Luiz Olavo Baptista

Luiz Olavo Baptista was born in Itu, in rural São Paulo, in 1938. In 1958, he was admitted to Law School at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo. After graduating in 1963, he started practising law at a firm of his own.{{cite web|url=https://www.baptista.com.br/|title=Home|work=L. O. Baptista – Advogados|language=pt-br|accessdate=October 17, 2019}}

During the Military dictatorship in Brazil, he defended persecuted politicians as a lawyer,{{cite web|url=http://www.conjur.com.br/2014-abr-01/lancamento-livro-coragem-reune-advogados-perseguidos-politicos|title=Lançamento de livro reúne advogados de presos políticos|work=Consultor Jurídico|language=pt-BR|accessdate=October 17, 2019}} and later joined the truth commission of the Order of Attorneys of Brazil in São Paulo.{{cite web|url=http://www.oabsp.org.br/noticias/2012/06/8049|title=Criada Comissão da Verdade da OAB SP|work=OAB SP|language=pt-br|accessdate=October 17, 2019}} After being blackmailed into dropping the defense of defendants during the regime of Ernesto Geisel, Luiz Olavo moved with his wife Marta Rossetti Batista and son Humberto to France in the 1970s, where he developed his doctorate.{{cite web|url=https://valor.globo.com/eu-e/noticia/2013/02/01/um-juiz-na-paz.ghtml|title=Um juiz na paz|work=Valor Econômico|language=pt-br|accessdate=October 17, 2019}} After returning to Brazil, he resumed his practice as lawyer and was a pioneer in advocating the use of arbitration in the country with research and publications at the University of São Paulo Law School,{{cite journal|last=Baptista|first=Luiz Olavo|year=2012|title=Arbitragem e Joint Venture Internacionais|url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.kluwer/rvbrasarb0009&id=256&div=&collection=|journal=Revista Brasileira de Arbitragem|volume=9|pages=256|doi=10.54648/RBA2012015 |s2cid=157852845 }} where he was a professor of international law for three decades.

After being nominated by the President of Brazil in 2001, he became a member of the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization, of which he was president between 2007 and 2008, when he returned to legal and arbitral practice in Brazil at his firm, L.O. Baptista Advogados. In 2015, he left this office and founded Atelier Jurídico, an educational and research think tank, where he worked as arbitrator and legal expert, and the firm Nakagawa Baptista & Baptista, specializing in private law.{{cite web|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/colunas/monicabergamo/2018/12/stj-foi-mais-favoravel-aos-planos-de-saudes-do-que-aos-usuarios-aponta-estudo.shtml|title=Mônica Bergamo: STJ foi mais favorável aos planos de saúdes do que aos usuários, aponta estudo|date=December 26, 2018|work=Folha de S.Paulo|language=pt-BR|accessdate=October 22, 2019}}

Luiz Olavo died in São Paulo (SP, Brazil) on October 18, 2019, at 81 years of age.{{Cite web|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/cotidiano/2019/10/mortes-pioneiro-da-arbitragem-foi-alem-das-fronteiras-do-saber.shtml|title=Luiz Olavo Baptista (1938–2019) – Mortes: Pioneiro da arbitragem, foi além das fronteiras do saber|date=October 29, 2019|website=Folha de S.Paulo|language=pt-BR|access-date=December 4, 2019}}

Luiz Olavo Baptista was one of the Brazilian pioneers in international arbitration and international trade law, worked as professor at universities in Brazil, the United States and France, and was the author of several books.

After completing his law degree from Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo in 1963{{cite web|url=http://www.fundacaoarcadas.org.br/vice-diretoria_baptista.html|title=..: Fundação Arcadas :..|work=fundacaoarcadas.org.br|accessdate=October 17, 2019}} and starting his career as a lawyer, Baptista completed his postgraduate studies at Columbia University in the US and The Hague Academy of International Law.{{cite web|url=http://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/visualizacv.do?id=K4769447Z1|title=Currículo Lattes de Luiz Olavo Baptista|work=buscatextual.cnpq.br|accessdate=October 17, 2019}} In 1973, he became a law professor at PUC-SP, where he taught until 1980. Between 1976 and 1981, he obtained a doctorate in the use of joint ventures in international trade from the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas,{{cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/834911810|title=Les joint ventures dans le commerce international|last1=Baptista|first1=Luiz Olavo|last2=Durand-Barthez|first2=Pascal|last3=Lesguillons|first3=Henry|date=2012|publisher=Bruylant|isbn=9782802737759|location=Bruxelles|language=French|oclc=834911810}} and in 1979 he was visiting scholar at the University of Michigan. In 1978, he began teaching at the University of São Paulo Law School, where he defended, in 1986, his habilitation on the then emerging topic of international electronic funds transfer, and obtained full professorship at USP in 1992. In the late 1990s, he was a visiting scholar at the University of Paris II.

After retiring from USP in 2008, he received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Lisbon in 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.ulisboa.pt/info/honoris-causa?page=1|title=Lista de Doutores Honoris causa – Universidade de Lisboa}} He was lauded professor emeritus at the University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto Law School in 2015{{cite web|url=http://www.direitorp.usp.br/direito-de-ribeirao-concede-mais-um-titulo-de-emerito/|title=Direito de Ribeirão concede mais um título de emérito|date=August 12, 2015|work=Faculdade de Direito de Ribeirão Preto|language=pt-BR|accessdate=October 17, 2019}} and, in 2018, he received the "Studies of Peace and Conflict Resolution" chair in honor of Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies by the University of São Paulo.{{cite web|url=https://jornal.usp.br/institucional/resolucao-de-conflitos-e-tema-de-conferencia-internacional-na-usp/|title=Resolução de conflitos é tema de conferência internacional na USP|date=March 14, 2018|work=Jornal da USP|language=pt-BR|accessdate=October 17, 2019}}

Luiz Olavo Baptista was recognized as one of the most eminent Brazilian jurists in the field of international and commercial law, as well as one of the most active arbitrators in the country's history, having participated in about 1,400 arbitrations in over 50 years of activity.

He worked as an attorney for over 40 years, helping the law firm he joined after graduation grow into one of the most renowned offices in Brazil,{{Cite web|url=https://www.leadersleague.com/pt/rankings/arbitragem-escritorios-de-advocacia-brasil-rankings-2019-1|title=Arbitragem – Escritórios de Advocacia – Brasil – Rankings 2019|website=leadersleague.com|language=pt|access-date=December 4, 2019}} advising governments, international organizations and large companies in Brazil and abroad. Baptista was part of the United Nations Compensation Commission that ruled on compensation for victims of the Gulf War. He was project advisor to the World Bank, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Center on Transnational Corporations, and the United Nations Development Programme. Within the Mercosur, he was an arbitrator at the Protocol of Brasilia, where he ruled on a dispute over subsidies for pork production between Argentina and Brazil.{{cite web|url=https://www.mercosur.int/documento/subsidios-produccion-exportacion-cerdo-laudo-2/?wpdmdl=4721&masterkey=5b8d3443d3910|title=Laudos|last=Tribunal Arbitral Ad Hoc Do Mercosul Com Competência Para Decidir a Respeito da Reclamação da República Argentina República Federativa do Brasil, Sobre Subsídios À Produção de Carne de Porco=MERCOSUL|language=pt-br|accessdate=October 22, 2019}} He served as arbitrator in major Brazilian and international arbitration courts, including the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).{{cite web|url=http://www.iea.usp.br/pessoas/pasta-pessoal/luiz-olavo-baptista|title=Luiz Olavo Baptista – IEA USP|work=iea.usp.br|accessdate=October 22, 2019}} In the investment arbitration sector, he ruled in several high-profile cases, such as Lanco v. Argentina [https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/intlm40&i=468 (ICSID Case No. ARB/97/6)], Malicorp v. Egypt [https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/investment-dispute-settlement/cases/321/malicorp-v-egypt (ICSID Case No. ARB/08/18)], and Alten v. Spain [https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/investment-dispute-settlement/cases/737/alten-renewable-v-spain (SCC Case No. 2015/036)].

He worked in class associations throughout his career, and was elected president of the São Paulo Lawyers' Association (AASP) between 1979 and 1980{{cite web|url=https://www.aasp.org.br/institucional/sobre-a-aasp/ex-presidentes/|title=Ex-Presidentes da AASP|language=pt-br|accessdate=October 22, 2019}} and the Federal Branch of the Order of Attorneys of Brazil between 1981 and 1983.{{cite web|url=https://www.oab.org.br/institucionalconselhofederal/conselheirosfederais|title=Ex-Conselheiros da OAB|language=pt-br|accessdate=October 22, 2019}}

In 2001, he was appointed by the Fernando Henrique Cardoso administration to serve as a member of the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization, the first Brazilian to hold such office. He chaired the body for a year in 2007. During his time in court, he judged over important disputes involving the Brazilian government, such as the case of Brazilian cotton and sugar exporters against the US and Europe{{cite web|url=https://veja.abril.com.br/blog/reinaldo/omc-8211-brasil-obtem-vitoria-definitiva-contra-algodao-dos-eua-batalha-iniciada-no-governo-fhc/|title=OMC – Brasil obtém vitória definitiva contra algodão dos EUA, batalha iniciada no governo FHC {{!}} Reinaldo Azevedo|work=VEJA.com|language=pt-BR|accessdate=October 22, 2019}} and a dispute between Embraer and Bombardier, in which Brazil accused Canada of subsidizing its aircraft industry.{{cite web|url=https://valor.globo.com/brasil/noticia/2019/10/21/ex-juiz-na-omc-luiz-olavo-baptista-morre-aos-81.ghtml|title=Ex-juiz na OMC, Luiz Olavo Baptista morre aos 81|work=Valor Econômico|language=pt-br|accessdate=October 22, 2019}} From 2015 until his death in 2019, he worked as arbitrator, wrote legal opinions and developed research and other projects at the Atelier Jurídico think tank.

In addition to academic titles, Baptista was appointed Great Officer of the Order of Rio Branco in 1996 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil. In 2005, he received the High Distinction Award by the Brazilian Superior Military Court. He received the Anchieta medal from the Municipal Chamber of São Paulo and the Barão de Ramalho award by the São Paulo Institute of Lawyers (IASP).

{{reflist}}

• Arbitragem e comércio internacional: estudos em homenagem a Luiz Olavo Baptista (2013) {{ISBN|9788576756705}}.
• Arbitragem comercial e internacional (2011) {{ISBN|9788577211395}}
• Novas fronteiras do direito na informática e telemática (2001) {{ISBN|9788502036475}}.
• Normas de direito internacional (2000) {{ISBN|9788573229134}}.
• MERCOSUL: Das negociações à implantação. (1998) Com Araminta de Azevedo Mercadante e Paulo Borba Casella. {{ISBN|9788573225051}}.
• O Mercosul, suas instituições e ordenamento jurídico (1998) {{ISBN|9788573223743}}.
• {{cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50839853|title=Problemas jurídicos e soluções das controvérsias no Mercosul|last=Baptista|first=Luiz Olavo|date=1996|publisher=OAB Conselho Federal|location=Brasília, DF|language=Portuguese|oclc=50839853}}
• Dos contratos internacionais: uma visão teórica e prática (1994) {{ISBN|9788502013681}}.
• Empresa transnacional e direito (1987) {{ISBN|9788520306185}}.
• {{cite journal|last=Baptista|first=Luiz Olavo|year=1986|title=Aspectos jurídicos das transferências eletrônicas internacionais de fundos|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/426229177|language=Portuguese|oclc=426229177}}
• {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fXsRAQAAMAAJ|title=Contrato de risco|last=Baptista|first=Luiz Olavo|date=1976|publisher=J. Bushatsky|location=São Paulo|language=Portuguese|oclc=709512494}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baptista, Luiz Olavo}}

Category:1938 births

Category:2019 deaths

Category:20th-century Brazilian lawyers

Category:Members of the Appellate Body

Category:Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo alumni

Category:Brazilian expatriates in the United States

Category:Brazilian expatriates in France

Category:Brazilian expatriates in the Netherlands

Category:Columbia University alumni

Category:21st-century Brazilian lawyers