Partner

João Luiz Cople

Litigation & Arbitration

Rio de Janeiro (T&C)+55 21 2127 4272

jcople@mayerbrown.com

“João Cople is perhaps the most sensible lawyer I have worked with. Down to earth, above average work capacity, dedication and attention to clients.”

The Legal 500, 2024

Overview

João Cople has more than 17 years of experience in strategic litigation. In addition to his work in complex contractual and regulatory disputes, João Cople has a multidisciplinary profile, with participation in administrative, tax, electoral, insurance, social security and arbitration disputes.

Experience

Represented:

The branch of one of the largest electrical energy companies in the world in demand involving the payment of amounts owed by LIGHT for the supply of electrical energy to be distributed.
A Turkish company leader in the energy transition, in several legal actions and arbitration proceedings against the Electric Energy Trading Chamber – CCEE to suspend the enforceability of the penalties applied to the company, due to the delay in starting the commercial operation of the Plants and prevent it from be considered in default due to non-payment of these penalties valued at the historical value of R$ 558,386,985.36, as well as the termination of energy supply contracts.
Leading supplier of offshore drilling units in proposed action against Petrobras, for damages suffered as a result of the early termination of two Charter Agreements. The state-owned company's conviction reached the historic value of R$1.9 billion.

Offshore drilling company and its Dutch parent company in a lawsuit filed against Petrobras, to suspend the early termination of charter and service contracts signed with Petrobras, with an estimated value of R$1.1 billion.
International supplier of offshore drilling services in an administrative improbity action brought by the Federal Public Ministry, Petrobras and the Union within the scope of Operation Lava-Jato, which seeks compensation for the alleged loss of the asset increase earned by the defendants, as well as the establishment of a fine civil case of three times the alleged illicit enrichment obtained through a US$1.8 billion charter contract signed with Petrobras.
Chinese energy company and supplier of chemical products and petroleum derivatives in proposed action against Petrobras, regarding the Engineering, Purchasing Management and Construction (“EPC”) contract signed for the execution of services and implementation of the onshore section of the gas pipeline of interconnection to the Bahia regasification terminal network, in order to obtain compensation in the historical value of more than R$40 million.
The largest electricity company in Latin America in a public civil action, proposed by employee associations and unions in the face of alleged irregularities in the company's privatization process.
Hydroelectric subsidiary of the largest company in the electrical sector in Latin America, whose main activity is the generation, transmission and sale of electrical energy, in a public civil action, filed by the State of Bahia, with the objective of repairing environmental and resulting from the floods caused by the historic floods in Rio de Contas, in the amount of R$ 100 million, as well as representing it in individual actions, which seek, in short, compensation for material damages of up to R$ 70 million.
Northern Brazilian subsidiary of the largest company in the electricity sector in Latin America in a public civil action filed by the Federal Public Ministry, regarding non-compliance with measures to mitigate social and cultural impacts to obtain the operating license for the Affected Transmission Lines. It also acts on the suspension of an injunction, filed in the Superior Court of Justice, against the ruling that granted the request for early appeal relief, which provided for the suspension of transmission activities on indigenous land and the payment of financial compensation, among other measures, having been requested by an indigenous association, admitted as a litisconsorcial assistant, and in the Constitutional Complaint presented by the same association.
Deepwater oil exploration company and oil and gas production operations in several disputes brought by fishermen from Espírito Santo that require the company to be condemned for lost profits arising from one of the biggest environmental accidents in the country, in the total amount estimated at R$40 million.
Leading international supplier of offshore drilling services for oil and gas wells involving possible dispute with Petrobras regarding the economic consequences to contracts arising from Repetro-Sped's denial.
Company developing, constructing and operating industrial facilities in dispute with Petrobras, involving the charging of additional costs and fines related to the contract for the provision of construction and industrial assembly services, in an amount exceeding R$230 million.
Maritime transport company domiciled abroad, in a monitoring action filed against Petrobras, in which the reimbursement of R$ 1.3 million was claimed, which were unduly retained by Petrobras as IRRF under the vessel charter contract signed between the parties.
Energy company pioneering the R2W integrated business model, in popular actions proposed to annul the bidding procedure for the divestment and sale of the Azulão Field by Petrobras, under allegations of damage to public property and the illegality of the procedure.
Mobile and fixed telephone operator of high national relevance in legal action filed against another operator, in discussion about the costs of sharing the structure of websites, the value of which exceeds R$ 100 million.
One of the main companies in the fuel distribution sector in several legal proceedings involving different types of contractual disputes and civil liability, in addition to public civil environmental and improbity actions, regarding fuel distribution contracts, among them, it acted in the civil action public lawsuit filed by the Public Ministry of the State of Rio de Janeiro, which sought to revoke the company's state registration in the state.
Company specialized in software implementation in public bodies in legal demands against a state-owned company in which the validity of various infractions applied during the course of the administrative contract is being discussed, in particular the one that determined the suspension of the rights to bid and contract with public entities, in the amount of more than R$7 million.

Related Services & Industries

Services

Litigation & Arbitration

Publications & Presentations

Publications
View All Insights
- Legal Update
  CNJ determina que empresas efetuem o seu cadastro no Domicílio Judicial Eletrônico até o dia 30 de maio
  March 06, 2024
- Legal Update
  Novas Regras de Sustentacao Oral
  October 18, 2022

Recognition

“João Cople is perhaps the most sensible lawyer I have worked with. Down to earth, above average work capacity, dedication and attention to clients.” – The Legal 500, 2024
“João Cople is a key contact for administrative and civil litigation.” – The Legal 500, 2023

Education

Fundação Getúlio Vargas, MBA, in Tax Law
Universidade Estácio de Sá, Bachelor of Law (JD equivalent)

Admissions

Brazil

Languages

Portuguese
English
Spanish