Karla Lini Maeji

Areas of expertise: Compliance & Investigation, Technology & Innovation, Government Sales, Defense and Aerospace
Languages: English
Location: São Paulo
Telephone: +55 (11) 5086-5121
Email: kmaeji@tozzinifreire.com.br

Karla Lini Maeji is a partner in the Compliance & Investigation practice at TozziniFreire with extensive experience acting as counsel for foreign listed companies doing business in Brazil, focusing her practice on internal investigations and leniency agreement negotiations. 

 

She has conducted numerous cross-border investigations, especially into corruption, fraud, and procurement irregularities reporting to Audit Committees, interacting with external auditors, and having a keen eye for handling matters that may affect the company in different areas of law and jurisdictions. She has consistent experience strategically representing clients before multiple authorities, both in the context of leniency agreements and defense. 

 

One of her initiatives was the creation and coordination of TozziniFreire´s Government Sales practice group, which consolidates all the experience acquired in cases involving the issue to offer truly multidisciplinary assistance to clients. 

 

Karla is known by peer-reviewed publications as a "distinguished lawyer", with a "practical approach to problem-solving" and "a good business overview, besides having great technical knowledge of compliance". 

 

She holds an LL.M. from Columbia University School of Law, USA, and took a secondment program at an international law firm in London.

// Academic education

  • LL.M. from the Law School of Columbia University School of Law, New York, USA, 2013.
  • Graduate of the Law School of Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, 2008.

// Recognition

Recommended by relevant legal guides, such as Chambers Global, Chambers Brazil, Latin Lawyer 250, The Legal 500, Análise Advocacia, and Who’s Who Legal. She is also recognized as a Rising Star by LMG Expert Guides and an Acritas Star by Thomson Reuters.

// Additional Activities

  • CCEP (Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional) by SCCE (Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics).
  • Practice Group Leader of the Compliance & Investigations Committee of the World Law Group.
  • Coordinator of the Compliance Committee at IBRAC (Brazilian Institute of Studies on Competition, Consumption and International Trade).
  • Secretary of the Non-Trial Resolution in Bribery Cases Subcommittee in the Anti-corruption Committee of IBA (International Bar Association).
  • Member of the Court Management / Organs Subcommittee in the Drafting Committee for the structuring of IACC (International Anti-Corruption Court).
  • Guest professor in the Compliance postgraduate course at FGV-RJ (Fundação Getúlio Vargas - RJ), at IBGC (Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance), and at EY Academy.

// Publications

  • "The Advantages of a Robust Compliance Programme in the Event of an External Investigation" chapter (co-author). In The Guide to Corporate Compliance. London: Latin Lawyer/LACCA (Law Business Research), 2020.
  • "Anti-corruption compliance in Brazil", chapter (co-author). In Anti-corruption compliance in emerging markets - A resource guide. Arnold & Porter LLP, 2016.
  • "Brazil" chapter (co-author). In The Asset Tracing and Recovery Review. Law Business Research Ltd., 2013.

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