroad and need someone to follow a case in Brazil for you
What clients say
Reviews are written in Portuguese by clients in Brazil.
How criminal defense works for foreigners in Brazil
Foreigners in Brazil have the same fundamental guarantees as Brazilians in a criminal case. The problem is that, without a lawyer who speaks your language, many of these rights go unnoticed. These are some of the points the defense secures from the start.
An interpreter in every act
If you do not speak Portuguese, your statement and interrogation must be conducted through an interpreter. A statement taken without understanding what is being asked can be challenged.
Due processContact with your consulate
Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, a foreign national who is arrested may ask the authorities to inform their consulate. The consulate can visit, contact your family and follow your situation.
Consular assistanceCustody hearing within 24 hours
Anyone arrested in Brazil must be brought before a judge, as a rule within 24 hours. This hearing decides whether you stay in custody or are released, and it is where the defense first argues for your freedom.
FreedomThe right to remain silent
You are not required to answer questions or to produce evidence against yourself, and your silence cannot be held against you. Speaking without legal advice is one of the most common and costly mistakes.
Self-incriminationLeaving Brazil and your passport
A judge may forbid you from leaving the country and order you to surrender your passport. The defense can ask for these measures to be reviewed when they are no longer necessary, for example to allow you to return home.
Precautionary measuresEvidence in other languages
Messages, contracts and documents in English or other languages often matter to the case. The defense checks how they were translated and whether the translation reflects what was actually said.
EvidenceDefense while you are abroad
If you have already left Brazil, it is often possible to follow the case through a lawyer. A power of attorney signed abroad may need an apostille, and we tell you exactly what is required.
RepresentationAppeals and habeas corpus
Decisions can be challenged before the Court of Appeals of Rio Grande do Sul, the Federal Regional Court and the higher courts in Brasília (STJ and STF). Habeas corpus protects against unlawful arrest at any stage.
Higher courtsThe information above is general. The right strategy can only be defined after analyzing the police report, the investigation and the evidence in your specific case.
What to do if you or someone you love is arrested
- Do not make statements without a lawyerPolitely say you will only speak with legal counsel present. Anything you say goes into the case file.
- Ask for an interpreterDo not sign documents in Portuguese that you do not fully understand.
- Ask that your consulate be informedConsular assistance helps with contact with family and practical matters.
- Send us the essentialsFull name, where the person is being held and what happened. The custody hearing happens fast.
A criminal case in Brazil, step by step
- Police investigationThe police gather statements, reports and evidence. This is the best stage for the defense to act.
- ChargesIf the prosecutor files charges and the judge accepts them, a criminal case begins.
- Written defenseThe defense presents its arguments, evidence and witnesses.
- HearingsWitnesses are heard and the defendant is interrogated last, with an interpreter if needed.
- Judgment and appealsThe decision can be appealed to the Court of Appeals and, in some cases, to the higher courts in Brasília.
Dr. Felipe Germano
Criminal defense lawyer in Porto Alegre, admitted to the Brazilian Bar (OAB/RS 132.250), practicing exclusively in criminal law. Specialist in Criminal Law and Criminal Policy from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), with degrees in Law (PUCRS) and Financial Administration (UFRGS). Member of the OAB/RS Commission on Criminal Policy and Public Security.
He speaks fluent English and handles every case personally, with direct and confidential communication. Meetings are held in person in Porto Alegre or by video call from anywhere in Brazil or abroad.
Questions about hiring a criminal lawyer in Brazil
Can I speak with the lawyer in English?
Yes. Dr. Felipe Germano speaks fluent English and conducts consultations, meetings and case updates in English. When an act is held in Portuguese, such as a hearing, he explains to you what is happening and what each decision means.
Do you take cases outside Porto Alegre?
The office is in Porto Alegre and serves the whole state of Rio Grande do Sul. Consultations by video call are available anywhere in Brazil and abroad, and appeals reach the higher courts in Brasília, which receive cases from every state. For cases in other states, the best way to act is defined case by case.
Will I have an interpreter in a criminal case in Brazil?
Yes. Brazilian law requires that a defendant who does not speak Portuguese be interrogated through an interpreter. The defense makes sure this right is respected, because a statement given without full understanding can harm your case.
Can I leave Brazil while I am being investigated?
It depends. If there is no court order forbidding it, the investigation alone does not stop you from traveling. If a judge has forbidden you from leaving the country or retained your passport, leaving is a violation. The defense can ask the judge to review the measure.
Should I talk to the police without a lawyer?
It is not recommended. You have the right to remain silent and to be assisted by a lawyer. Your statement becomes part of the case file and may be used later, so it is safer to speak only after legal advice.
Can my embassy act as my lawyer?
No. Your consulate can provide assistance, visit you and contact your family, but it does not act as your criminal defense. For that, you need a lawyer admitted to practice in Brazil.