Vera Kanas

Head of TozziniFreire’s International Trade practice group, Vera has more than fifteen years of experience in the area, assisting Brazilian and foreign companies in a number of issues related to trade remedies, customs law and trade compliance. Vera advises Brazilian exporters, importers and producers on antidumping investigations and public interest assessment procedures, as well as Brazilian exporters on trade remedies issues abroad. She also represents clients in relevant aspects of structuring import and export operations and their supply chain, as well as in issues related to the rules and procedures of the World Trade Organization and other international agreements.

She is recommended by relevant legal guides, such as Chambers Global, Chambers Latin America, The Legal 500, Latin Lawyer 250, Who’s Who Legal, Expert Guides and Análise Advocacia 500. In 2021, Vera was also recognized in the Women in Business Law guide, by Expert Guides.

• English
• French
• Spanish

• Specialized degree in Business Management from Business School São Paulo, 2007.  
• PhD in International Law from USP (Universidade de São Paulo), 2004.  
• Master’s degree in International Economic Law from the Université de Paris-I Panthéon-Sorbonne, France, 2002.  
• Graduate of the Law School of USP, 1998.

• Vera is on the Indicative List of WTO Panelists for Brazil, elaborated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to the Public Notice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published by DOU (Official Gazette) on November 16, 2017.  
• Professor of customs regulatory matters and the impact of fiscal measures on international trade in the Tax Law postgraduate program at FGV-SP (Fundação Getulio Vargas - São Paulo) since 2017.   
• Director of the International Trade Committee of IBRAC (Brazilian Institute of Studies on Competition, Consumer Affairs and International Trade) (2012-2013).  
• Professor of Trade Remedies in the International Negotiations postgraduate course at UNESP (Universidade Estadual Paulista) (2004-2008).  
• Served in the General-Coordination of WTO Disputes of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the coordination of Ambassador Roberto Azevedo, Brasília (2005).  
• Attended the Program for Young Lawyers at the Brazilian Mission before the WTO (first class), under the coordination of Professor Vera Thorstensen, Geneva (2003).  
• Intern in the Legal Affairs department of the WTO (2002).  
• Member of the official Brazilian delegation in the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change, COP-6 (The Hague, 2000) and COP-10 (Buenos Aires, 2004).

• "Brazil" chapter. In Getting the Deal Through - Trade & Customs. London: Law Business Research, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
• "China - Terras Raras (DS431, 432 e 433)" chapter (co-author). In OMC - Funcionamento do Sistema de Solução de Controvérsias - Reflexões dos Especialistas sobre os Principais Casos. Curitiba: Ed. Juruá, 2017.
• Políticas Industriais e Comerciais da China sob a Perspectiva das Regras da OMC (co-author). São Paulo: Elsevier/CNI, 2016.
• "The Role of the Trade Compliance Manager" (Special Report: Managing Risk) article. In Financier Worldwide, 2016.
• "International Trade and Commercial Transactions in Brazil" article. In Practical Law. Thomson Reuters, 2016.
• "Legislação Antidumping no Brasil" chapter. In 40 Anos de Direito Empresarial no Brasil. São Paulo: Quartier Latin, 2016.
• "Agricultural Law in Brazil: Overview" chapter. In Global Agricultural Law. Sweet & Maxwell/Thomson Reuters, 2015.
• "International Trade" chapter. In Practical Law. Thomson Reuters, 2015.
• "Trade & Customs 2015 - Annual Review" chapter. In Financier Worldwide, 2015.
• "Export Controls and Economic Sanctions in Brazil" chapter. In Handbook of Export Controls and Economic Sanctions. ABA Section of International Law/American Bar Association, 2015.
• "Developing and Managing a Global Customs Compliance Program" chapter (co-author). In Risk and Compliance Magazine, April-June, 2015.
• "O Brasil e as Barreiras Regulatórias ao Comércio" article. In Pontes, of ICTSD (International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development), v. 10, no. 8, 2014.
• Direito do Comércio Internacional (co-author). São Paulo: Lex/OAB, 2014.
• "The Control over Imports in Brazil - The Role of ’RADAR’" article. In Practical Latin American Tax Strategies Newsletter. Thomson Reuters, 2013.
• Solução de Controvérsias: O Brasil e o Contencioso na OMC (co-author). GVlaw Series. Volumes I and II. São Paulo: Saraiva, 2008 and 2009.
• "Proteção dos Investimentos no NAFTA" chapter. In Regulamentação Internacional dos Investimentos: Algumas Lições para o Brasil. São Paulo: Aduaneiras, 2007.
• "Meio Ambiente e Negociações Internacionais" chapter. In O Brasil e os Grandes Temas do Comércio Internacional. São Paulo: Lex Editora, 2005.
• Business Guide to Trade Remedies in Brazil (co-author). Geneva: International Trade Centre (UNCTAD/WTO), 2005.
• "A Proteção Ambiental no NAFTA" chapter. In O Sistema de Comércio Internacional e o Novo Milênio. 2002.
• Several articles in important publications, such as Valor Econômico, O Estado de São Paulo, Brasil Econômico and Affari Negócios.