Criminal Law

Rafael Dantas heads ADET Capital & Solutions’ Criminal & Dispute Resolution practice, bringing a formidable blend of courtroom prowess, strategic foresight, and business acumen to every mandate. Under his leadership, our team offers end-to-end representation in criminal matters that span the full spectrum of exposure—from sophisticated white-collar investigations to the most serious felony charges. Clients turn to Rafael when reputations, liberties, and enterprise value are on the line, confident that his meticulous preparation and persuasive advocacy will deliver decisive results.

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Rafael’s approach is rooted in proactive risk management. Long before a case reaches the indictment stage, he conducts granular assessments of potential criminal liability, advising boards and executives on preventive measures that fortify compliance frameworks and mitigate enforcement risks. When an investigation surfaces, Rafael mobilises rapid-response teams to secure evidence, preserve privilege, and engage constructively with prosecutors and investigative agencies. His fluency in navigating regulatory regimes across Latin America, Europe, and North America allows us to craft coherent defence strategies that anticipate the moves of multiple jurisdictions—critical in an era of increasingly coordinated cross-border enforcement.

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White-Collar Defence & Corporate Liability

Rafael has defended multinational corporations, financial institutions, and C-suite executives in matters involving fraud, bribery, money-laundering, bid-rigging, and insider-trading allegations. He is adept at negotiating non-prosecution agreements, deferred-prosecution agreements, and leniency settlements that shield organisations from sweeping indictments while preserving shareholder value. Through forensic accounting partnerships and state-of-the-art e-discovery platforms, our team unpacks voluminous data sets to build compelling narratives that dismantle prosecutors’ theories and expose evidentiary gaps.

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Crisis Management & Internal Investigations

In parallel with external defence, Rafael leads confidential internal investigations to establish factual clarity, identify systemic vulnerabilities, and recommend remedial actions that resonate with regulators. His calm, methodical interviewing style encourages honest disclosure without compromising legal defences, enabling management to make swift, informed decisions. Should public disclosure or media scrutiny loom, Rafael collaborates with crisis-communications advisers to safeguard brand integrity and maintain stakeholder confidence.

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Serious Criminal Charges & Complex Litigation

Beyond corporate crime, Rafael represents individuals facing homicide, organised-crime, and other high-severity charges. His courtroom craftsmanship—marked by incisive cross-examinations and compelling oral arguments—has secured acquittals and sentence reductions in cases attracting national attention. He coordinates closely with forensic experts, psychologists, and private investigators to challenge prosecution evidence and humanise defendants before judges and juries.

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Cross-Border Enforcement & Extradition

Rafael’s international experience is indispensable when clients confront extradition requests or simultaneous investigations in multiple countries. He aligns defence tactics with parallel civil, regulatory, and criminal proceedings, ensuring statements in one forum do not prejudice outcomes in another. By leveraging treaties, mutual legal-assistance frameworks, and strategic diplomacy, he frequently curtails extradition exposure or narrows the scope of transferred charges.

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Compliance Advisory & Training

Preventing criminal liability is equally central to Rafael’s mandate. He designs bespoke compliance programmes—covering anti-corruption, sanctions, export controls, antitrust, and data-privacy rules—calibrated to each client’s risk profile. Through workshops and executive briefings, he equips leadership teams with the tools and awareness needed to foster cultures of integrity and detect early warning signs of misconduct.

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Strategic Negotiation & Resolution

Where negotiated outcomes serve client interests, Rafael employs a pragmatic yet assertive stance to secure favourable plea terms, restitution arrangements, or civil settlements that avert protracted litigation. His credibility with prosecutors and regulators—earned through candour and meticulous case preparation—translates into bargaining leverage that often results in significantly reduced penalties and reputational fallout.

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Client-Centric Commitment

At every stage, Rafael emphasises transparent communication, budget discipline, and absolute discretion. He recognises that criminal proceedings can paralyse business operations and personal lives; therefore, he tailors strategies to achieve swift, sustainable resolutions while minimising disruption. His bilingual proficiency in English and Portuguese, together with working knowledge of Spanish and French, ensures seamless liaison with international stakeholders.

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