The change brought by Artificial Intelligence is inevitable

Translated from the original.

The Legal 500, an international legal content platform, features an exclusive interview with the head of Medina Osório Advogados, Fábio Medina Osório, in which he addresses the impact of new technologies such as artificial intelligence on the landscape of law firms. Read the full interview:

Interview with…

Fábio Medina Osório, Lawyer and Managing Partner

Fábio Medina Osório is a lawyer and managing partner of the firm Medina Osório Advogados. He holds a doctorate in Administrative Law from the Complutense University of Madrid, where he was supervised by Professor Eduardo García de Enterría, one of the greatest administrative law scholars of the twentieth century. He also holds a master’s degree in Public Law from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). In 2016, he held the post of Attorney General of Brazil.

In 2004, Medina Osório was a pioneer in introducing the discipline of Administrative Sanctioning Law in Brazil, teaching it in the master’s and doctoral programs of the UFRGS Law School. His innovative contribution helped consolidate this area as a distinct field of legal study.

Expanding the horizons of Administrative Sanctioning Law, he founded the National Commission on Administrative Sanctioning Law under the leadership of Felipe Santa Cruz, then president of the Federal Council of the OAB. He chaired the commission between 2019 and 2022 and is currently serving his second term, from 2023 to 2025.

Medina Osório is a member of the Council of the Movement for the Defense of the Legal Profession, in his second term. He also serves as consultant and advisor to the Revista Brasileira de Direito Administrativo, published by Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), in addition to presiding over the International Institute of State Law Studies (IIEDE).

What are the main differentiators of Medina Osório Advogados compared to its competitors?

FMO: Medina Osório Advogados is a national and international leader in Administrative Sanctioning Law, compliance and corporate anti-corruption legislation.

I hold a doctorate in Administrative Law from the Complutense University of Madrid, where I was supervised by Eduardo García de Enterría. My doctoral thesis, centered on Administrative Sanctioning Law, was pioneering in Brazil and contributed to the introduction of this field in the country.

Beyond my academic path, I had a distinguished career in the Public Prosecution Service of Rio Grande do Sul, which I joined ranking first in the entrance exam at age 24, in December 1991. I remained in the position until January 2006, when I resigned to take over the legal directorship of the Bozano Group.

In private practice, I had the opportunity to defend public officials and private companies, especially in relation to Laws 8,429/92 and 12,846/2013. I was also interviewed by the Páginas Amarelas section of Veja magazine in August 2014, where I discussed the emerging risks associated with the fragmentation of Law 12,846/2013.

In 2016, as Attorney General of Brazil, I helped strengthen the standing of the Federal Government in administrative improbity actions and in the negotiation of leniency agreements under Law 12,846/2013. During that period, we also promoted the passage of Law 13,327/2016, which established the payment of attorneys’ fees to federal public lawyers.

In this context, Medina Osório Advogados is widely recognized for its expertise in compliance, public ethics, Administrative Sanctioning Law and anti-corruption legislation. The firm stands out for having experienced partners, many of whom have significant knowledge of the public sector, bringing expertise in strategic areas such as the national financial system, capital markets, Tax Law and Economic Criminal Law.

An important differentiator of the firm is the use of artificial intelligence for personalized solutions, especially in swift agreements with public bodies, regulatory agencies and Public Prosecution Services. Our approach includes the prevention of legal problems and wrongdoing.

Our deep knowledge of Administrative Sanctioning Law, a field in which we were pioneers in Brazil, positions the firm as an academic and practical reference. Administrative Sanctioning Law permeates strategic areas such as Environmental Law, Capital Markets, the National Financial System, Disciplinary Law, Competition Law, Economic Law, Financial Law, Banking Law, and administrative and corporate improbity. The work of bodies such as Courts of Accounts, regulatory agencies, the Central Bank, the National Financial System Appeals Council, CADE, AGU, CGU and Public Prosecution Services is directly influenced by this field.

In addition, we highlight the practice of compliance, which is part of Punitive Public Law, encompassing Administrative Sanctioning Law and Criminal Law. Our specialized focus allows us to offer tailor-made legal solutions.

Our expertise in strategic agreements is also fundamental. My experience as an environmental prosecutor in the Public Prosecution Service of Rio Grande do Sul, as a director of the Brazilian Association of Environmental Prosecutors, and posts such as Deputy Secretary of Justice and Public Security of RS (2003-2005) and Attorney General of Brazil (2016), contributed to this capacity. Likewise, partners with public sector experience reinforce our differential in consensual negotiations.

In sum, Medina Osório Advogados is one of the most specialized law firms in Brazil, offering highly personalized services.

In which areas do you foresee growth in the next 12 months?

FMO: The use of artificial intelligence will grow significantly, profoundly impacting the legal profession, reducing operating costs and expanding access to justice. Firms must adapt to these technologies, ensuring information security and maintaining the indispensable human expertise.

The firm also reinforces the protection of clients’ digital reputation and compliance solutions adapted to the digital environment.

What was the main change at the firm that will benefit clients?

FMO: The main change we have implemented at Medina Osório Advogados was the incorporation of technology and artificial intelligence, together with strengthened information security, the expansion of our networks and the intensified use of advanced AI tools. We have adapted to these new paradigms, positioning the firm to operate in this constantly evolving technological environment.

We have also reinforced our approach to protecting our clients’ rights in the Digital Age. Medina Osório Advogados aims to serve its clients with a contemporary technological infrastructure, aligned with today’s digital and technological realities. We prioritize information security, confidentiality and rapid response to clients’ needs, in addition to aligning risks with appropriate compliance solutions and designing realistic scenarios in collaboration with our clients.

Knowledge and information management in the digital space, together with the production of intelligence, is essential to achieving these objectives.

Is technology changing the way you interact with clients and the services you can offer?

FMO: As I mentioned earlier, technology and artificial intelligence are profoundly transforming the lawyer-client relationship. These changes foster new alignments and more realistic expectations regarding the potential outcomes and risks in litigation.

Today’s clients are increasingly pragmatic, seeking results-based solutions and anticipating the risks involved. In response, lawyers must build a relationship of trust, advising clients in a transparent, reliable and realistic way, while ensuring the confidentiality and security of information.

For example, in a business dispute, the firm assesses the real risk of a claim for the client, carrying out detailed document analyses and, if necessary, preliminary investigations even before contracts are concluded. Success in these cases may depend not only on litigation but also on parallel investigative strategies and strategic legal actions to negotiate settlements.

Likewise, when advising clients on a possible settlement with a governmental entity, we assess the ideal moment to propose an agreement. The goal is to advance the litigation until the client reaches a favorable position, allowing a more advantageous and realistic settlement with the public entity.

Can you give a practical example of how you helped a client add value to their business?

FMO: Medina Osório Advogados not only defends clients in legal disputes but also helps them develop projects and businesses. For these scenarios, our clients benefit from the collective experience of the managing partner and other specialists at the firm, each contributing knowledge in their specific areas.

In strategic business areas, we provide crucial advice on decision-making processes relating to public tenders, due diligence, the drafting of complex contracts and mergers and acquisitions transactions.

We also advise clients in competitive processes, where it was necessary to challenge the qualifications of competitors in bidding processes. In other cases, we offer strategic guidance on tax engagements, or on the recovery of credits from public authorities. In this sphere, our experience with public sector entities has proven invaluable, allowing us to effectively manage interactions with government authorities and handle complex legal challenges.

There are many facets of the Law where a highly specialized firm, equipped with technology and personalized services, can add value.

Clients seek stability and strategic guidance from their law firms — where do you see the firm in the next three years?

FMO: I agree with your assessment. Clients increasingly seek legal certainty and stability in their positions. They look for trustworthy firms, focused on delivering quality services, especially those that offer personalized attention and a results-oriented approach.

Over the next three years, Medina Osório Advogados intends to deepen the use of technological tools and artificial intelligence as fundamental resources in the delivery of services. We will continue strengthening our institutional relationships with decision-makers, recognizing the importance of the three pillars that sustain legal practice: deep technical knowledge, legitimate institutional relationships and a strategic vision aligned with the client’s needs.

Our goal is to improve these three pillars, especially as we work to serve international investors in Brazil. Foreign companies need tailored legal advice to navigate the complexities of Brazilian legislation. Although Brazil offers a business environment that is highly favorable to foreign capital, success in this market requires specialized, high-quality legal services that provide stability and legal certainty.

Traditionally, this niche has been dominated by large firms. However, the landscape of contemporary Law is changing this dynamic, with clients increasingly recognizing the value of a personalized service. Our goal is to progressively occupy this space, offering the tailored legal expertise that large firms often cannot provide, making us the preferred firm for international investors seeking reliable, high-caliber legal advice in Brazil.